P R O T E C T S T A F F
JOB DESCRIPTION FOR BRADFORD CATHEDRAL TREASURER
Job Title: Cathedral Treasurer
Hours of work: 14 hours per week (excluding lunch breaks)
Salary: £12,000 - £14,000 depending on experience (equivalent to
£30,000 - £35,000 per annum)
Overview
The Cathedral Treasurer is responsible for the efficient and effective management of the
Cathedral’s financial and accounting procedures. The post-holder will be the Cathedral’s principal adviser on matters relating to financial legislation and will lead in the production of the annual budget, reports and accounts and quarterly management accounts.
Context
The post-holder, as Head of the Finance Department, will be responsible for the provision and supervision of all accounting, book-keeping, investment management and the production of management reports for the Cathedral, and for establishing and implementing sound financial and accounting policies across the Cathedral and for making returns and claims for Gift Aid and Listed
Places of Worship grants; with the Cathedral having only a small staff, there will be operational as well as supervisory activity.
The post-holder will be expected to work closely with the Chairman of the Finance Committee, budget-holders and department heads, and with a number of other staff and volunteers, providing support and advice on financial matters as necessary.
The post is line-managed on behalf of the Cathedral Chapter by the Director of Strategic
Development and Operations.
Principal Tasks
Financial Management
 Develop and maintain effective systems of financial management, ensuring the financial integrity and security of Cathedral activities
 Devise appropriate accounting policies for use by the Cathedral and make recommendations as necessary to the Finance Committee and to Chapter
 Take overall responsibility for the accounting and financial functions of the Cathedral
 Ensure that accounting standards comply with applicable law and United Kingdom accounting standards
 Manage cash resources of the Cathedral including preparation and monitoring of cash flow forecasts
 Assist the Finance Committee in preparation and regular review of three-year financial plans

 Supervise Cathedral bank accounts including day to day processing of receipts, payments and transfers by other Finance Department staff.
 Carry out appropriate risk management on Cathedral financial systems making appropriate recommendations to the Finance Committee
 To assist the Director of Strategic Development and Operations to ensure that the
Cathedral’s assets including the buildings are adequately insured and the insurances are reviewed regularly.
Budget and Reporting
 Prepare monthly/quarterly management accounts for the Cathedral
 Lead in producing the annual Cathedral budget
 Work with and support department heads and budget holders in achieving compliance with departmental budgets
 Report to the Finance Committee on departmental performance against budget and bring to its attention any unplanned variance.
 Assist the Director of Strategic Development and Operations, working with the Auditors, in the production of the annual report and accounts including preparation of trial balances, end-of-year reports, consolidated statement of financial activities, balance sheet and notes to the accounts as required
 Supply information to the Director of Strategic Development and Operations in support of fundraising initiatives and applications
Statutory Returns and Reports
 Prepare all necessary returns to Church Commissioners, Church of England Pensions
Board, Payroll, Charity Commission and HMRC.
 Maintain records and supervise and check prepared returns for tax reclaims, including Gift
Aid and the Listed Places of Worship Scheme.
 Ensure compliance with all relevant tax and financial legislation and advise the Finance
Committee and, through the Director of Strategic Development and Operations, the
Chapter on the best method of managing the accounting function in the light of legislative changes
General Accountancy Functions and Supervision of Departmental Staff
 Supervise the maintenance of the cash book for the Cathedral and ensure that all journal entries are posted for the Cathedral using appropriate IT and manual systems by the relevant staff member
 Maintain Cathedral nominal ledgers
 Supervise the preparing of monthly bank reconciliations
 Manage the preparation of invoices for payment and the raising of cheques for the
Cathedral following authorisation by the relevant departmental head.
 Liaise with auditors before, during and after the annual audit and ensure that the Cathedral is efficient in the production of all required information to ensure satisfactory audit
 Liaison with bank on changes to instructions, charges, mandates, banking errors
 Research and advise on best possible payment rates for utilities
 Liaise as necessary with those responsible for counting and banking of money to ensure best practice and agreed procedures are followed
 Supervise and authorise Cathedral payroll input and manage payment of net pay and deductions.
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Attendance at meetings
 Attend Finance Committee meetings (usually 4 per annum during the day)
 Attendance at Chapter and Management Team meetings when required to report on financial matters, to include Cathedral Council, Foundation and APCM
 Where possible attend the conferences of the Cathedral Administration and Finance
Association (CAFA) (one residential and two one-day events)
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
 A qualified accountant who is a member of one of the recognised UK accounting bodies
(ACA, ACCA, ACMA)
 At least two years experience in a small or medium-sized organisation
 Familiarity with the operation of SAGE accounting software
 Competent in the use of Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel
 Able to work on own initiative, largely unsupervised
 Good communication skills, both written and oral
 A good team player with ability to relate equally well to paid and voluntary staff
 Able to work under pressure
 Able to demonstrate sympathy with the aims and objectives of Bradford Cathedral
Desirable
 Experience of accounting within the Church of England, for instance in a parish, Cathedral or Diocesan setting, or alternatively, in any other charitable/not-for-profit organisation
 Experience of working in an environment where paid and voluntary staff work side by side
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