Interim Chief Financial Officer

Term of appointment: 12 months

Needed by: beginning of September 2026; earlier if possible

Background

St Laurence Church: Stroud Centre for Peace & the Arts (“St Laurence: SCPA”) is Stroud’s town centre parish church (website: www.stroudstlaurence.uk, registered charity No. 1214925).

St Laurence: SCPA’s Mission statement (www.stlaurencestroud.uk/about/scpa) is:

Exploring together what a town centre church can be: 

• A place of welcome, a place to be, open to all, just as they are
• A spiritually nourishing resource for all who enter its sacred spaces
• A centre for the flourishing of activities that promote peace, in its broadest and deepest meanings
• A place of encounter with a diverse mix of Christian and other faith and wisdom traditions
• A vital part of the physical, cultural, and social fabric of the town.

St. Laurence: SCPA occupies the foundational site of the town with the oldest part of the town being developed on land then owned by, and adjacent to, the church.

Background information on governance, an ongoing major (National Lottery Heritage Fund [NLHF] funded) building restoration project, ‘social enterprise’ activities and current finances are in an Appendix to this brief, which can be provided upon request from those expressing interest. St Laurence has a published set of Values and Principles (also on web-page www.stlaurencestroud.uk/about/scpa) which guide its activities.

Objectives for Interim CFO appointment

The requirement is for an Interim CFO for a 12 month period, carrying out the St Laurence: SCPA Treasurer's duties under delegation from the churchwardens, with the following two main objectives:

1. To give the trustees (i.e. the church council members, formally known as the Parochial Church Council [PCC], currently eight in number) the financial information, scrutiny and advice they need to lead the church's financial strategy, business planning and major project finances with confidence. Leadership and all critical decisions rest with the trustees; the Treasurer's role is to make sure those decisions are well-informed.
2. To recommend and (subject to PCC approval) implement changes to the arrangements for oversight and management of the St Laurence finances, and hand over the improved arrangements at the end of the 12 month period. Who should be the recipient(s) of the handover is an open question at this stage.

In addition to accountability to the churchwardens, the Interim CFO will work closely with the volunteer bookkeeper (qualified accountant), professional fundraiser and the St Laurence Restored Project bookkeeper .

The target starting date is no later than the beginning of September 2026, and earlier if possible.

The basis of remuneration is to be discussed.

Core responsibilities of Interim CFO

1. Oversee the bookkeeper function
   • Agree the types, format and timetable of factual financial reporting by the bookkeeper to meet the needs of the CFO and trustees.
   • Review factual financial reports for accuracy and completeness.
2. Report and interpret to the PCC
   • Provide clear, concise interpretive financial reports with commentary on risks, trends, options and recommendations, as appropriate.
   • Attend PCC meetings as required (i.e. for key financial decisions); otherwise report in writing.
3. Support the business plan
   • Develop scenarios for reducing and in time reversing the c.£30k annual deficit, including options for Parish Share contribution to the costs of ministry (£26k in 2026) and for the PCC’s reserves policy.
   • Review the integrated 5-year business plan currently being developed for 2027-2031. A credible initial version is needed by end September 2026, for PCC sign-off at the start of October and subsequent submission with the application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Delivery Phase grant for the St Laurence Restored Project.
4. Support strategy for St Laurence Restored Project finances
   • Advise the Project Manager and Delivery Phase grant application team on an appropriately beneficial approach to “full cost recovery” as defined by the NLHF in the application.
   • Work with the Project Manager and Project Board on project cash‑flow, particularly for the planned 2027-28 Delivery Phase, in which grant funding of capital works will be paid in arrears.
5. Work with the Fundraiser
   • Track results against targets for both capital (St Laurence Restored Project) and revenue (deficit‑reduction) fundraising.
6. Risk and compliance advice
   • Advise trustees on reserves, financial risk, and charity finance compliance, while ensuring that decisions are made and recorded by the trustees/PCC, not left to the Interim CFO.

Person specification for Interim CFO

• Qualified accountant
• Senior finance background (charity FD/CFO or equivalent); could be
  • a paid individual on a consultancy basis; or
  • a retainer with an accountancy firm, naming a lead contact.
• Sympathetic to the Mission, Values and Principles of St Laurence as an inclusive town centre parish church and as ‘Stroud Centre for Peace & the Arts’.
• Experience of charity accounts, restricted funds and grant reporting; major grant-funded project experience desirable but not essential.
• Able to work at board level and explain finance to non‑financial trustees.
• Comfortable supporting, not leading, governance.
• Able to convey relative priorities of actions recommended to trustees, and to be clear when compelling advice is being given.

 

For more information contact hugh.richards@stroudparishchurches.org.uk