Chief Financial Officer

We are now seeking a Chief Financial Officer to join our Board and Executive Team. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, this is a broad and influential leadership role, combining strategic financial stewardship with responsibility for shaping organisational performance, commercial growth and long-term sustainability.

We’re looking for an experienced and values-led executive who combines strong financial and business expertise with a collaborative leadership style. You will be a qualified accountant with a track record of operating at senior leadership level, developing successful teams and influencing organisational strategy. You will bring commercial insight, strategic judgement and the ability to lead through change. Most importantly, you will share our ambition to create lasting value for people, nature and future generations.

This is a rare opportunity to join one of England’s most distinctive organisations at an important point in its development. If you are excited by the prospect of combining strategic financial leadership with environmental and social impact at scale, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Key Accountabilities

• Leadership of financial strategy, financial planning and an active leadership role on driving growth, value for money, audit, financial management and control, long term financial and strategic investment planning, best practice commercial procurement and contract management.
• Ensuring financial integrity, accountability and all statutory requirements are met, advising the Accounting Officer (Chief Executive) on all matters of financial probity, fraud, statutory compliance all within public sector accounting requirements, including consolidated budgeting guidance and managing public money.
• Being a strategic partner to the Chief Executive, through a period of change and increasing scrutiny of business performance and intent to grow commercial acumen.
• Oversee annual Forestry England budget planning and implementation, and preparation of the longer-term financial trajectory, ensuring that the organisation's target of achieving financial sustainability remains on track.
• Working with the Chief Operating Officer, to drive trading business improvement and growth, consider investment appraisals and ensure that Forestry England is efficient, providing excellent value for money and public benefit, with the management information to inform decision making.
• Taking responsibility for the development of outstanding management and external financial reporting, providing accurate, comprehensive, yet succinct and coherent, information that complies with all regulatory needs.
• Represent Forestry England in the wider Forestry Commission corporate services and systems change project.
• Oversee the relationship where Forestry England provides resource services to other parts of the Forestry Commission ensuring continuing development of the service, and financial compensation.
• Leading change in pursuit of strategic objectives in addition to influencing, encouraging innovation, ensuring high-quality delivery, and sharing best practice across Forestry England and the wider Forestry Commission.
• Building strong, progressive relationships, within and beyond Forestry England, working closely with other FC Group Finance Directors and members of the Forestry Commission Executive Board, as well as wider stakeholders and internal and external auditors.
• Inspire colleagues to secure new funding streams from all sources, including close working with the Forestry Commission’s Chief Finance & Corporate Officer to secure (Defra) funding both in year and for future periods.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Application Process

To apply, please include the following:

1. Your full CV.

2. A Supporting Statement outlining your motivation for applying and how you meet our requirements, using the key aspects within the Person Specification as the basis for this. We would suggest up to 2 sides of A4 in length.

Please apply by sending your CV and Supporting Statement to exec@morgan-law.com

Reasonable Adjustment

If you have a disability and wish to discuss any reasonable adjustments that we might be able to make to assist you in applying for this post, please contact James Stephens by by email - jamesstephens@morgan-law.com

Timeline

Closing date for applications is at 11pm on Wednesday 14th October

Notification of outcome by Wednesday 28th October

Virtual interviews with Morgan Law on Monday 2nd & Tuesday 3rd November

Virtual coffee/chat with Forestry England Chief Executive w/c 16th November

Interviews with Forestry England, in Bristol on Monday 23rd November

Queries

Thank you for your interest. If you have any queries, please contact James Stephens at Morgan Law by emailing exec@morgan-law.com

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.