Group Head of Financial Compliance and Tax - #1108794

The Vacancy

We are currently looking to hire a Group Head of Financial Compliance & Tax to join Torus! This role is based in Liverpool with travel to other sites in the North West required.

Reporting to the Group Finance Director, the Group Head of Financial Compliance & Tax will deliver a range of corporate group wide financial accounting services including production of group and subsidiary statutory accounts, asset accounting, taxation and regulatory returns. Managing a team of 3 Direct Reports (25 staff in total), you will lead on development of financial systems ensuring they deliver efficient services and provide appropriate information and intelligence to support financial management and control. You will deliver a range of efficient and productive transactional services for the Group, Landlord and all subsidiaries including accounts payable, receivable, rent accounting and banking.

Responsibilities:

Financial Accounting:

• Lead on the preparation of statutory accounts for the group (Turnover £200m), undertaking consolidation of all group entities and liaison with external auditors.
• Lead on the preparation of statutory accounts for commercial and charitable subsidiaries: Housing Maintenance Solutions (£75m turnover), Torus Developments (£150m turnover) and Torus Foundation (£7m turnover), and any other subsidiaries that may join the group.
• Implement effective finance controls including core account and balance sheet reconciliations that provide Boards, Audit and Risk Committee members and senior managers with assurance on accuracy and integrity of accounts and financial statements.
• Ensure assets and components are accounted for accurately and in accordance with accounting standards
• Lead on completion of the Financial Viability Assessment (FVA) and Quarterly Financial Return (QFR) to the Regulator of Social Housing and responding to any questions or issues that arise.
• Lead on the development of Financial ICT systems to ensure they meet the requirements of the group
• Lead on the development of external financial reporting for investors and stakeholders, in particular, meeting requirements as an issuer of a publicly quoted bond
• Prepare and present financial account reports to Group and subsidiary Boards, Committees and management teams in a confident and professional manner, providing suitable advice and support to Boards and committees
• Lead on the development of effective working relationships with external stakeholders in relation to financial accounting (auditors, pension providers, regulators, advisors etc) preparing and presenting information where required

Taxation, Rent and Service Charges

• Lead on the development of a group tax strategy and ensure that the group complies with its taxation obligations and processes are in place for the accounting, calculation and submission of tax returns in respect of VAT, CIS and Corporation Tax.
• Ensure rent income is accounted for accurately and to lead on the annual rent setting process, ensuring rents are set in accordance with legislation, regulatory requirements and group policy.
• Ensure service charges are accounted for accurately in line with legislation, regulatory requirements and tenancy/lease agreements, implementing processes for the accurate and timely assessment of service charges
• Work with Housing Management on the development of appropriate rent and service charge policies and strategies
• Lead on the development of effective working relationships with HMRC, liaising with, preparing and presenting information where required

Transactional Services

• Lead on the development of efficient group wide accounts payable and receivable processes ensuring effective controls are in place minimising any financial risk
• Lead on recovery of outstanding non tenant debt
• Ensure appropriate insurance cover is in place across the group and claims processes are managed in an efficient and effective manner.
• Lead on the development of efficient and accurate rent accounting processes
• Develop and implement processes for day to day cash management and bank reconciliation
• Ensure appropriate banking arrangements are in place across the group

Health and Safety

• Ensure that H&S policy and procedures are adhered to and embedded to deliver effective and safe services and operations.

Equality and Diversity

• Apply and embed fairness and equality in both the delivery and offer of all services, to ensure that all staff and customers are treated fairly, to meet an individual’s personal circumstances.

Safeguarding

• To promote safety and protection of vulnerable adults and children by ensuring that all safeguarding issues and concerns are reported promptly in accordance with Local Authority and Torus Safeguarding Policies.

Skills & Requirements:

• CCAB Professional Qualification
• Evidence of and commitment to continual professional, leadership and personal development
• Strong track record of success in a senior financial management role.
• Demonstrable governance and financial compliance management experience to ensure robust and compliant operations.
• Evidence of a balanced approach to risk management within reward activity, taking account of business need and risk and providing balanced advice and direction based on sound judgement.
• Extensive experience and understanding of requirements for the production of statutory accounts including financial reporting standards and relevant SORPs
• Experience in the delivery of core financial accounting and control functions to ensure integrity and accuracy of accounts and financial records
• Highly developed understanding of Taxation requirements in terms of VAT, CIS and Corporation Tax and the development of a tax strategy for a complex group delivering commercial and charitable services
• Experience in the delivery of and improvement of finance transactional services ensuring that they are efficient, provide VFM and support the integrity and accuracy of accounts and financial records
• Highly developed understanding of finance system requirements and experience in the implementation and development of Finance ICT systems
• Sound experience of working with operational managers to improve financial management, VFM and control of financial risk.
• Experience of working collaboratively building successful working relationships with all key stakeholders and providing strategic business assurance advice to executives and non-executives.

The Company

We employ more than 1,500 people in a wide variety of jobs across Liverpool City Region and in the wider North West. We don’t just build homes. Our mission is to create stronger communities so people can thrive. If you‘re passionate about people and want to make a difference, there are many opportunities to join us.

Torus is an equal opportunities employer and we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. The Torus “A place where everyone belongs” approach sums up our belief that everyone has the right to be who they are, and to be that person at work, in line with Torus’ Values. We appreciate the strength we gain from having and supporting our diverse teams. Diversity contributes to our inclusive culture and allows us to be truly representative of the communities we work in.

Torus is the North West’s largest affordable housing provider and one of its biggest and fastest-growing developers and commercial contractors. We’re all about creating sustainable, stable and thriving communities – and making positive changes happen. So if you think you can make a difference and give something back to our communities, Torus is a place for you.

We are over 1,500 diverse and talented people sharing the same inspiring goal: to create a better society through providing homes people love to live in and in communities they want to be part of.  

We are true professionals, who thrive in this fast-moving, challenging and rewarding environment because we know that the stronger our organisation is, the better we can benefit our customers and colleagues alike.  

Every single one of our colleagues has unique qualities that we truly value. We embrace diversity and inclusion and invest in our people. We share a culture where our people focus on solutions, work together to achieve great results and take pride in what we do for each other and for our customers and the communities we live and work in.  

We believe our people deserve the opportunity to explore their potential. That’s why we encourage and support everyone at Torus to be the best they can be. We are Torus. We are building the future.

We Own it – Our people focus on solutions. We take individual and collective responsibility for our actions.  

We Care – Our people are supportive. We take pride in what we do for each other and for our customers.  

We Deliver – Our people are committed. We work together as one team to achieve great results.  

We are Torus!

Generous Annual Leave up to 30 days Annual Leave, Plus Bank Holidays

Enhanced Maternity / Paternity & Adoption Pay

Health & Wellbeing Support

Happy to Talk Flexible / Agile Working

Internal Reward and Recognition

Professional Study / Development Opportunities

For any further information in relation to this vacancy or any other vacancies advertised with the Torus Group please contact us using the following email address - *******@torus.co.uk.

Documents

Group Head of Financial Compliance and Tax JD - Download