Finance and Resources Director

Appointment Brief
July 2015

Message from the

Chief Executive
An incredible opportunity to achieve widespread and
lasting social impact.
At 3SC we believe the passion and expertise that lies at the heart of the Third Sector is
largely being overlooked when it comes to the delivery of public services. Until recently
only 2% of public service spending was through the very organisations that are geared
up to change peoples lives. I think it is barely much better than that now and I believe
this should change.
It is our job to increase the breadth and depth of Third Sector involvement in public
service delivery. We bid for appropriate public service contracts, both as a sub-prime
contract manager or a prime in our own right. We then create consortia of Third Sector
organisations to deliver these contracts under our management. We receive no grant
funding for our business model and our success relies on us winning competitive bids,
often alongside, sometimes in competition with, the large commercial Primes, and then
managing our consortia to deliver the commissioned outcomes.
In our six year existence we have won nearly 80m of contracts. We run programmes
in employability, youth and offender rehabilitation. But this is really still only the start
of our journey and we want to add to our footprint in our current markets as well and
break into new arenas.
We have noticed a commissioning Zeitgeist that we think will start to open up more
opportunities for us. We have a progressive agenda, and believe that the future of
public services must surely be grounded in wider and deeper inter-sector partnerships.
So a major part of the brief for the post holder will be ensuring that we chart our way
through the financial landscape of public services procurement and the building of
financial partnerships so that we access an ever wider public service space.
I am strengthening my management team. I require an exceptional person to lead
the parts of the business that will underpin our ability to win and deliver public service
contracts. I also want this person to help me and my team, as well as the board,
manage our growth.
If you want to be a part of this and future success in this crucial aspect of social
impact, then I invite you to apply for this role.
Martyn Oliver

Finance and Resources Director | 3SC | July 2015

About 3SC
3SC is a social enterprise with a
mission to increase the scale of
public services delivered through
the Third Sector.
We do this by building consortia of charities
and social enterprises, bidding for suitable public
service contracts and managing the consortia in
their delivery. We are into our sixth year. We have
steadily built the business since our founding
and have a reputation for winning, mobilising and
delivering contacts. The last two years have seen
a doubling of our revenues and we now run nine
programmes across the employability, youth and
offender rehabilitation markets. Recently, as part
of the Interserve led Purple Futures partnership,
we have won the contract to run Third Sector
consortia in 5 contract package areas. This is
our opportunity to bring the Third Sector into a
crucial arena of social impact at scale. We expect
to be working with up to 100 additional Third
Sector organisations across our contracts in
Transforming Rehabilitation (TR). It is our job to
integrate them so that the bespoke and holistic
interventions required to change offending behaviour
are delivered effectively. But even since the TR
contracts were awarded 3SC has increased our
presence in employability markets with contract
wins in 3 programmes. We now run contracts from
Middlesbrough to Merseyside, and from Ynys Mon
in Wales, to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. I see this
as a fantastic opportunity for someone to join me
and my team in building on our track-record and
helping us to achieve even more.
3SC is governed by representatives from seven
charities, social enterprises and registered social
landlords. They are the guardians of our status as a
social enterprise and, guided by the executive team,
take overall responsibility for the strategic direction
of the partnership.

Finance and Resources Director | 3SC | July 2015

Organisational chart

Finance and Resources Director | 3SC | July 2015

Job Description
Post: Finance and Resources Director

Main Responsibilities

Reports To: 3SC Chief Executive

Finance

Manages: Finance manager, Operations

manager

Lead on all financial control and financial management

activity at 3SC ranging from top-table strategic input to
on-the-ground practitioner

Also responsible for the management of a

range of resources such as IT, HR, facilities
management, communications, insurance and
our professional advisors, many of which are
outsourced.
Salary: Circa 65,000 - 70,000
Location: London EC3
Main Purpose
The post-holder will be responsible for all aspects of our
financial control and management from top-table strategy
to on-the-ground practitioner. The role is an integral part
of the building of a sustainable business. The role entails
ensuring that the organisation only competes for contract
opportunities that are commercially robust, and will take
the lead in ensuring that our contracts with commissioners
and delivery consortia are robust. The post-holder will
advise the chief executive, the executive team and the
board on resource and commercial issues, including
income strategy, mid-and long-term planning and the
overall financial position of the organisation.
The post-holder will also be responsible for the efficient
running of our operational functions. These support the
revenue earning and delivery aspects of the business.
The post-holder will ensure that these functions
significantly contribute to winning and delivering
contracts, support our staff and enhance our brand.
Reporting to the chief executive, the role is part of the
executive team and attends the 3SC board and other
governance meetings.

To lead on financial planning, budgeting and cost

control issues
Be the key advisor to the chief executive, the executive
team and the board on the overall financial landscape
for 3SC and its ongoing performance and position
To be vigilant to financial and operational risks and to
report and mitigate such risks
To due diligence business development opportunities
including financial appraisals, opportunity stress testing
and scenario planning
Oversee the preparation of the annual accounts and the
management of annual audit
To oversee the efficient running of financial operations
such as the preparation of management accounts,
cash flow forecasts, payroll, VAT and other tax returns,
creditor payments and efficient management of debtors
Prepare insightful financial reports for the chief
executive, executive team colleagues and the board
and finance and risk committee
To take ownership for the efficient and effective
running of the 3SC finance and risk committee,
including arranging meetings, preparing and circulating
papers and noting the meetings
To lead on the engagement of external financial
stakeholders including present and potential investors,
our bankers, auditors and insurers
To work with the executive team in the negotiation
and agreement of service delivery contracts
To initiate and manage a programme of internal audit
To explore, initiate and realise social investment
opportunities in our programmes
To explore, initiate and realise external investment
in 3SC
Ensure 3SCs financial policies are up-to-date and
compliant with existing and new legislation, drafting
and reviewing policies for approval as necessary.
Communicate the new policies to all staff and be fully
accountable for monitoring adherence to financial
policies and procedures

Finance and Resources Director | 3SC | July 2015

Job Description
Continued
Resources
The post-holder will take the lead in the assessment and
management of a range of support functions such as IT,
HR, facilities management, communications, insurance
and our professional advisors
To ensure that these functions are fit for the organisation
now and as we grow
To oversee the work of the operations team so that
they make a significant contribution to the winning
and delivering of contracts, including solution design,
IT systems progression and innovative solutions across
the range of our business activities
To identify, report and manage the risks connected
to these activities, especially business continuity and
data protection
To formulate and implement capital expenditure plans,
IT renewal programmes, and to initiate, implement
and manage an enhanced procurement process

Finance and Resources Director | 3SC | July 2015

To ensure that all of our office space is safe and

welcoming
Contribute to initiatives and accreditations such
as Merlin, ISO, IIP and Social Enterprise standards
To oversee the formulation and implementation of
a communications strategy
To manage and assess the relationship with our
outsourced providers which currently includes IT,
Facilities Management and HR
To lead on the relationships with other key external
stakeholders in the Operations field such as our
insurers and our lawyers

Other
As part of the 3SC executive team offer leadership
within the organisation and be a significant part of the
overall running of the business, taking responsibility
and championing issues that lie outside of the specific
finance and resources portfolio

Person Specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications

Knowledge

A fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)

with evidence of CPD activity

Contract accounting, including the financial appraisal

of contract opportunities

Competencies

Knowledge of the process of bidding and tendering for

public service contracts

Financial accounting, including the preparation of

final accounts
Financial management, including the formulation
and implementation of budgeting systems
Financial modelling
Initiative
Planning and organising
Accounting systems usage
Adaptability and the ability to work effectively in a
small organisation
The ability to contribute to the management of a
business outside of the specific portfolio of the role
Team working
Analytical skills

Experience of working with the voluntary, community

and social enterprise sector
Knowledge of collaborative models of delivery,
including special purpose vehicles and consortia
Expert knowledge of financial assessments and other
due diligence activity
Knowledge of the social investment landscape
A working knowledge of IT, HR, FM and how it
contributes to an organisation like 3SC

Skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Effective management skills
The proven ability to formulate and implement budgets,
financial and non-financial processes and systems
Influencing skills at all levels

Finance and Resources Director | 3SC | July 2015

How to Apply
To apply for this position, please upload a
comprehensive CV and a supporting statement
of no more than two pages of A4 on our website.
Please ensure that your application fully addresses
the appointment criteria in the person specification.
You should give the names, positions, organisations
and telephone contact numbers of two referees,
one of whom should be your current/most recent
employer. References will only be taken once your
express permission has been granted.
We ask that you complete the equal opportunities
information online when you submit your application
via our website. The information collected will
be treated as confidential, used for statistical
purposes only, and will not be treated as part of
your application.
We would also be grateful if you could let us know
if you will require any special provision as a result
of any disability should you be called for interview.
Finally please ensure that you have included mobile,
work and home telephone numbers, as well as any
dates when you will not be available or might have
difficulty with the indicative timetable.
Applications should be made via the Prospectus
website: www.prospect-us.co.uk/executive/job/
HQ00158336
Applications can also be posted to:
Sarah Hill, Prospectus, 20-22 Stukeley Street,
London, WC2B 5LR

Finance and Resources Director | 3SC | July 2015

Timetable

Closing date: Monday 27th July 2015

Initial interviews with Prospectus:
3rd 21st August 2015
Site visits to 3SC and meeting with CEO and
Programme Director: 27th/ 28th August 2015
Competency based interviews with CEO and HR
representative: w/c 31st August 2015
Interview with CEO, Chair and partner: w/c 7th
September 2015
This dates may be subject to change and applicants
will be advised in advance should this happen.

Recruitment Process

Should you decide to make a formal application,

you will receive feedback within seven working days
of the closing date. Shortlisted candidates may be
required to undertake an additional assessment prior
to the final interview. The successful appointment is
subject to a satisfactory criminal records disclosure
and written references.

Queries

If you have any queries on any aspect of the

appointment process, need additional information
or would like to have an informal discussion, please
contact Anna Gardet or Hanna John on 020 7691
1920 or via email at anna.gardet@prospect-us.co.uk
or hanna.john@prospect-us.co.uk

Prospectus Ltd
20-22 Stukeley Street
London, WC2B 5LR
020 7691 1925
www.prospect-us.co.uk
Created by the Prospectus
Advertising & Design team