Director Of Finance

Director of Finance (22.5 hours per week)

If you are passionate about the ocean and have a strong background in finance, then we are offering you a unique opportunity to make a difference. The Director of Finance will provide operational and strategic fiduciary oversight to ensure the long-term financial stability of the MBA. This is a strategic role for someone who owns their career, seeks solutions to challenges, who has a commercial mind-set and can translate these to help us chart our next 140 years.

Being an effective accounting professional and strategic thinker is a given, a proven track record in managing sustainable financial growth is critical. This exciting role will have a wide remit to provide extensive financial management expertise to promote the MBA's charitable business activities and ensure legal and fiduciary compliance. The goal will be to maximise our ambitious growth strategy to build the MBA's reputation as a Learned Society and to become a pre-eminent advisor in marine biology. You will make a genuine contribution to shaping the future of our ocean.

The MBA is a Learned Society of marine biologists and members in over forty countries, across five continents. Our in-depth scienti???c research into the interconnected marine environment is carried out from our prestigious laboratory in Plymouth, UK (Britain's Ocean City and home to UK's first National Marine Park). We have a Royal Charter that recognises our world-leading status in marine biology. Since 1884, and now celebrating our 140th year, we work as a voice for the ocean and in the interests of the global marine biological community. In our history, our advanced knowledge has contributed to the work of 13 Nobel Laureates and over 170 Fellows of The Royal Society.

Over the last 3 years, we have invested GBP5-Million in our research facilities to expand our research programme, and have plans to invest a future GBP4-Million, which will improve our teaching and education capability, accessibility and sustainability at our iconic building in Plymouth. This is a fantastic time to join the team as we create a world-class facility inspired by our eminent scientific roots and spirit of discovery.

The successful candidate will have:

• Financial or Management Accountant qualification(s)
• Expertise in production of management accounts
• Experience with charity sector and regulations, charity accounting and SORP
• Contract negotiating skills
• Senior management experience
• Proactive strategic thinker with evidence of strategy development and implementation
• Change management skills and a passion for continuous improvement
• Demonstrable leadership and people management skills
• Developed communication, interpersonal, and written skills to engage effectively with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Proven ability to collaborate across functional boundaries to achieve shared goals

The work location will be the MBA Laboratory, Plymouth, in the southwest of the UK, overlooking Plymouth Sound and on the border between Devon and Cornwall. Plymouth offers an outstanding quality of life, with its fantastic location by the sea and the dramatic expanse of Dartmoor National Park as a backdrop. Flexible working arrangements are standard; hybrid working can be arranged where appropriate.

Benefits:

• We offer generous leave, 30 days ( pro rata ) annual leave plus statutory Bank Holidays
• 3 Privilege Days given by the MBA (used during festive closure week)
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electronic vehicle lease scheme
• Low cost bookable parking on site
• Generous pension scheme - MBA will contribute 10% of basic salary into a defined contribution scheme with staff making a 3% minimum contribution. MBA will match additional staff contributions up to 15%.