Finance Director - s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.coms3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com › 24jobs-recruiters › 5 › cds... · Recruitment of Finance Director ... Annual report 2012 Annual accounts

April 2013

Promoting co-operative housing

Finance Director

Recruitment pack

Olympic Office Centre, 8 Fulton Road HA9 0NU

Telephone 020 8830 6777 Fax 020 8450 9777

[email protected] www.campbelltickell.com

Campbell Tickell Ltd Incorporated in Cardiff (England & Wales) Registration number 4713939

Registered office 14 Accommodation Road, London NW11 8EP VAT number 743 6943 08

April 2013 Dear applicant Recruitment of Finance Director – CDS Co-operatives Thank you for your interest in this vacancy. Enclosed is the information you will require to assist you in completing your application. To apply please can you:

Provide an up-to-date CV which shows your full career history with any breaks explained – we recommend that this is no longer than three pages;

Write a supporting statement detailing how you are a good candidate for this post and how you fulfil the person specification;

Complete the combined compliance and equal opportunities form;

Indicate if you cannot attend the interview dates.

Please note that applications can only be considered if all the documentation is completed. However, it is not mandatory to complete the equalities section within the compliance form. The information requested is purely for monitoring purposes in line with our commitment to equality and diversity, and will not affect the outcome of your application. Once complete, please send your application, preferably in MS Word format, by email to [email protected] or by post to: Campbell Tickell Recruitment, Olympic Office Centre, 8 Fulton Road, Wembley, HA9 0NU Due to postal unreliability we recommend you e-mail your application to us wherever possible to avoid missing the deadline.

Continued…/

mailto:[email protected]

CDS Co-operatives Finance Director Recruitment

April 2013 Page 3 of 18

Applications must be received by Monday 13th May 2013 at 12 noon.

It is your responsibility to ensure that we have received your application. If you do not receive confirmation of receipt of your application from us within 24 hours of sending, please call 020 3434 0990 to ensure it has arrived. You should also ensure that you use a secure email address from which to send your application, as our system will filter out emails if it believes them to have been sent from unsecured sites that are often used to send spam emails. In order to avoid last-minute IT issues, we also ask that you allow yourself ample time to submit your application in advance of the deadline. A list of the interview dates and key selection stages is detailed on page 17. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact myself or my colleague Ian Nelthorpe to discuss either role in further detail. We look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely,

Ian Nelthorpe

Greg Campbell Ian Nelthorpe Director Associate Consultant 020 8830 6777 07799 605514



Contents

Page

Welcome letter from the Chair 5

About CDS Co-operatives 7

Our people 9

Role profile 12

Person specification 14

Our structure 15

Principal terms 16

Key dates 17

The media advertisement 18

The compliance form is available to download www.campbelltickell.com

The following supplementary information can also be downloaded from www.campbelltickell.com:

Annual report 2012

Annual accounts 2012

Corporate plan 2012 - 2016

Further information about CDS can be found at www.cds.coop.

http://www.campbelltickell.com/

http://www.campbelltickell.com/

http://www.cds.coop/



Welcome to CDS Co-operatives

Every organisation likes to think they are special, but at CDS we know that what we

do is unique. We are England’s largest co-operative housing service agency

dedicated to promoting, developing, and servicing housing co-operatives controlled

by the people who live in them.

At CDS we are passionate about co-operative housing. We actively support the

principle of residents taking control over the management of their homes. For CDS

and our members, this democratic involvement is right at the heart of creating

sustainable communities. Places where people are making more active contributions

and creating better outcomes for their communities - offering mutual support and

helping people feel more connected to each other and their neighbourhoods.

Following the retirement of our Operations Director we have created the new role of

Finance Director. We are looking for an experienced and qualified finance

professional who has an understanding of the housing sector and its regulatory

environment. You will need a commitment to co-operative values and understand

how these underpin all that we do for our tenants and client co-ops. We are

responsible for over 3,500 homes and our joint turnover with our co-operative clients

was £14m last year. The newly appointed Finance Director will play a critical role in

ensuring that we remain an effective business and that we provide value for money

and responsive services to our co-operative clients and their members.

We want to hear from candidates with a proven track record of financial

management in a customer-orientated organisation. You will have strong people

skills and be comfortable playing a central role in the development of the

organisations services, including those offered to client co-operatives. This is an



excellent opportunity for a talented finance professional to play a central role in our

future success. If you believe that you have the experience, ability and enthusiasm

for cooperative housing, we very much look forward to receiving your

application.

Maureen Stables

Chair



About CDS Co-operatives

Our mission is:

To be the UK’s leading secondary co-operative promoting, developing and providing quality services to primary housing co-operatives and other forms of mutual tenure.

Our vision is:

To provide high quality, efficient and financially viable services that enables and supports resident control and to make a significant contribution to solving the housing needs of our nation by developing housing co-operatives and other forms of mutual tenure.

Our core values:

Our work is driven by our commitment to the seven Co-operative Principles recognised by the International Co-operative Alliance and are the source of the core values which we seek to apply in all our activities – to:

Recognise the value of resident control and to support and enable it;

Be open, honest and accountable for what we do;

Treat every person with dignity and respect;

Promote equality and welcome, value and respect the diversity of people and cultures;

Be equitable and fair in all our business dealings;

Strive for excellence and efficiency in all that we do;

Value and respect our staff and develop their contribution to our work;

Recognise the importance of continuing education and training opportunities for tenants and other residents as a means of developing the human and social capacity of the communities we serve;

Be well governed by an informed and accountable board of management; and

Be dedicated to making a positive contribution to meeting the housing needs of our nation.

The six pillars of excellence:

In consultation with our staff and service users we have also identified six pillars which support our endeavours to achieve excellence in all we do, these include:

Personal commitment to quality and excellence of service;

Motivated, well trained and committed staff;



A commitment to developing peoples’ skills;

Clear strategic goals and objectives;

Policies and procedures to enable us to do things right first time; and

Striving for continuous improvement.

Our services:

We call ourselves a secondary co-operative because the majority of our members are the primary housing co-operatives we serve. Our role as a service agency is to support democratic control by providing the full range of services that housing co-operatives need to enable members to control their co-operative's business affairs without having to shoulder the burden of day to day management work.

We are committed to providing a wide range of services that are efficient and offer value for money to our client co-operatives, they include:

Co-operative governance support and best practice advice;

Housing development and project administration;

Rent accounting and arrears control;

Bookkeeping and accountancy;

Financial planning and financial management, including the preparation of budgets, management accounts, annual accounts and business plans;

Routine repairs administration;

Planned maintenance and cyclical repairs administration;

Member education and training;

Tenancy and leasehold management;

Lettings and void management;

General housing and property management; and

Co-operative administration.



Our people

The Board

Maureen Stables, Chair

Elected Expert Board Member. Former Director of West Hill Housing Trust, Director/Secretary of Praetorian Housing Association and of Alamo Housing Co-operative following a career in local government and housing associations. Chair of CHFS. Elected individual member of CDS in 1978 then elected Vice Chair. Chair of CDS since 1983. Finance & Administration/Business Development and Marketing sub-committee member.

Munir Malik, Honorary Treasurer

Elected Expert Board Member. Joined the CDS Board December 2007. Chartered accountant, ASTMS. Councillor – LB Bexley. Former member of both Bexley and Bromley local government committees. Board member of the Co-operative Group South East area committee and Co-op Party Council in South London. Director of CHFS. Chair - Finance & Administration, member of Internal Control and Business Development and Marketing Sub-Committees.

Cyril Davenport, Vice Chair

Elected London South East Board Member. Elected to Board in 1997 and Vice Chair from 2012. Formerly a tenant at Townshend Close Housing Co-operative. Semi-retired chauffeur. Former Export Freight Supervisor. Finance & Administration sub-committee member.

Mike Jeanes

Elected Expert Board Member. Elected to CDS Board in 1979. Independent Transport Consultant. Former Independent Board Member of Colchester Borough Homes. Chair - Internal Control Sub Committee.

Glyn Thomas

Elected Expert Board Member. Elected to CDS Board in 2001. Retired chief engineer - Millbank Studios. Member of Co-operatives UK Southern Sectional Council, Co-operative Group North London area Committee and is a JP. Former EC North London Co-operative Party Council, Barnet Co-operative Party (vice chair), and director of CHFS. Finance & Admin Sub-Committee member. Former vice chair of CDS [until 2012].

Theresa Lyons

Elected Ashford/Maidstone/Tunbridge Wells Board Member. Elected to CDS Board in 2001. Chair of Senacre Housing Co-op (previously held roles of Secretary, lettings and maintenance, Treasurer). Former (French Qualified Nurse) Health Care Assistant. Member of general council of Confederation of Co-operative Housing. Chair of Resident Services Committee and member of Business Development and Marketing sub committee.



Paula Farrow

Elected Dartford/Medway Towns & Swale Board Member. Elected October 2004. Chair of Minster Housing Co-op. Volunteer work includes Housing Aid and Advice Centre, trainer on tenant management, school governor, sits on various community committees. Set up and runs local government funded playgroup. Internal Control/ Business Development and Marketing Sub-Committee member.

Stephen Mallaburn

TMC/Resident Association Board Member. Elected to CDS Board in 1995. Maintenance worker for Riverlink Housing Co-op, he is a qualified social worker with 21 years experience in the housing field. Involved in the establishment of a number of short-life and permanent housing co-ops. Member of London Federation of Housing Co-ops and East London Co-ops Group. Finance & Administration Sub Committee member.

Lawrence Zollner

Elected Hants, Surrey and London SW Board Member. Co-opted to the Board in July 2004. Vice Chair of Bonham & Strathleven Housing Co-op. Freelance Textile Sample Cutter. Member of general council of Confederation of Co-operative Housing. Residents Services and Internal Control Sub-Committee member.

Jon Fitzmaurice

Elected Expert Board Member in 2007. Director of Agents for Change and Committee Member of Empty Homes Agency. Over 30 years experience in housing and voluntary sector. Formerly held executive and non-executive positions with a number of housing associations including Director of Planning and Information at L&Q and Chair of Hyde Plus, also Chief Executive of National Homeless Alliance and Head of NHF’s London Region. Chair Business Development and Marketing Sub Committee

Steve Smith

London Borough of Bexley Board Member. Elected in 2008. Area Committee member Co-op Group, Cambridge Co-op Party Council. Semi retired consultant landscape architect. Member of Residents Services Committee.

Beulah East

Elected Gloucestershire/Beds/Herts/Essex & London North Board Member in 2010. Retired Nursing Officer and Residential Manager. Councillor LB Hillingdon. Chair of the North London Area Committee Co-operative Group, volunteer for Home Start Hillingdon, Schools Speaker for Oxfam, volunteer carer for Our Lady of Lourdes Society. Member London Co-op Party Council. Member of Internal Control/Finance & Administration Sub Committees.

Jim Ross

Elected Fully Mutual Primary Co-op Board Member in 2011. Secretary of Miller Walk Housing Co-operative. Retired. Member of Residents Services Committee.



Senior staff

Orla Gallagher, Interim Chief Executive

Joined CDS Co-operatives in October 2012. 20 years experience in the housing sector. Chartered Surveyor [RICS] and corporate member of the Institute of Housing.

Finance Director

Currently vacant

Maria McCarron, Housing Services Manager

Honours degree in Housing Studies, Joined CDS in 2003 as Housing Services Manager. Over 20 years experience in social housing. Corporate member of CIH since 1997.

Stephen Brown, Administration Manager/Society Secretary

Joint honours degree in Chemistry with Computer Science (1986). NEBOSH Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health. Joined CDS as Administration Manager in 1995.

Anji McCormick Interim Maintenance & Asset Manager

Joined CDS in February 2013. Post-graduate diploma in Building Surveying with 8 years experience in the housing sector.

Previn Tailor, Finance Manager

Joined CDS as Finance Manager in August 2009. Extensive experience in accounting & finance, having started his accounting career in the private sector in 1979 where he worked for 16 years with ‘blue chip’ companies. Switched sectors in 1995 and moved into housing association finance Worked for various medium sized associations. Associate member of CIMA since 1993.

Watkin Morgan, Business Development Manager

Joined CDS in 2005. Degree in Public Administration & Social Science with over 20 years experience in the housing sector.



Role profile – Finance Director

Purpose of role

Responsible for the overall financial management of CDS Co-operatives, and for ensuring good financial governance throughout the organisation, including in respect of client co-operatives. Providing financial support for the organisation’s strategic objectives, playing a central role supporting the Chief Executive in developing and sustaining co-operative housing through the delivery of high quality services to CDS residents and client co-operatives.

Key relationships

External:

To take the lead for the management of the relationship with the External Auditor and Banks/Investors.

To take the lead and offer proactive support to client housing co-operatives especially on strategic finance matters.

Internal:

As part of the Executive Management Team ensure the delivery of a culture of service excellence that is supported by the values and principles of co-operative housing.

Core tasks and responsibilities

1. Financial Management

Provide sound financial stewardship through timely strategic financial advice to the Chief Executive, the Society’s Treasurer and the CDS Board of Management.

Overall responsibility for financial controls, financial planning, probity and compliance and accurate financial management and communication.

Support the Chief Executive in ensuring that there is an effective risk framework, enabling risks to be assessed and controlled and assets protected.

Ensure that treasury management, risk management incorporating borrowing, cash flow control and forecasting, investments, insurances, compliance with covenants and feasibility calculations are effectively controlled.

Responsible for the overall preparation of CDS’s budgets and financial/management accounts and to ensure that deadlines are met by exercising strict control over the process and by ensuring budget holders have the information and training they need to control expenditure.

Promote a value for money culture, including efficient procurement of goods/services.

Build effective working relationships with internal and external auditors to ensure that CDS obtains maximum value and assurance from these services.

Ensure effective and efficient rent accounting and service charge setting service is provided in respect of the Society’s own stock and for the Society’s client housing co-operatives.

2. Client Financial Services

Ensure effective and efficient delivery of day to day financial services to the Society’s client co-operatives in respect of budgeting, management accounts and year end accounts.



Provide pro-active support to client co-operatives in respect of strategic finance and business planning.

3. Developing organisational strategy

Be an active member of the Executive Team, contributing to strategic thinking and strategic planning and delivering the mission and key corporate objectives.

Provide financial support for CDS’s strategic plans and programmes, and ensuring their effective communication to internal and external stakeholders.

4. People leadership

Ensure that staff within the Finance Department are led, trained and work to performance targets and outcomes.

Build and maintain effective and constructive working relationships with the Board, staff and external stakeholders and partners – including member housing co-operatives.

5. Performance culture

To lead in ensuring high performance in the organisation through the provision of relevant performance information and analysis.

Promote and amplify a culture of performance management and customer service across CDS.

6. New business

Support the new business strategy to ensure sustainable growth of the business through service expansion to existing and new clients.

Support the Chief Executive in identifying new business opportunities for the development of new housing co-operatives and other mutual and community-led housing.

Ensure that CDS provides an excellent joined up support service to co-operatives, with a successful track record that enables it to effectively compete for new business.

Control and monitor business investment decisions.

7. Communication and promotion

Support the Chief Executive in ensuring that new ideas, good practice and learning are modelled and disseminated effectively.

Represent CDS and engage with appropriate networks and policy-making bodies.

8. Governance

Work with the Board to develop and review CDS’s strategic plans, and ensure effective financial governance throughout the organisation.

Provide the Treasurer and Board all necessary financial information to enable meaningful strategic management of the organisation and ensure it receives regular reports on the organisation’s financial performance.

To act as the lead contact on financial regulation with the Regulator and maintain a satisfactory regulatory judgement.

Ensure all statutory financial reporting/filing obligations are met.

Contribute to Finance & Administration Sub Committee and Board meetings. Work with Finance & Administration sub-committee over agenda of work and Audit and Risk reviews.

9. Other

Undertake any other duties in line with the level of responsibility and the basic objectives of the post.



Person Specification – Director of Finance

Knowledge and experience

a. Responsible at a senior level for financial management and accounting and / or corporate finance and business planning within a similar sized organisation.

b. A professional accountancy qualification – CCAB bodies.

c. Experience of dealing with banks and other financial institutions.

d. Experience of leading and managing change.

e. Significant experience and successful track record of developing and motivating high performing teams.

f. Experience and successful track record of identifying and implementing systems to deliver improved value for money.

g. Experience of developing and leading commercially astute teams.

h. Up to date knowledge or understanding of key accounting issues including IFRS.

i. Experience of developing, implementing and maintaining effective systems of internal control and risk management.

j. Understanding of the values and objectives of Co-operative Housing.

Skills and abilities

a. Communicates effectively using a flexible range of communication skills. Open and engaging, communicating widely and often.

b. Describes the vision and strategic objectives with passion and clarity.

c. Positive interpersonal and strong influencing skills, proactively uses networking to deliver results.

d. A focus on outcomes with an awareness of how to deliver outcomes.

e. Can see the big picture whilst maintaining an eye for detail.

f. Able to assess risk and promote risk awareness in context of risk appetite. Sees the value of risk taking.

g. IT literate, ability to use a wide range of technologies including MS office and social media.

Personal behaviour and style

a. Encourages and initiates change that drives improvements.

b. Someone who is positive and recognises and rewards improvement and success.

c. Recognises the value of learning to personal and organisational growth.

d. A visible leader, manager and role model.

e. A customer champion.

f. Creates opportunities for teams to create and achieve success for themselves and the organisation.

g. Recognises and values diversity.

h. Supports the values, ethos and social housing objectives of CDS.

i. Self motivated and takes own personal and professional development seriously.



Our structure

Governance

Operations

CDS Board

Finance & Administration

Committee

Internal Control

Committee

Joint Staff/Management

Consultative Committee

Residents Services

Committee

New Business & Marketing Committee



Principal terms

(For information purposes only) This summary is provided for applicants as a guide only and does not form part of any contract. 1. Position Finance Director 2. Allowance £75,000 per annum

Interest free season ticket loan and essential car user allowance (with minimum mileage trigger).

3. Holiday entitlement

21 – 30 days annual leave depending on length of service with previous employment with a local authority/housing association recognised in terms of leave entitlement. In addition, statutory bank holidays plus three concessionary days (traditionally taken by all staff at Xmas).

4. Working hours Your normal working hours are 35 hours per week worked from Monday to

Friday. You will be expected to work additional hours as may be required to fulfil the duties and responsibilities of the post, including attending "out of hours" meetings in evenings or weekends. CDS operate a flexible working arrangement.

5. Place of work

The normal place of work will be CDS Offices at 3 Marshalsea Road, London SE1 1EP. Reasonable travel to other locations may be expected from time to time to fulfil the requirements of the role. The office has excellent public transport links.

6. Pension scheme Social Housing Pension Scheme, 1/60th CARE. Employer contribution is 9.05%,

employee contribution is 9.05%.



Key dates

Closing date for completed applications Monday 13th May 2013, at 12 noon

First interviews Thursday 23rd 2013

Final interview Friday 21st June 2013



The media advertisement

Documents

Finance Director - s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.coms3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com › 24jobs-recruiters › 5 › cds... · Recruitment of Finance Director ... Annual report 2012 Annual accounts