UKC

I don’t get the impression this has been widely advertised on social media. It’s actually titled Head of Finance and Operations but patently isn’t if you read the job description 

Anyway after two duff appointments we could do with a good one ideally drawn from the membership. 

Deadline is tomorrow 

https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1131b463-7867-4993-a35e-85322f6014b7.pd...

TBH, I am not a fan of the BMC, at all, but Dominic seems to be trying to make a go of it, so maybe you could consider mysteriously backing off for a moment, just a thought.

Eh? I was spreading the word about the vacancy. It came up at the members forum and I hadn’t seen it on SM and had to search it out. It’s a key post and the more candidates the more likely we will get a good one. I’ve also copied it across onto BMC Watch. 

The presentation about the finances last night by Dominic and Paul Ratcliffe last night on the Members Forum was excellent and I said so and certainly gave more confidence it is under better control but as they themselves say there’s a long way to go.   

Lanceley?

Yourself?

I agree with almost everything you've written, except that there's a fair bit of non-finance / IT in the JD, including Facilities, H&S, commercial contractual stuff, member services. 

It touched on peripheral aspects operational support but not direct operational management. In the case of the BMC their Operations are the delivery of services to members which other managers in the Office are responsible for. The only direct reports for this role are the Financial Controller and IT Manager.  

It’s me. Or is it? I’m beginning to wonder myself. 

Given how aggressive David Lanceley has been in his remarks towards BMC volunteers and staff online he would likely find a frosty reception at best. He might be competent, but his behaviour has been appalling.

I certainly wouldn't want to work with him and I would be amazed if any of the companies I have worked for wouldn't sack someone for making remarks like he has made about staff.

An "Ops Management" role doesn't have to be responsible for delivering an organisation's primary outputs.  It's pretty common in my experience for it to be the person who picks up all the bits of internal plumbing not owned by anyone else on the SLT.

Sounds like we are going to have to agree to disagree; main thing is that this thread will have hopefully increased awareness of the role.  I do fear it is going to be hard to fill well, given its breadth and depth.

It does if it’s the Head of Operations which this role purports to be

I agree with Hovercraft, we have an ‘Operations Director’ where I work with a very similar brief to this job.

Hi Simon and the UKC Hive Mind. Thanks for bringing this to wider attention and for the wisdom regarding clarification about the 'Operations' part of the JD. We've taken this on board and clarified that the Head of Finance will lead the Finance and IT teams (rather than the broader Operations functions). The Job Description has been updated and the deadline extended to Wed 09 October.

There's so much talent and professional capacity within the community of climbing, mountaineering and hill walking - it would be great to think we might attract some applicants with those perspectives. Please share!

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/en/jobs

Cheers, Dom

Hi Dom

I knew with your background in manufacturing that you’d get it! 

I certainly struggled with the concept of what is and isn’t operations when I moved from recruiting Finance Managers and Directors recruitment to General Management recruitment so it is understandable that there are different interpretations. It’s good that there is more clarity on the role and thanks for listening. 

There has been much discussion from the ORG onwards as to what roles form the management team. I think that with a proactive accountant the contribution could be more greater on the commercial side rather than operations side on contractual matters such as with sponsors and sporting bodies and also they would be well equipped to help cut through the gobbledygook of underwriters and other insurance partners. This doesn’t have to be written into the JD but would happen organically with the right candidate in place. 

I hope you get a great response but if not then please don’t compromise. The option still exists to have the financial buck stop with the Chair (Treasurer) of the finance committee once again by them having a place on the Board and potentially having a Commercial Manager fill the other gaps.

Good luck.

I fear the sticking point will be the salary as well as the wider job description. As someone who has worked in strategic finance in multi £ organisations for many years the pay is unlikely to attract. Sorry

The position has been readvertised / deadline extended and the salary band increased, addressing your (and my!) concern somewhat. It is now more at a level with other comparable NGB's, the only problem now being that imho the BMC isnt currently a typical NGB in terms of financial management.....

E2a - have to add that the work done by Paul R and the seconded from Judo does appear to have given the BMC a much better platform to build on.

An accountant in charge of IT is always a disaster.  Later rather sooner - but too late

‘Always’ seems unlikely but yes IT won’t be their primary skill but neither will whoever IT reports to as a Head of IT would be overkill for the BMC.

Currently the role reports to the  to the Chief Commercial Officer (I think) and before that the Head of Marketing. Who would you think it best/least worst the role reports to?

As a finance manager, often having IT as a responsibility, my MO would be to manage the contract with whoever we had with an outsourced our IT to......(I suspect this isn't a surprise to you......).