Be part of our storyExecutive Director Finance and Resources

We will refine and deliver our social purpose.

We will maximise the supply of new homes.

We will continue to invest in quality homes and services.

We will remain strong, effective and well-run.

The last five years at Newport City Homes (NCH) have been all about change and collectively understanding where we are, why we’re here and what we need to do to provide homes and communities our residents want to live in.

At times it’s been hard, but the heavy lifting has been done and our ambition and vision for our future is clear. We know where we are going and we need an innovative finance and resources leader to help us get there.

Later this year, we will launch our Strategy 2025. This builds on the success of our 2020 Vision and revitalises our approach to ensure we remain a strong and resilient housing association now and for years to come.

Although we have achieved an incredible amount in the eleven years since we were created, we are not complacent. We are always looking for new and innovative ways to improve the services we provide to our residents and communities. Strategy 2025 is underpinned by the need to further improve resident satisfaction, driving cost and quality improvements and realising our growth potential through our unrivalled financial strength.

Newport is packed with potential. We are proud to play a key role in transforming our city by creating vibrant and safe communities our residents want to live and work in, whilst also attracting further growth and investment.

NCH has always been about more than housing. Residents have always been, and will remain, at the heart of every decision we make. Our agile approach to delivering our services has allowed us to keep this true even in the most challenging of recent circumstances.

I want to ensure Newport City Homes keeps pace with the emerging challenges and evolving trends of our operating environment. This is where you come in.

We know affordable, safe, well managed social housing is now more important than ever. We want to challenge and improve how our services are delivered, by driving efficiency, creating effectiveness and maximising the impact of our fabulous colleagues and resources.

We’re looking for someone exceptional to help us drive our future delivery. We want someone talented who shares our ambition to be part of our story - someone who has a passion for doing the right thing, for change and constant improvement.

If this sounds like you, you could be just who we need.

Ceri Doyle

Chief Executive

A message from our CEO“We’re looking for someone

exceptional to help us drive our future delivery”Ceri Doyle

Chief Executive

We will continue to invest in quality homes and services.

Reporting to our CEO, you’ll be one of four Executive Directors who work with our Board to define and realise the strategic potential of NCH.

This role will be responsible for an integrated portfolio delivering support to our front-line services. With experience of operating at Board level and embedding new ways of working, you will promote a culture of continuous improvement supported by all employees that improves service delivery and enhances performance through decreasing inefficiencies. This role will ensure that the Finance and Resources Directorate remains fit for purpose, future focused and provides appropriate assurance to support the association.

With an analytical mind, you will champion the use of data throughout the association and ensure that value for money is continuously considered and improved.

Growth is a key part of Strategy 2025. As Executive Director Finance and Resources, you will create, identify and realise funding opportunities to enable our growth plans and ensure NCH becomes a leading competitor in the social housing and development markets.

With overarching responsibility for governance, HR, finance and procurement, you will have overarching knowledge and understanding of key practices and procedures in these areas. You will build on our established governance arrangements, including schemes of delegation, standing orders, internal controls and legal and regulatory requirements.

You will be a people centred professional; balancing the needs of our residents with the capability and capacity of our employees, and your commercial acumen with ensuring that our residents are truly at the heart of all we do.

The Opportunity

Are you an inspiring leader?

Bring your transformational approach to Newport City Homes.

We will refine and deliver our social purpose.

Role ProfileJob title: Executive Director Finance and Resources

Responsible to: CEO

Responsible for: Finance and procurement, human resources (HR), strategy and governance.

Directorate: Resources

Location: Nexus House, agile working

Job PurposeAs a member of the Executive Team, the Executive Director will proactively lead the strategic and corporate direction of the association in partnership with other senior managers and the Board.

The Executive Director will play a key role in the long term strategic development of Newport City Homes (NCH), which necessitates a demonstrable interest in Newport, social housing, and personal drive to empower the workforce to deliver the association’s ambitious strategic framework.

Accountabilities and responsibilities as a member of the Executive Team1. Provide strategic and innovative leadership across NCH, developing a coaching

culture, leading transformational change as well as constant continuous improvement.

2. Work with the Executive Team to ensure flexible resident focused services are provided to our residents, and ensure that service delivery models are appropriately future proofed to incorporate technological advances.

3. Ensure that appropriate strategies, policies and procedures are developed, implemented and monitored across the association to deliver the Board’s strategic vision. Develop and implement associated Resources Directorate strategies and plans that promote a risk management culture that ensures innovation is embedded within the Directorate.

4. Lead the development of the Resources Directorate plan, set ambitious targets to add value to service delivery, ensure appropriate data is captured to demonstrate performance and intervene swiftly and consistently when targets slip.

5. Provide leadership and management to the Resources Directorate, ensuring appropriate resource and performance management is in place, building resilience and keep structures and roles under review, whilst effectively communicating corporate messages.

6. Support the Board in setting the strategic direction of the association, advising on relevant Resources Directorate matters and managing the effective governance of the association in an open and transparent manner.

7. Represent the association at national and local levels across the sector and in other relevant fora. Continually monitoring, planning and responding to the changing operating and strategic environment.

8. Accountable for the sound overall financial performance of each service within the Resources Directorate, ensuring that budgets are set and reviewed and that all costs are managed within the agreed budgetary framework, maximising external funding opportunities.

9. Ensure the association effectively promotes its obligations and commitment to diversity and equal opportunities in respect of both employment and service delivery. Demonstrate personal responsibility for equality of opportunity and ensure diversity is respected.

10. Promote, protect and enhance the reputation of NCH, including acting as spokesperson on behalf of the Chief Executive and Board as required.

11. To deputise for the CEO and carry out any other duties required by the Chief Executive or Board in the delivery of the corporate and strategic plans of the association.

Specifically, the Executive Director Finance and Resources will:• Provide the strategic direction and quality assurance for an integrated portfolio

delivering support to front line services, championing innovative continuous improvement that drives better cost and quality management. Work with the Board and CEO to develop the financial, HR, risk management, assurance, value for money (VfM) and governance frameworks of NCH.

• Support the Board and CEO in assessing strategic growth options and ensure that partnership and funding opportunities to support our strategic framework are realised.

• Be responsible to the CEO and Board for developing appropriate governance frameworks, including schemes of delegation, standing orders, internal controls, legal and regulatory requirements.

• As a member of the Executive Team, lead the delivery of the association’s strategic framework promoting value for money, resident engagement and improved satisfaction whilst simultaneously supporting the growth and promotion of the association.

Accountabilities and responsibilities of the Executive Director Finance and Resources1. Establish and implement an effective strategic planning process for the association that

embeds equalities and sustainability, ensuring appropriate monitoring of performance is in place and effectively communicated.

2. Ensure the interdependencies between the association’s financial and human resources and our assets and digital capacity are utilised effectively to deliver our strategic framework.

3. Ensure financial and organisational performance, as well as legal and regulatory compliance, is appropriately and regularly reported and understood by the Board and Executive.

4. Ensure that the annual budget and business plan is set and reviewed and that all costs are managed within the agreed budgetary framework, maximising funding opportunities for services and improving efficiency and VfM (cost and quality).

5. Establish and implement an assurance framework which incorporates risk management, internal audit and VfM which effectively assesses and scrutinises risks and VfM across the association.

6. Work with the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) and Company Secretary to ensure that the delegations from the Board are effectively discharged in the management and monitoring of the assurance framework. Continuously review and embed best practice in the management of the assurance framework.

7. Interpret funding changes that may impact on the financial arrangements of NCH, proactively engaging the association in responding to opportunities and mitigating the risks and effectively responding.

8. Maintain and implement a Treasury Strategy and Treasury Policy to manage the association’s loan and investment arrangements, ensuring the best possible advice is secured and effectively interpreted in managing financial matters. Maintain effective relationships with existing and potential new funders.

9. Ensure appropriate controls and arrangements are in place to support the association’s development programme, including appropriate financial assessments and business planning.

10. Be accountable for the development of the association’s people strategy. Ensure that best practice in organisational design, learning and development and transformational change is in line with the cultural aspirations of the strategic framework. Maintain high quality HR intelligence and data to enable effective decision making.

11. Promote the association as an employer of choice incorporating and future proofing all legal and HR requirements.

12. Ensure that the procurement and contract management strategy is constantly reviewed and compliant with statutory and regulatory frameworks. Maintain high quality procurement and contract compliance, intelligence and data to ensure effective decision making.

13. Ensure appropriate legal, regulatory and governance arrangements are in place, continuously monitored and reviewed in line with best practice.

14. To deputise for the CEO and carry out any other duties required by the Chief Executive or Board in the delivery of the strategic and corporate plans of the association.

15. Responsible for ensuring that the digital systems utilised by the Resources Directorate meet business needs and generate appropriate information to support performance improvements across resources.

Budget and Staffing The Finance and Resource Directorate budget for 2020-21 is as follows:

Revenue £4.4m

There are currently 398 members of staff working for NCH. The Finance and Resource Directorate employs 57 staff with 3 direct reports to the Executive Director, these include

• Deputy Director of Finance and Resources• Head of Governance and Compliance• Head of Human Resources

Key Internal and External Relationships Internal: Board, remuneration committee, audit and risk committee, Leadership Team, direct reports.

External: Lenders, residents, CHC, CIH, NCC, other HAs, internal and external auditors, Regulator, advisors (risk management, legal, procurement), leadership and management development experts, personal mentors and coaches.

Personal attributes 1. Ability to work as part of an association wide strategic executive.

2. Personal awareness, knows strengths and limitations, understands the impact of behaviours and regularly undertakes reflective practice.

3. Strong influencing skills with internal and external stakeholders.

4. Astute judge of people and prudent evaluator of business opportunities.

5. Personal resilience and the ability to work under pressure at pace.

6. Personal integrity: open, honest and inclusive.

7. Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex strategic decisions and operational matters in a concise and straightforward manner.

8. Committed to and ability to promote equal opportunities and embed sustainability principles.

9. The ability to create teams that deliver excellent support services.

10. Commitment to life-long learning and continuous professional development.

11. Unwavering levels of enthusiasm for social housing and Newport.

Knowledge / Skills / Experience Essential 1. Educated to degree level, qualified accountant or equivalent professional qualification.

2. Experience at Director level within a large complex organisation, exceptional leadership skills with proven experience of managing and leading staff through cultural change.

3. Experience of successful collaborative working with external organisations across the public, private and community sectors.

4. Ability to balance strategic direction with effective service delivery.

5. Evidence of managing the service areas of the Finance and Resources Directorate in an innovative manner.

6. Experience of effective governance obtained at Board level.

7. Experience of establishing and leading an organisational approach to assurance, audit and risk.

8. Proven success in change and project management.

9. Highly organised with excellent planning and co-ordination ability.

10. Ability to establish effective relationships and networks at a local, regional and national level of relevance to NCH.

11. Ability to interpret complex information to enable decision making and drive business improvement.

12. Experience of supporting and developing a coaching culture underpinned by judgement led working.

13. Understanding of procurement methods and contract negotiation and management.

14. Understanding the strategic implications of HR practice and procedures.

Desirable1. Ability to think commercially and strategically in solving complex problems.

2. An understanding of effective IT strategies and their implementation in service improvement.

3. Experience of business transformation and service improvement in a customer focused organisation.We

will maximise the supply of new homes.

Interested?We want talented people who share our ambition to be part of our story.

If your ambition matches ours, take a step closer to joining our team.

Application process You are invited to submit your CV and up to 1000 word supporting statement demonstrating that you have the skills and experience required of the role by midnight on Sunday 6th September.

Applications should be submitted via our recruitment page at: www.newportcityhomes.com

Closing Date:Midnight, Sunday 6th September

Shortlisting Date: Thursday 10th September

Assessment Centre: Thursday 24th September

For a confidential conversation prior to applying, please contact Anna Griffin, Recruitment Officer atAnna.Griffin@newportcityhomes.comTelephone: 07794741171

Your NCH, a comprehensive benefits package including:• A competitive market salary

• 30 days holidays (plus 8 Bank Holidays).

• Access to join the Local Government Defined Benefit Pension Scheme (LGPS)or Now Pensions.

• Work-related training and development opportunities.

• We believe that work is something you do, not somewhere you go. Our agile workingapproach supports colleagues to work where, when and how they choose provided itmeets the needs of the business.

• And more.

We will remain strong, effective and well-run.