Beyond Autism - Head of Finance

Thank you for your interest in the role of Head of Finance at BeyondAutism. We are experts in delivering autism education services from pre-school to 25. BeyondAutism is a non- profit organisation, driving change in the world of autism education to ensure autistic children and young adults access an education which empowers a life full of choice, independence and opportunity. We do this by creating positive educational experiences, training for the professional team around a child, and information, resources and support for families and carers. We seeking to appoint a Head of Finance to oversee our property portfolio which consists of three schools, our early years facility, two post-19 hubs and our charity offices based in Roehampton. As Head of Finance you will be responsible for BeyondAutism’s financial strategy, reporting and accounting systems, and provide a professional, efficient, and effective accounting service you will be responsible for shaping and overseeing the finance team and ensuring timely and appropriate management accounts and year end reporting in accordance with the Charity SORP.

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Introduction Our Story Our Services Our Values Job Description Person Specification Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Further Information How to Apply

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Our story We are proud of the difference we have made since starting our journey in 2000 and look forward to the impact we can continue to have for, and with, autistic people for decades to come. BeyondAutism was founded by a group of parents, led by Karen Sorab, who started by setting up a small school in Wandsworth. We started with just 3 pupils in a run-down pre- fabricated hut on the grounds of Beatrix Potter School. Since then, the charity has undergone a remarkable transformation, growing exponentially in response to need. We now deliver education to pupils from Local Authorities across London from our Early Years’ service to our Post-19 Provision. In addition, our Outreach and Training Team provide support across the country stretching our reach far beyond London.

The story so far…

2000 Our journey started in 2000 when a group of parents led by Founder, Karen Sorab, created The Rainbow Charity and Rainbow School with 3 pupils in temporary accommodation.

2011 After a decade of growth in the schools which saw us expand to two sites, in 2011 we re-branded the charity to BeyondAutism. This was to reflect our ambition to exceed limits and empower autistic people to live independent lives.

2016 With pupil numbers growing at our schools, we started to notice gaps in available provision. In 2016 we launched a pilot of our Post-19 service to support school leavers as well as the foundations of our Outreach and Training service. We also launched our 5-year strategy: Empowering People, Launching Lives. 2020 In 2020 we changed our vision to “ensure autistic children and young adults access an education which empowers a life full of choice, independence and opportunity.” We also launched a new 5-year strategy reflecting our aspiration at an individual level, through education and developing skills, whilst also influencing attitudes, resources and institutions more broadly in society. The following year in 2021 we launched our Lunch and Learn webinar series as well as holding our first Professional Conference broadening our reach beyond those accessing our services.

2018 Following a successful pilot, our Post- 19 provision became a permanent service in 2017. In the same year we launched the first pilot of our Early Years’ service focusing on working with parents and children together. This became a permanent service in 2018.

“

The first Rainbow School was hardly a school at all. It was little more than a hut, kindly lent to us by Beatrix Potter. But to my mind it still stands as a symbol: of who we are and what we can achieve through hard work, love for our children and the kindness of friends. I continue to watch our services reach and grow, empowering more children, young adults and their families than ever.” Karen Sorab OBE, Founder

2023 After the national increase in school exclusions, in 2022 we piloted a Fast Responder service to support schools, preventing school placement breakdown. BeyondAutism Fast Responder® then became a permanent service at the start of the 2023-24 academic year.

We deliver rapid and sustained outcomes in our Early Years’ service by working with parents and children together. Empowering parents to feel resilient and confident in meeting the needs of their child leads to aspirational, informed choices creating a positive and successful step into primary education. Our schools and Post-19 service have a specialist curriculum that ensures sustained success beyond the age of 25, setting children and young adults up with the skills and independence to lead a life of their choosing. Children with an EHCP are up to six times more likely to be excluded for a fixed period or permanently than pupils with no special educational needs.¹ The majority of these pupils will have autism alongside other communication and learning difficulties. We’re activating networks and building local capacity with our solution focused Outreach team; and our unique BeyondAutism Fast Responder® service is working at the point of crisis to change the national picture and reduce school placement breakdown.

At BeyondAutism we are: • Dedicated to delivering excellence

• Developing expertise, outstanding services and positive engagement, always seeking to go above and beyond expectations. • Committed to Behaviour Analysis, underpinned by the science of Applied Behaviour Analysis and Verbal Behaviour. • Contributing to research and ensuring our staff continually develop and share best practice that ensure aspirational outcomes are achieved for autistic individuals. • Respectful Embracing diversity, showing integrity, acting with compassion and always treating people with dignity. • Proud to challenge Listening, changing thinking, shifting attitudes and educating.

Job description

You will lead on BeyondAutism’s financial strategy, reporting and accounting systems, and provide a professional, efficient, and effective accounting service. The post-holder will be responsible for shaping and overseeing the finance team and ensuring timely and appropriate management accounts and year end reporting in accordance with the Charity SORP. Main duties • Form a close working relationship with the COO, Senior Management Team (SMT), and Trustees. • Provide leadership on Finance and Accounting strategy, to optimise BeyondAutism financial performance. • Take overall control of the accounting function. • Contribute to the development of BeyondAutism strategy challenging assumptions and decision- making as appropriate and providing financial modelling, analysis and guidance on all activities, plans, and targets. • Ensure that company financial systems are robust, compliant and support current activities and future growth. • Ensure that all regulatory requirements are met including the Charity Commission, Ofsted, the Fundraising Regulator and Company Law. • Take a lead role along with the COO in management of capital, investments and arranging of finance in accordance with Trustee strategy and policy. • Forecasting and managing cash. Ensuring fee income is received promptly and suppliers are paid to terms. • Oversight of all contracts entered by the Charity. Governance • Support the Board on all financial matters and any financial risks facing the organisation. • Support the Finance Committee including agreeing the agenda for quarterly meetings with the treasurer/chair. • Work with the COO, CEO, and Chair to prepare papers for the quarterly Board meetings, attending meetings with the COO and other members of SMT. • Ensuring that the Charity follows the Charity Governance Code. • All reporting to The Charity Commission, including the year-end return and management of any SIR required. • Oversight of contracts, including liaison with trustees and legal advisors where required. Development and strategy • Business analysis – evaluation of options as charity develops and monitoring progress. • Modelling costs and project. Budget • Lead the budget setting process, liaising effectively with each member of SMT. • Set and monitor KPI’s. • Presentation of Budget to Trustees. Management accounts • Ensure timely, accurate and appropriate reporting of the month end results to the Executive team and budget holders. • Ensure that all regulatory requirements are met including the Charity Commission, Ofsted and Company Law.

• Take a lead role along with the CEO in arranging finance in accordance with Trustee strategy. • Ensure appropriate reporting of the month end is timely and informs decision making. • Write and share a monthly analysis flagging key risks and, with the CEO, ensure actions are taken to mitigate risks. • Provide reporting against budget/forecast, ensuring viability of each service within full cost recovery parameters. • Provide executive summary reporting to Trustees. • Lead the budget setting process, liaising effectively with each member of SMT and the finance team. • Presentation of Budget to Trustees. • Reflect and present information in appropriate formats for internal and external use. • Take the lead as appropriate on specified projects, following our project management processes. • Ensure your team are supported and skilled in new service development. • Instruct and work closely with the external auditor to ensure timely production of the Annual Report and Accounts, working closely with Trustees as needed. • Preparation of audit schedules and other information required. • Reporting to external authorities – such as local authorities and ONS. • Charity Commission and Companies House returns and compliance. Administration and relationships • Manage the relationship with banks and other lenders / investors. • Manage the relationship with Insurance brokers and manage annual renewal. • Responsible for HMRC and other compliance related matters. • Contract reviews/relationships with key suppliers including IT and energy providers. • Oversight of payroll processes/provider. • Monitoring of pensions and employee benefits. • Review and monitor processes of internal control and ensure they are followed/appropriate. People • Lead, develop and support the finance team (3 part-time employees). General responsibilities • To understand, adhere to and actively implement all the policies and procedures of BeyondAutism. • To safeguard children and vulnerable adults at all times. • To undertake training as required. • Assist with other work, events and projects as needed. • Any other duties that the Chief Executive Officer may reasonably require. Skills and experience • Qualified Accountant with strong understanding of the Charity SORP. • Experience at a senior level within the Charity and/or Education sector (preferred). • Reconcile the Annual Report and Accounts to the management accounts. • Prepare Trustee report and associated policies (reserves, investment, risk). External reporting

Qualifications Essential • Strong academic track record to degree level. • Qualified Accountant ACA / CIMA / ACCA or equivalent. Desirable • Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors membership. Experience Essential • 5 years PQE. • Experience of a SME / similar sized organisation to BeyondAutism. • Detailed knowledge of SORP requirements and Charity Commission / Company governance and compliance. • Leadership experience including setting up accounting policies and systems. • Track record of leading change / improving business performance in a changing environment. Desirable • Experience of working for a charity. • Experience of working in an educational setting. Skills Essential • Strong IT skills (particularly Excel). Ability to learn new accounting packages / systems. • Exceptional communication skills at all levels particularly the ability to communicate financial complexity to non-accountants. • Strong administrative, time management and organisation skills. Desirable • Advanced Excel skills. • Working Knowledge of Xero. • Able to quickly develop excellent working relationships with a range of people. • Commercially astute, articulate, technically strong, dynamic and insightful. • An influential leader with the ability to operate both strategically and operationally. Desirable • Experience of working with a trustee board. Essential personal qualities Essential • Ability to act on own initiative, make informed decisions and be accountable for those decisions. • High level of integrity and openness combined with commitment to good governance. • Resilience to deal with pressurised situations. • Energetic, highly motivated, with an enquiring mind and passion for excellence and innovation in pursuit of business growth and success. • Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Enhanced DBS disclosure is required. Abilities Essential

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion BeyondAutism is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. BeyondAutism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced disclosure will be conducted for the successful applicant

Further Information The salary scale: £55,000.00 - £58,238.00 per year. HOURS: 37.5 Hours ACCOUNTABLE TO: COO LOCATION(S): Hybrid with work in the charity office: 140 Woking Close, London, SW15 5LD. Minimum 1 day per week in the office/at one of the services, and then as expected to attend all required in person meetings and board meetings etc. Approximately 2 meetings a month on average on top of the 1 day per week minimum. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Six months HOLIDAY: 25 days plus bank holidays (rising a day with each year of service after 2 years to a cap of 28 days). Additionally there is a discretionary office closure between Christmas and New Year.

We are being supported on this recruitment campaign by search consultancy The Management Recruitment Group. To arrange a confidential briefing discussion, please contact our advisor: Jane Schofield jane.schofield@mrgglobal.com | 07355 093389 Closing Date: 21st July 2025 MRG interviews: w/c 22nd July 2025 BeyondAutism Interviews: w/c 4th August 2025 Applications should consist of a comprehensive CV (of no more than 4 pages) and a covering letter (of no more than 2 pages). To apply, please send your application to Jane. This role will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

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