Sovereign is a leading Housing Association, committed to providing quality, affordable homes and services within sustainable, successful communities. We're led by our values and driven by a strong social purpose, placing our customers at the heart of everything we do.

We're looking for an experienced finance professional to join our Finance Business Partnering and Reporting team as Head of Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) on a fixed term basis for 12 months.

Based from our head office in Basingstoke, you'll combine home and office working to ensure a positive work / life balance.

The Role

Reporting into the Finance Operations Director, you'll manage a team of up to 8 direct reports including Management Accountants and a Finance Analyst.

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading Sovereign's financial planning, forecasting and management accounting processes, covering Income & Expenditure, Balance sheet and Cashflow
• Leading the development and reporting of Key Performance Indicators, Value for Money insights and Fit for Growth cost saving programme
• Providing timely, accurate and comprehensive business insights using both internally generated and external benchmark information to both internal and external stakeholders
• Accountability for financial data quality and for the development and implementation of data and system driven improvements to drive value added reporting and analysis across Finance
• Driving improved linkages between financial reporting and Sovereign's other key business systems (Uniclass, ActiveH etc.), collaborating with the BI & Data Insights team
• Leading, inspiring and managing the team to support their personal development in their roles, leading to continuous improvements in team performance

What we need from you

Ideally, you'll be a fully Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent post graduate accounting qualification) with extensive experience working in FP&A or a similar role, ideally within the housing or property services sectors.

We're looking for someone who has:

• Extensive knowledge of external and internal reporting cycles, including statutory report preparation, management account preparation and analysis
• A track record of transforming financial systems and reporting processes to drive better ways of working that lead to operational and financial efficiencies
• Strong influencing skills, applying appropriate critique and challenge to data and commentary presented to support decision making
• Strong numeracy skills with advanced data modelling and analytical skills, using MS Excel and other data analysis and forecasting tools
• Experience of proactively managing, coaching and developing a team to enable high performance and support personal development
• Knowledge of Agresso/Unit 4 Accounting system (or similar system) would be advantageous

What you'll receive from us

We have some fantastic benefits on offer at Sovereign, including:

• £450 flex-pot annually, discounted shopping & cycling scheme
• 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays (with an extra day every year up to 30 days)
• Company pension scheme matched up to 12%, life cover at 4x your salary
• Flexible working - we're committed to giving people flexibility as widely as possible
• Options for private medical insurance, dental insurance & critical illness cover

We are committed to our Equality Diversity and Inclusion strategy and believe that you can truly be yourself at Sovereign. Take a look at our careers site to learn more about us and our values.

It's an exciting time to be joining Sovereign as we continue through our transformation journey and work towards achieving the goals in our ambitious corporate plans. If you're looking for a new opportunity, then we'd love to hear from you!