Chief Financial Officer

Candidate Pack

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Rambert

99 Upper Ground

London SE1 9PP

rambert.org.uk

@rambertdance

Registered charity no 250143

You will be a focused, experienced and

strategic leader with strong financial acumen,

who has an appetite for risk but will not bet

the farm. You will have a track record of

leading teams and developing a high

performance culture.

You will have the ability to prioritise and

maintain a strong grip on our financial

management and provide timely advice to the

Chief Executive, Executive Team and Board

Finance Committee regarding risks and

opportunities.

In this pack you will find:

• Background information on Rambert

• Job description and person specification

• Conditions of employment

• Information on how to apply

Further information can be found on our

website www.rambert.org.uk where you will

also find a copy of our most recent annual

report.

If you have the skills, experience and

attributes and believe in what we’re setting

out to do, I look forward to hearing from you.

Helen Shute Chief Executive

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in the role of Chief

Financial Officer. It’s an exciting time for

Rambert. We have just appointed new Artistic

Director, Benoit Swan Pouffer and our new

Chair, Dame Sue Street. We are building a

team to help lead the organisation towards

our centenary.

Rambert has a track record of working with

the world’s best choreographers and artists

from many other disciplines, and alongside

them we have an exceptional management

and administrative team working to make

their work to the highest possible standards

and to take it around the UK and the world.

Since joining the organisation in 2017 I have

reassessed Rambert’s business model,

maximising the potential of current activities

and developing a new slate of high-profile

artistic projects. This model is reducing

reliance on Arts Council funding and

exploiting the commercial potential in our

building and productions.

Consequently, we are seeking to appoint a

CFO to efficiently lead this essential area of

the organisation and ensure it is fit for

purpose. Working closely with me and the

Executive Team you will play an instrumental

role in Rambert’s future plans.

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About Rambert

Rambert is one of the world’s leading dance

companies, a name synonymous with diverse

and international programming, and a British

national treasure with loyal local audiences,

and unrivalled reach to theatres throughout

the UK.

We make and take – to our neighbourhood,

the nation and the world – dance that is

relevant, accessible, radical, thought-

provoking, inspiring and entertaining. Dance

that stands out from the crowd. Dance that

matters.

A new Rambert is emerging, under the

leadership of Chief Executive and Executive

Producer Helen Shute and Artistic Director

Benoit Swan Pouffer. We launched a second

touring ensemble in 2018, Rambert2, to

showcase the world’s best early career

dancers.

We work in partnership with other visionary

organisations to realise our most ambitious

projects, including current collaborations with

59 Productions, Manchester International

Festival, The Royal Ballet and Sadler’s Wells.

We have a growing international reach, with

performances taking place in the next year in

11 different countries across four continents..

Our national reach and international ambition

is rooted in our ties to the communities we

serve, including the south London

neighbourhood surrounding our home on

London’s South Bank.

We deliver workshops in schools, colleges

and community centres, and run classes for

people of all ages and abilities, as well as

opening our doors to the public for a range of

special performances and open days.

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Governance,

Staffing and

Finance

Rambert is a registered charity and a

company limited by guarantee. We are

overseen by a non-executive board of

Directors led by Dame Sue Street, who was

appointed as Chair in January 2019. Day to

day management of the company is

delegated to the Executive Team led by the

Chief Executive/Executive Producer, Helen

Shute.

Rambert maintains a permanent company of

34 world-class contemporary dancers and a

staff of 38 who deliver the company’s

programme. We engage freelance artists on a

regular basis, including musicians who

accompany performances around the UK and

internationally, and animateurs who deliver

our learning and participation activity.

Rambert aims to create a programme that is

artistically adventurous and ambitious and

also financially sustainable. Our work is

funded through grant income from Arts

Council England; box office income;

fundraising from trusts, businesses and

individuals other earned income including

commercial hires of our building, and theatre

tax relief.

Our turnover for 2019/20 if forecast to be in

the region of £5.6million.

Benoit Swan Pouffer, a former principal dancer

with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and

Artistic Director from 2004 – 2014 of Cedar Lake

Contemporary Ballet, was appointed as Rambert’s

Artistic Director in December 2018.

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Vision

Rambert’s vision is to be the world’s

most exciting dance company, making

dance resonate for the 21st century in

the hearts of communities at home and

around the world.

We produce dance which is relevant,

accessible, radical, thought-provoking,

inspiring, entertaining and potentially

transformative.

Mission

Our mission is to make and tour dance

that matters to our neighbourhood, the

nation and the world.

Our company of versatile and distinctive

artists perform in the UK and around the

world. We create space and time for

research, encouraging experimentation and

nurturing talent.

We devise and deliver inspiring, accessible

and meaningful ways of participating in

dance.

We conserve and share our history,

preserving our stories and learning for the

artists of the future.

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Chief Financial Officer

Job Specification

Purpose: To lead all finance and operational management to ensure the

efficient implementation of Rambert’s business plan

Accountable to: Chief Executive

Accountable for: Head of Operations, Finance Officers

Key Relationships: Executive Team, Senior Management Team,

Board Finance Committee

Role:

1. Develop and lead a small but high performing team to deliver robust financial

management while providing a strategic financial overview for Rambert

2. Provision of accurate, detailed and timely financial analysis and advice to the Chief

Executive, Finance Committee and Executive Team to enable decision making and

to maximise utilisation of resources

3. Support the Head of Operations in the delivery of effective operations including HR,

Administration and Facilities, and report to Executive Team and Finance Committee

on these areas.

4. Lead and measure the effectiveness of organisational processes and systems for

delivery of income generation, risk management and compliance, and find ways to

improve them

5. Work closely with the Chief Executive on major projects to improve the financial

resilience and the sustainability of Rambert

6. To ensure that all resources are well managed and fit for purpose, providing

excellent value for money

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Key

Responsibilities

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND

LEADERSHIP

Lead and direct the functions of budgeting,

accounting and reporting

Financial coaching of the Senior Management

Team to appraise operating results in terms of

costs, budget, operating policies, trends and

income generation.

Analyse revenue, profit, cash flow and

income generation opportunities and

recommend actions.

Produce accurate and timely analysis

alongside management accounts for the

Chief Executive and Finance Committee to

enable controls and effective decision-making

and improved performance.

Liaise regularly with key senior staff to

produce accurate forecasts; produce annual

financial statements.

Act as the nominated Returns Officer for

documents to be submitted to our major

funder, Arts Council England (ACE).

Develop meaningful financial reporting to

empower teams to deliver against strategic

objectives.

Lead on the programme schedule and liaison

with both internal and external auditors.

GOVERNANCE

Oversee Company Secretarial and legal

matters, ensuring Rambert complies with

relevant legislation.

Maintaining a Compliance Log and Risk

Register.

Work with the Chief Executive to support and

service all board Finance and Development

committees.

Assume overall responsibility of the Annual

Report.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Work with the Chief Executive to support the

Head of Operations to develop a high

performance culture with clarity of roles

aligned to the strategic aims.

Work with the Executive Team to create a

sense of organisational leadership to ensure

delivery of the business plan.

Manage payroll.

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IT AND FACILITIES

Review company IT systems, and scope,

implement and maintain new technology to

streamline processes and achieve

efficiencies.

Support Head of Operations to ensure

smooth running of offices and building

including health and safety, security,

insurance and fire regulations.

PROCUREMENT

Develop and the adher to procurement

policies and practices including all relevant

sign off and approval is in line with the

delegated authority levels.

Ensure the best appropriate deal for Rambert

is paramount in the procurement of key

services support and solutions.

CROSS-ORGANISATIONAL

LEADERSHIP

Establish regular cross organisational

meetings focused on income generation.

Evaluate performance through benchmarking,

analysing data and metrics.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP

As part of the Executive team, demonstrate

proactive leadership, hands-on management

and commitment to the values of Rambert.

Represent Rambert with other third parties

including banks, HMRC, local, regional and

national stakeholders.

MAJOR STRATEGIC PROJECTS

Work closely with the Chief Executive,

Programme Director/Deputy CEO and

Director of Development to support income

generation and business development

ensuring that all projects and activities are

mission-driven and budgeted effectively.

Based on the approved strategic plan and

secured funding and approvals, lead on major

operational or other projects.

Oversee the operation and expansion of the

organisation’s producing activities.

OTHER

Rambert operates at weekends and evenings

and staff are expected to have a presence

and be flexible to attend events and meetings

outside of normal working hours.

GENERAL

Maintain and observe appropriate levels of

confidentiality at all times.

Work within policies and procedures including

the equal opportunities policy.

Work in accordance with the data protection

act and the Copyright act.

Other duties that may from time to time be

necessary compatible with the nature and

grade of this post.

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Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Proven experience as Director of Finance or relevant role with in-depth experience

of financial management (minimum turnover £2m)

• Successful track record of organisational development and financial business

planning

• Experience of reporting to a Board or Board committee.

• Experience of charity and cultural sector strategic financial planning

• Demonstrable competence in strategic planning and in supporting business

development and fundraising

• Developed and led high performing teams

• Working knowledge of IT/Business infrastructure and MS Office or similar

• Qualified and experienced accountant preferred, or equivalent qualifications and

experience, preferably with experience of being Company Secretary

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to work at both strategic and tactical level

• Able to anticipate the implications and consequences of situations and take

appropriate action and be prepared for contingencies

• Excellent interpersonal skills: demonstrating diplomacy, discretion, tact and

persuasiveness

• Exceptional people management skills with the ability to build and lead a high

performing team

• Excellent organisation and project management skills, with the ability to work on a

wide range of competing demands and deliver to deadlines

PERSONAL STYLES AND BEHAVIOURS

• High levels of integrity, strong interpersonal skills, the ability to build consensus and

put a strong emphasis on responsibility and accountability

• High level motivation, initiative and a demonstrable desire to succeed and achieve

results

• Resilient and at ease with change

• Empathy and experience with the charitable and cultural sectors

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Conditions of employment

Salary: c£60,000 pa, according to experience

Hours of work: normal office hours are 9.30am – 6.00pm, Monday to Friday. Evening and

weekend work will also be required.

Holiday entitlement: 25 days paid leave in addition to public holidays, plus an additional

day at Christmas.

Rambert has a training and personal development policy.

This post carries a probationary period of three months, during which time the notice

period required by either party is two weeks. Subsequent to a satisfactory review, the

notice period increases to three months.

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How to apply

To apply, complete an application form. CVs without a completed application from will not

be accepted.

Please send your fully completed application form, together with a completed equal

opportunities monitoring form to:

Rosie Billington

Rambert

99 Upper Ground

London SE1 9PP

Email: rosie.billington@rambert.org.uk

The deadline for applications is 12pm on Monday 8 July 2019.

Initial interviews will be held on Thursday 18 July.

If you would like to arrange for an informal chat with Helen Shute, Chief Executive, ahead

of submitting your application, contact Rosie Billington at the email address above.

Rambert encourages people from any background to apply for this post. We are

committed to creating a workforce which is representative of our society, and to bringing

together those with a variety of skills and experiences to help shape what we do and how

we work.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. If you have not heard from us within two

weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this

occasion.

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Image credits:

Front cover: Rouge (chor: Marion Motin) © Johan Persson

Page 3: © Camilla Greenwell

Page 4: Grey Matter (chor: Benoit Swan Pouffer) © Foteini Christofilopoulou

Page 5: © Pierre Tappon

Page 6: Kamuyot (chor: Ohad Naharin) © Foteini Christofilopoulou

Page 12: Rambert Event (chor: Merce Cunningham) © Riccardo Panozzo