RECRUITMENT
PACK
Resources Director
February 2016
www.campbelltickell.com
Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
YOUR APPLICATION
Dear Applicant
Thank you very much for your interest in this position. On the following pages you will find
information about the Resource Director post at Womens Pioneer, along with details of the
selection process, to assist you in completing and tailoring your application. In order to apply you
should submit:

An up-to-date CV which shows your full career history – we recommend that this is no longer
than three pages;

A supporting statement explaining why you are interested in this role detailing how you are a
good candidate for this post and how you fulfil the person specification – we recommend that
this is no longer than two pages;

The declaration form – but completion of the equalities section is not mandatory, this is
requested for monitoring purposes in line with our commitment to equality and diversity; and

Indicate on the declaration form if you cannot attend any of the interview dates.
Please note that applications can only be considered if all the documentation is complete. Please
send your application, preferably in MS Word format by email to: [email protected].
Applications must be received by 12 noon on Friday 18th March 2016.
You will receive an acknowledgement within 24 hours of receipt and we suggest that if after that
time you have not heard from us, you telephone the office (020 3434 0990) to ensure that it has
arrived. Using a secure email address and putting the job title/organisation in the subject line
reduces the chances of any email going into spam.
Please do contact me if you wish to have an informal discussion about the role/organisation or if
you have any other questions to help you decide whether to apply. You can contact me on 020
3434 0990 or 07786 831 690
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
[email protected] www.campbelltickell.com 020 3434 0990
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
CONTENTS
Welcome letter from the Chief Executive
4
Background to this role
5
About Womens Pioneer
6
The Board
8
The Management Team
10
Job description
11
Person specification
14
Organisation chart
15
Principal terms and conditions of service
16
Key dates and the selection process
17
Media advertisement
18
The following supplementary information
downloaded from www.campbelltickell.com:
can
be
Annual Report 2015
Corporate Plan 2016 -2020
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
WELCOME LETTER
Dear applicant,
This summer Women’s Pioneer will be welcoming a new Director of Resources and I am delighted
that you are interested in applying for this post. We are an independent, financially secure
organisation operating in attractive and popular neighbourhoods in west London and I am looking
forward to recruiting a new colleague to be part of the senior management team at an exciting
point in our history.
It is clichéd to say that we want to appoint someone who will embrace and manage change. But,
like all clichés, this is true: we are looking for someone to be part of a team that will maintain our
strengths whilst delivering an ambitious corporate plan to take us towards our centenary in 2020.
They will be working as a member of an enthusiastic and experienced senior management team
and exceptionally skilled Board, with high expectations we are keen to meet.
Many people will know that Women’s Pioneer was established in the wake of the suffrage
movement to provide affordable rented homes in London for women of modest means. We still
believe that women are disadvantaged in finding secure affordable homes and at all stages of their
lives need a landlord that respects and supports their independence. However, we have never
been a separatist organisation and we welcome men as colleagues and Board members. We
therefore look forward to considering all applications and I hope you will feel you want to go
further in the process.
You should find all the information you need to apply for this role within this pack, but do also
speak to Kathy Carter (07786 831 690) and I shall look forward to welcoming a new colleague to
the team.
Yours sincerely
Janet Davies
Chief Executive
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
BACKGROUND TO THIS ROLE
2016 is a watershed for housing associations and this will be no exception at Women’s
Pioneer. We share the sector’s concerns about the impact of reductions in rents and the
uncertainty of key policy directions. However, we start from a solid foundation, with good
knowledge of our business operations and housing assets, a non-grant funded development
programme, with loan finance agreed, and a subsidiary established to generate income that
will allow us to let new homes at target rents. There is, of course, much more to be done
and we need to continue with our decision making around on investment and
rationalisation. Our residential property assets mostly comprise small converted flats in
listed buildings or in conservation areas in London’s highest value areas and this presents a
near unique opportunity in the housing association sector that will challenge and excite the
new Director of Resources. We want our next phase of organisational development to
identify ways we can improve services for tenants as well as exploit the association’s
advantages.
The new Director of Resources will be a qualified finance professional, thriving on the variety
of workload that is often not available at this level in a larger organisation. We want
someone who will share our ambition to deliver the best and will welcome the fresh ideas
and innovation you can bring to this role As a member of the senior management team, you
will have a lead role in determining the future development of the association’s business,
taking responsibility for both long term financial planning (using BRIXX) and risk
management. You will question the status quo, but recognise when things are being done
well. The association enjoys good relationships with lenders, regulators, internal and
external auditors. You will be responsible for maintaining and developing these, ensuring
they deliver good value for money and operational results.
The finance team is responsible for long term budgets and planning, performance reporting
and day to day financial operations and the Director of Resources must be an experienced
manager within the not for profit sector. You will be expected to organise and manage the
team to achieve the best results for the association as a whole and ensure systems and
processes are fit for purpose. You will build on existing strengths, such as disciplined
financial thinking and practice, and instil an ethos of providing excellent service to residents
and colleagues. Exceptional communication skills are needed: the post holder must be able
to explain financial issues in a way that people at all levels of the organisation can
understand.
We have robust but underutilised IT systems and the new Director of Resources should be
able to develop and manage IT at a strategic level to ensure it supports all aspects of the
business.
There are two other posts at this level at Women’s Pioneer and the Director of Resources
will work closely with the Directors of Housing and Property Services and the Chief Executive
in areas as diverse as strategic and financial planning, rent and service charges setting and
administration and relations with tenants. This level of corporate responsibility offers a rare
opportunity for personal and professional development for the right candidate.
[email protected] www.campbelltickell.com 020 3434 0990
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
ABOUT US
Women’s Pioneer Housing is a not-for-profit housing association, housing single
women in areas of west London. It was established in 1920 by women and men who
believed in gender equality and the need to redress the disadvantages women
experienced in obtaining and retaining a secure home.
Our aim was “to cater for the housing requirements of professional and other
women of moderate means who require individual homes at moderate rents”.
Despite changes in social attitudes and legislation, women are still disadvantaged
when it comes to getting housing, owing to their relatively low incomes and the
extra responsibilities many have of caring for others. Women’s Pioneer’s objective
is to interpret our founders’ intentions in a 21st century social and political context.
Our homes
Women’s Pioneer Housing is London’s largest specialist housing association for
women. We own almost 1000 properties in eight boroughs in west and north-west
London: Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham, Camden, Ealing,
Wandsworth, Hillingdon, Harrow, and Westminster. 80% are studio and onebedroom flats, mostly in converted Victorian buildings, many of which are listed or
in conservation areas. There are also 90 pepper potted leasehold flats and a small
but growing number of higher rental investment properties that fund our future
development plans.
Sheltered housing for older women
Our sheltered housing for single women over 60 is located in Kensington & Chelsea,
where we are the largest sheltered housing provider. We have 178 flats for women
over 60 who wish to live independently in their own home but with added security
and back-up support, on call. Each flat is self-contained and the immediate
neighbours are also women of older ages.
More than decent programme
We are improving our older homes through a More Than Decent programme.
With high quality of work and materials we produce outstanding and desirable flats,
which are let on first viewing and have minimal ongoing maintenance. On average
we improve 35 homes a year, replacing kitchens and bathrooms and upgrading
utilities. However, what is special about the programme is that we also redesign
layouts, and incorporate features such as fitted carpets, modern lighting built in storage.
Hidden Homes
In 2013 we embarked on our Hidden Homes programme, making better use of
space within our existing stock and searching out opportunities to extend and
improve our buildings. Seven new homes were found and developed, and the
pipeline has now more than doubled. This expansion is being funded through
borrowing, not grant, and by letting a small number of flats at market level
we are avoiding charging higher “affordable” rents.
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
Governance
Women’s Pioneer attracts high calibre Board members who support and
challenge in equal measure. They have set an association wide objective
of improving the quality of customer service we provide, and all teams must
demonstrate how they are contributing to this goal. Board members expect
accurate and intellectually sound reporting and argument, delivered clearly in
person and in writing. In return, staff are rewarded by constructive criticism
and the benefit of members’ practical experience from a wide range of
perspectives. Relationships between staff and Board are excellent and enjoyable.
Terms and conditions
Our open plan offices have excellent public transport links. We are outside the
congestion zone and on site car parking is available, if not guaranteed. There is
easy access to local facilities, such as the Westfield shopping centre, the west
end and to Notting Hill (where we own many properties) Flexible and family
friendly working conditions are available for all staff.
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
THE BOARD
Caroline Tolhurst - Chair
Caroline works as a consultant having previously held roles as a company secretary and
compliance officer. She is a chartered secretary and chartered surveyor and non-executive
committee member at A2 Dominion Housing. She joined the board in 2010.
Eleena Broadfoot
Eleena is currently head of corporate development for thetrainline.com. She is a chartered
accountant and was until recently financial and commercial director for Virgin Limited Edition.
She joined the board in 2010.
Sushil Chohan
Shushil is chief operating officer for a medium-sized IT consultancy in west London. He is a
chartered accountant and has been finance director for several SME businesses. He joined the
board in 2010.
Jo Ghelmini
Jo is a retired independent training consultant in the public sector and a former social worker.
She now teaches mindfulness and is a tenant of Women's Pioneer Housing. She joined the board
in 2012.
Andrea Gwilliam
Andrea is a communications consultant who has held senior positions at British Airways, the
BBC, Deutsche Bank and Reuters. She joined the board in 2014.
Mike Harle
Mike is a Church of England priest, serving as a volunteer minister. He was formerly global head
of sales and marketing for Shell Aviation. He joined the board in 2014.
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
Maureen Hopcroft
Maureen is an IT consultant for the housing and not for profit sector. She joined the board in
2010.
Vivienne King
Vivienne is a solicitor and consultant and until recently she was a director of business operations
and general counsel at the Crown Estate. She joined the board in 2014.
Sofia Nilsson
Sofia works at Standard Chartered Bank and has particular expertise in risk management. She
joined the board in 2010.
Carline Porstmouth
Caroline is a former journalist specialising in law and crime, now teaching English as a foreign
language to corporate clients. She is a Women’s Pioneer Housing tenant and joined the board in
2015.
Louise Wolfson
Louise is a solicitor and partner at Pinsent Masons LLP and a part-time judge of the first tier
Tribunal, assigned to the social security and child support jurisdiction. She joined the board in
2014.
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
THE MANAGEMENT TEAM
Janet Davies - CEO
CEO at Women’s Pioneer Housing since 1992, having previously worked at Circle, acquiring and
developing central London sites and property, and Rodinglea HA (now part of One Group) as CEO.
Formerly a Board member and deputy Chair of the NHF; Council member of Homeless
International; Board member, Chair of Finance and deputy Chair at Community HA, Board
member, Chair of Risk and Audit and deputy Chair of Gateway HA.
Christine Desborough – Housing Director
Director of Housing at Women’s Pioneer since 1989. Moved from local government to Women’s
Pioneer in 1987, having held housing management roles at LBs Southwark and Tower Hamlets, RB
Kensington and Chelsea, and Hertsmere BC. Responsible for policy and practice on lettings,
income recovery, tenancy management and tenant welfare in both general needs and sheltered
housing schemes. Governor at Pinner Park Junior School.
Sue Hockett – Property Services Director
Joined Women’s Pioneer after leaving university and became Director of Property Services in
1989. Now responsible for planning and delivery of capital investment programme of both new
homes and improvements; planned maintenance of stock, the responsive repairs service and
estate based services, delivered through a team of on-site staff. Vice Chair of governors and Chair
of Premises at Newington Green Primary School.
Rosemary Farrar – Interim Finance Director
Rosemary is an experienced Finance Director in G15 associations in London.
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
JOB DESCRIPTION
Resources Director
Accountable to: The Chief Executive
Line Manages: Finance Manager, 1 x Management Accountant and 2 x Finance Assistants
Job Purpose
- As a member of the executive team, ensure the development and delivery of Women’s
Pioneer’s mission, strategies and business plans.
- Provide the overall strategy, direction and management of finance, treasury, IT and VFM.
- Ensure delivery of annual statutory accounts and monthly management accounts
- Develop and maintain systems for business performance reporting
- Ensure a strategic approach to the development, management and use of IT across the
organisation, and robust oversight of investment in IT infrastructure.
- Advise the Women’s Pioneer Board on appropriate systems, processes, procedures, and
control mechanisms to meet its business objectives, with respect to finance, treasury, and IT.
- Ensure that the systems and processes for setting and collecting of rents and service charges
and the control mechanisms meet the business objectives.
Ensure through Women’s Pioneer’s process and procedures, that all statutory compliance
requirements with respect to finance, treasury, and IT are embedded within the organisation.
Key Relationships
External: Funders, the Homes & Communities Agency; treasury, legal and other professional
advisors; internal and external auditors; and finance and IT contractors.
Internal: The Board; the executive and wider staff team; residents within the involvement and
scrutiny structure; and other internal customers.
Key Responsibilities
A. Corporate leadership
1.
In conjunction with the executive team provide vision, leadership and direction to the
organisation.
2.
Ensure that Women’s Pioneer mission and corporate and business plans remain relevant
and underpin all activities at the organisation.
3.
Participate as required in corporate and leadership initiatives and activities taking
collective responsibility for executive team decisions, and leading by example.
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
B. Business Performance
4.
Lead on the delivery of all key strategies including for example value for money and
treasury management and convert those strategies into deliverable plans.
5.
Deliver the 30-year business plan, as well as the annual cycle for the production of the
organisational and departmental budgets; and the financial planning that underpins asset
management, stock investment plan; the development programme and new business.
6.
Provide relevant and timely reports on business performance for the Board and executive
team.
7.
Manage the loan portfolio and borrowing strategy, ensuring effective cash management,
anticipating funding and re-financing needs and opportunities, and ensuring full
compliance with loan covenants.
8.
Manage the assets and accounting of the organisation’s subsidiary company.
9.
Maintain effective relations with lenders and investors, ensuring that contractual
requirements are fully met and liaise as needed with treasury advisors.
10. Take the lead on servicing and coordinating the Finance Committee ensuring all internal
and external audit recommendations are acted upon.
C.
Control and Compliance
11. Develop and maintain effective systems of accounting and financial control.
12. Ensure robust monitoring of the business plan, ensuring systems are in place for managing
performance and taking timely and corrective action as necessary.
13. Deliver the organisation’s risk management and assurance arrangements including the
governance mechanisms for risk management.
14. Ensure compliance with all statutory requirements relating to the financial control, and
accounting of the organisation as a registered provider, and company, including
compliance with governance and delegations framework, standing orders and financial
regulations and delivery of financial statements.
15. Ensure systems are in place to enable senior managers to appraise financial risk when
developing future plans, particularly in asset management, stock investment, new
business and development programmes.
16. Establish appropriate internal and external audit arrangements are in place, procuring
services as necessary for the whole organisation.
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
17. Lead on the development of the organisation’s IT strategy, ensuring delivery of agreed
project milestones to ensure co-ordinated management, appropriate staff skills across the
organisation and adoption of best practice and integration with business improvement
plans.
18. Ensure robust oversight of spend on IT infrastructure, providing advice to the executive
and Board, taking professional advice as needed.
D. Performance Management
19. Provide leadership and professional development to the Finance team, creating a
climate that ensures a reputation for service excellence innovation and reliability.
20. Ensure the team are appropriately structured, managed, resourced, trained and
accountable for providing a quality service to internal/external customers.
21. Develop a culture of learning and accountability so that staff are enthused about their
contributions and can see their impact and value
This job description does not form part of your contract of employment and can be amended
from time to time as the needs of the organisation require.
[email protected] www.campbelltickell.com 020 3434 0990
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Resource Director
Core Competencies
- Acts with integrity, actively promotes and support the mission and values of Women’s Pioneer.
- Relevant professional qualification e.g. CIPFA/CIMA/ACA/ACCA and full membership of a
recognised UK accountancy body. Evidence of continuing professional development would be
an advantage.
- Excellent verbal, written communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, able to analyse
complex financial information and interpret it for non-finance experts.
Knowledge and Experience
- Substantial experience of operating at senior level in a finance function in a comparable size
business. Direct management of wider portfolio responsibilities e.g. business improvement,
ICT, governance and project management would be an advantage.
- Understanding of managing a loan portfolio and being accountable for covenants and long
term financial projections with a proven track record of managing lender and investor
relationships.
- A good grasp of the financial compliance and regulatory framework relevant to Women’s
Pioneer.
- Experience of developing and managing a strong service culture, where organisational
infrastructure proactively supports frontline service delivery.
- Skills and Abilities
- Able to assess risk and promote risk awareness without being risk averse.
- Able to make sound financial judgements, confident in own abilities and able to give advice to
others and be accountable for that advice.
Personal Behaviour and Style
Approachable, personable; able to form positive relationships and secure buy-in.
A motivational, leader, who maximises the performance of teams and individuals.
Used to working under pressure but maintaining accuracy.
Proactively demonstrates a strong commitment to equality and diversity; and champions the
rights of tenants to have access to excellent homes and services.
- A self-starter, able to work on own initiative, exercise good judgement and be tenacious in
pursuing opportunities and excellence
- Able to work flexibly and as required evenings/weekends given the seniority of role.
-
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
Organisation Chart
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
PRINCIPAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
(For information purposes only)
1. Position
Resources Director
2. Remuneration/ salary
£70k per annum
3. Annual Leave
26 days rising to 29 after 5 years of service plus Bank Holidays.
5. Pension
Women’s Pioneer Housing offers a defined contribution pension scheme. There is a choice of 7%
of salary paid by WPH with a minimum of 3% from employee, or 8% of salary paid by WPH with a
minimum of 4% from employee. A salary exchange scheme is also available.
5. Location
Your normal place of work will be our office at 227 Wood Lane, London W12 0EX, but given the
seniority of the role, travel across all our operating areas is expected.
6. Working hours
Normal hours of work are 35 hours or pro rata per week based around the usual business working
week. However, due to the seniority of this post there is a requirement for flexibility in meeting
the full responsibilities of the post and this will include occasional evening and weekend work.
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
KEY DATES AND
THE SELECTION PROCESS
Closing Date
Friday 18 March 2016, 12 noon
First interviews
Friday 8 April 2016
Final interviews
W/C 18th April 2016
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Women’s Pioneer
Resources Director
MEDIA ADVERTISEMENT
[email protected] www.campbelltickell.com 020 3434 0990
18
Third Floor
Olympic Office Centre
8 Fulton Road
Wembley Middlesex
HA9 0NU
020 8830 6777
020 3434 0990 (Recruitment)
[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