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Chief Executive Officer / Finance Director, CONGREGATION OF JESUS CHARITABLE TRUST
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Congregation of Jesus (CJ) Charitable Trust
The Congregation of Jesus Charitable Trust is the civil charity through which the UK Province (York) of the Roman Catholic Religious Congregation, the Congregation of Jesus, exercises its financial and civil responsibilities and obligations. The Trust’s aims include the advancement of religion, educational, and social and pastoral works in the UK and overseas. The Trust also cares for the UK sisters of the Congregation.
Job Description
Job Title: Chief Executive Officer / Finance Director
Accountable to: Chair of the Trustee Board
Role Summary
The post holder is responsible, on behalf of the Trustee Board, for the financial management, governance, strategic planning, property portfolio, staff management and oversight of the resources of the CJ Charitable Trust. They directly contribute to and lead aspects of the Charity’s strategic planning process to ensure the vision and mission of the Charity is achieved.
Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week, full time.
Salary: £80 - £85,000 per annum, dependent on experience.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Planning and Leadership
- Represent the Charity with external organisations, building and maintaining professional relationships and reporting back to Trustees.
- Advise the Board on significant financial, governance and risk issues, making recommendations as appropriate.
- Provide clear and succinct papers to the Board to enable it to carry out its governance role.
- Keep the Board informed and updated about their duties and responsibilities as Trustees and organise training as appropriate.
- Oversee the work of the trading company Bar Convent Enterprises Limited, monitor financial performance and ensure good governance in line with Charity Commission guidelines.
- Develop and maintain professional relationships with the Charity’s auditors, solicitors, investment managers, surveyors, property advisors, bankers/banks and other professional advisors.
Management of Financial Processes and Controls
- Ensure there is an appropriate financial framework in place, which is regularly updated, provides adequate financial controls and guides the Charity’s financial decision making.
- Ensure the Reserves Policy is fit for purpose.
- Manage the internal control system for the Province by applying appropriate systems and procedures.
- Be responsible for all the accounting procedures and key internal controls to be able to assure the Board that the Charity’s financial integrity is sound.
- Prepare and present the draft budget to the Finance Committee and Trustee Board, as well as developing longer term financial plans.
- Prepare the statutory Trustee Report and Accounts for audit and submission to the Charity Commission.
- Arrange for the accounts to be audited each year and implement any agreed recommendations.
- Present the audited accounts for endorsement by the Finance Committee, drawing attention to any significant matters.
- Present the annual return for the CJ Generalate in Rome to the Trustees, together with a summary of proposals for the required contributions to the CJ central funds held in Rome.
- Act as the co-ordinating signatory on all the Trust’s bank accounts.
- Authorise all payments, including online banking and sign cheques for the Centre in accordance with the agreed mandate and rules for signing.
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Management of Trust Insurance and Investments
- Manage the Charity’s insurances ensuring these are regularly updated.
- Working with external advisors and the Trust finance committee to manage the Trust’s investment activity, ensuring that its investment policy is consistent with its current aims, objectives and legal responsibilities.
- Assess the financial resources and investments of the Trust to ensure they are sufficient to meet its present and future needs, making recommendations to the Trustees, and alerting them to any potential problems.
Management and Employment of Staff
- Ensure all employment policies and procedures are appropriate and meet current legislation and best practice.
- Liaise with external legal and Human Resources advisors on employment matters, as necessary, ensuring this advice is cost effective and proportionate.
- Liaise with the Provincial leadership and leaders of local communities to administer or provide advice on all aspects of finance and staff employment.
- Line manages the Trust managers: Chief Operating Officer, Director of St Bede’s, Nurse Manager, Special Collections Manager and Trust Secretary.
- Supervise the work of the in-house finance and administrative staff, ensuring appropriate training to maintain and develop their competence.
- Put in place and maintain robust communication systems to ensure that all staff are regularly appraised of the aims of the Charity and that their contributions and ideas are recognised.
- Develop staff to achieve their potential by fostering an atmosphere of encouragement to allow individuals to take forward new initiatives, reflecting up to date practice, and as appropriate, to implement these improved ways of working for the benefit of the Charity.
Management of Property
- Ensure the safeguarding and efficient use of the Trust’s fixed assets. Advise the Trustees on the use, acquisition and disposal of both its functional and investment properties.
- Arrange for the safekeeping and maintenance of a current register of the Property Deeds of Trust properties.
- Monitor and regularly update the General Asset Register.
- Regularly review the current and future use of the Charity’s properties and where appropriate, manage acquisitions and disposals of property according to the rules of the Charity Commission, and following the approval of Rome.
- Plan and coordinate with the local CJ communities the major maintenance of the buildings.
- Provide the Trustees and local communities with advice on any health and safety issues.
- Put in place systems to manage the administration of investment property, leases, rent, insurance, rates and council tax.
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Safeguarding
- In collaboration with the Safeguarding lead and the Safeguarding sub-committee, ensure safeguarding policies and implementation procedures are in place and reviewed in a timely manner.
- Ensure training is organised by the Safeguarding Lead as appropriate and that full records are kept.
Risk Management
- Ensure there is a framework for risk management for the Charity.
- Ensure the risk register is regularly updated and that Trustees are regularly appraised of any risks.
Acting as Trust Secretary
- Arrange meetings of the Trustee Board and the Finance Committee, including agendas, minutes, resolutions and legal requirements.
- File statutory returns with the Charity Commission, Companies House and HMRC.
- Act as the official correspondent for the Trust with external bodies and regulators, including the Charity Commission and Companies House.
General
- Undertake continuous professional development and training to ensure knowledge is kept up to date.
Person Specification CEO & Finance Director
Qualifications
- A fully qualified chartered or certified accountant
Experience And Skills
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience of working at a senior level in a finance role
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience of managing a team of staff including non-finance staff
- Experienced and confident to work with and present information to a board of directors or Trustees who may not have a financial background
- Good working knowledge of the charity sector and Charity Commission regulations
- Experience of managing a property portfolio
- Knowledge of audit requirements and working with external auditors
- Experience of working with investment managers and overseeing an investment portfolio
- Ability to provide interim and end of year final accounts
General
- Capacity to build and maintain strong working relationships
If you intend to apply please send a completed application form and covering letter to Jonathon Heslop at cjtrustsecretary@barconvent.co.uk. Please include in the subject line 'Trust CEO'.
Alternatively, The Application Form Can Be Posted To
Jonathon Heslop
The Bar Convent
17 Blossom St.
York
YO24 1AQ
(Marking the envelope: 'Employment Application')
Closing date: Monday 3rd August 2026
Initial interviews: w/c 17th August
In person interview: 2nd September 2026 to be held in York
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