This is an exciting opportunity for a talented Senior Financial Strategist and Resource Manager to make a major contribution to the funding of ministerial provision in the Church of England.

As Senior Financial Strategist and Resource Manager, you will oversee and co-ordinate the funding of theological formation for Ordinands and other ministers in the Church of England, support the assessment of people-related grant funding to dioceses by the SMMI Board, and have responsibility for collating complex data streams to produce, maintain and communicate a national picture of ministry needs and provision across the Church of England.

We offer Hybrid and flexible working however you will need to travel within England and attend meetings away from London. Further details will be discussed at interview.

To arrange an informal discussion about the post please email helen.fraser@churchofengland.org

Closing date for applications: Monday 23rd October 2023

Interviews will be held on the Tuesday 14th November 2023

The Church of England is for everyone and we want to reflect the diversity of the community the Church serves across the whole country. This is a priority for the Archbishops. Therefore, while of course we welcome all applications from interested and suitably experienced people, we particularly welcome applicants from UK Minority Ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities.

We offer a unique environment with opportunities for continuous learning, generous annual leave for work life balance, season ticket loans and a range of benefits including discounted entry to attractions and what we feel is a market leading package when it comes to our pension scheme.

Our aim is for everyone in the National Church Institutions (NCIs) to feel that they belong, and are valued for who they are and what they contribute. Together, our people contribute in different ways towards our common purpose, whichever NCI they work in and whatever their background.

As members of the Ministry Development Team (MDT) our work will both shape and be aligned with the Church of England (CofE) Vision and Strategy to see a Church which is Jesus Christ shaped and centred. We aim to be a younger and more diverse church of missional disciples where a mixed ecology of worshipping communities is the norm. We will focus our attention primarily outwards, towards those we support and guide in churches, dioceses and Theological Education Institutions (TEIS). In order to deliver this we will work collaboratively with colleagues in other parts of the MDT and in other parts of the NCIs.

The Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment (SMMI) Fund has been established by the Church of England to support the whole church in realising the outcomes of its Vision and Strategy for the Church for the 2020s. It aims to distribute around £350m to dioceses in 2023-5 with funding planned to increase in subsequent years. The majority of this funding will support the training and deployment of ministers (lay and ordained) across the church. Consequently, dioceses will be encouraged and supported to attend to longer term people planning as part of their overall strategic approach.

The Church of England supports the cost of training over 1,000 Ordinands a year together with an expanding portfolio of support for Lay Ministries training. Around 500 new candidates are recommended to train for ordained ministry each year.

In addition, the Archbishops’ Council has commissioned a major Review of Ministerial Formation (RMF) seeking to improve, clarify and update the way in which Theological Education Institutions (TEIs) are funded for the training of Ordinands.

The Role

Management Responsibilities

• Line management of the Ministry Grant Operations and Research Officer, Grants and Finance Officer and the Finance and Data Administrator.

Governance Responsibilities

• Oversee the proper budgeting, governance and flow of funds for a range of purposes within the Ministry Development Team including (but not limited to) the costs of the Shared Discernment Process, ministry training costs, innovation grant funding, especially with respect to Lay Ministries, the Ministry Experience Scheme, and funding of specific projects from time to time (annual expenditure of around £20m).
• Develop, operate and staff an appropriate system of financial governance and accountability for the MDT through the Ministry Finance Panel.
• Prepare reports to various governance bodies including the Ministry Finance Panel, Ministry Council, Archbishops Council Finance Committee, the Archbishops’ Council and General Synod when required.

Overseeing TEI Finances

• Hold oversight of funding by the Archbishops’ Council and the Church Commissioners of training costs at Theological Education Institutions.
• Support and organise the Ministry Finance Panel in setting appropriate fee and grant levels at regular intervals (usually annually).
• Support the annual budget process of the Archbishops’ Council in relation to Vote 1 (training for initial ministerial formation).
• Oversee the proper distribution of finances to Theological Education Institutions including course fees, travel costs and maintenance payments.
• From time to time, design and implement specific one-off funding arrangements (such as recent targeted support for TEI energy costs).

SMMIB Grant Funding

• Co-ordinate the support from the MDT towards the successful delivery of the Strategic Mission and Ministry Fund ensuring key objectives are achieved to a high standard and in a timely fashion.
• Contribute to the development of best practice grant management processes across the NCIs.
• Collaborate with V&S colleagues to ensure smooth and joined up grant assessment and evaluation processes between MDT and V&S.
• Collaborate with the V&S Funding and Learning team to ensure excellent monitoring, learning, evaluation and analysis of use of central funding across the Church in relation to ministry.

Finance Process Management (SMF existing portfolio only)

• Hold responsibility for the ongoing operation, monitoring, cashflow and payment of existing grants under the Strategic Ministry Fund – a previous governance structure.

Strategic financial research and analysis

• Design and implement processes for collating, analysing and presenting the financial/numerical national picture of ministry trends, provision and needs across the Church of England.
• When evidence shows need and working with the Director for Ministry, Head of Vocations and Planning and V&S Colleagues, devise, propose and implement appropriate strategic financial interventions to ensure the maintenance of a robust pipeline of stipendiary clergy into the Church of England.
• In particular, take steps to ensure a sufficient number of stipendiary curacy and first incumbency placements commensurate with the expected number of Ordinands due to be ordained and finishing curates in each year and keep the SMT, SMMI Board and Ministry Council appraised on a regular basis. Liaise with key stakeholders in Dioceses, TEIs and amongst NCIs colleagues to communicate and deliver MDT financial strategic objectives.
• Collate and maintain relevant databases (e.g Ordinand numbers, diocesan ministry plans) and create dashboards and other forms of communication to inform staff and trustee decision making.

Wider work of the MDT

• Engage with the work of the wider Vocations and Planning team in which the role is located, attending team meetings and supporting colleagues.
• From time to time, support financial strategic requirements of similar projects across the MDT.
• Carrying out other duties as required.

The Requirements

Essential Experience and Skills

• Ability to manage complex change processes including influencing a variety of stakeholders.
• A thorough understanding of business development skills and the ability to implement these skills.
• Able to demonstrate the impact of decision making on stakeholders.
• Ability to think and plan strategically through complex projects with multiple stakeholders and funding streams.
• Experience of grant or funding processes including building and maintaining excellent relations with stakeholders, implementing and maintaining effective grant management policies and processes and reporting within governance processes to trustees and senior stakeholders.
• Experience of building excellent working relationships, communicating effectively with staff at all levels (including senior staff) demonstrating emotional intelligence, tact and persuasive ability.
• Experienced and excellent manager of people and committed to their development.
• Energy and drive to work under time pressures and within deadlines.
• Able to work collaboratively within a complex organisational structure.
• Excellent communication skills including oral and written skills.
• Excellent IT skills particularly in spreadsheets and other databases, data management and presentation.
• A business or financial qualification at degree level or equivalent experience.
• Familiar with and supportive of the work and Christian ethos of the Church of England.
• Can travel within England and attend meetings away from London.

In the National Church Institutions (NCIs), we support the mission and ministries of the Church of England. We work with parishes, dioceses, schools, chaplaincies and other ministries, and with national and international partners including mission agencies, and other denominations and faith groups.-.

Find out more about working for the National Church Institutions by visiting Careers | The Church of England

NCI values

• We strive for excellence
• We collaborate
• We act with integrity
• We show compassion
• We respect others

We welcome everyone and we accept and value people for who they are and what they contribute, treating others in the way we would wish to be treated ourselves. We actively listen to and include others, encouraging and enabling everyone’s voice to be heard in discussions and decisions. When we disagree, we aim to disagree well with respect and kindness.

We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people. Even if you have never thought about working for us before, if you have the skills and experience we’re looking for then we would like to hear from you. If there is anything we can do to support you in your application please get in touch via email to hr.recruitment@churchofengland.org.

• As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively look to attract, recruit and retain those of you who are disabled.
• We are a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and welcome applications from those of you who have served in our Armed Forces and their families.