Chief Executive Officer
Appointment Brief
April 2025
Welcome
Dear candidate,
I’m so pleased that you’re considering this opportunity to become the new Chief Executive Officer at CA East Lancashire (CAEL).
As the current Chair of Trustees, I’ve been lucky enough to be involved with the charity for over ten years and I’m proud to be part of such a robust organisation that not only plays such a critical role on our communities but that also has an open, warm, values-based and dynamic culture.
The commitment of our management team, our staff and our volunteers to our clients is strong and the positive impact they make speaks for itself.
The need for the kind of services we provide is more compelling that ever as pressure on them grows. Backed by our organisational resilience and track record, we have a lot to offer and look forward to our new CEO continuing to support our clients, funders and our team as we address the issues that beset us all.
Brian Hobbs, Trustee Board Chair
About Us
Citizens Advice East Lancashire (CAEL) was formed in 2023, following the merger of Rossendale and Hyndburn CA with Burnley and Pendle CA. Following the closure of Ribble Valley CA, we were asked by Citizens Advice nationally to provide a service in this area as well.
The main problems that clients seek help with centre on benefits and debt. The cost of living crisis has hit hard in East Lancashire, an area where wages tend to be less than the UK average, and much of the housing stock, particularly in Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle, is old and poorly insulated. Many of our clients report health problems, which debt and poverty can exacerbate.
Last year, we reached over 13,000 people with over 52,000 advice issues, with financial outcomes of £4.7m.
Our Mission
To provide an advice service across East Lancashire that caters for the problems that residents face.
To improve our policies and practices to make this possible.
Our Vision
To empower individuals and families in need by delivering high quality advocacy.
By expanding our partnerships and stakeholder network, we enhance our capacity to achieve positive change for the benefit of the residents of East Lancashire.
We will ensure that our staff and volunteers possess the expertise and skills to bring this about.
Our Values
We aspire to make a meaningful difference in the community.
We aim to provide a positive working environment for our staff and volunteers, and show them that their work is valued.
We embrace diversity and advocate for equality in all that we do.
Overview
We’re local and we’re national.
We’re a member of the national Citizens Advice organisation that provides access to advice resources, branding, quality assurance and lobbying power to campaign for change. The Citizens Advice service is made up of the national charity and a network of over 250 local Citizens Advice members operating across England and Wales.
Citizens Advice East Lancashire
We cover an area with a population of about 408,400 people, with significant levels of deprivation in Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle in particular. The least populated of the five boroughs covered by CAEL is Ribble Valley, with a population of 61,600, but in terms of area, it is by far the largest.
We have four offices in Burnley, Nelson (Pendle), Accrington (Hyndburn) and Bacup (Rossendale). We have developed outreach facilities as well, and hope to be able to expand this. At the moment outreach venues are the only means of providing a face to face service to clients in the Ribble Valley.
CAEL can also offer digital and telephone means of contact.
Strategy
Covid and the cost of living crisis has impacted severely on our residents. Rising costs and comparatively low wages have taken their toll, and have created health issues as well as debt and benefit problems.
We need to ensure that the support and advice we provide is accessible in as many ways as possible, and takes into account those vulnerable clients who struggle with technology.
We will make sure that our staff and volunteers possess the necessary skills to be able to provide a first class service.
We will endeavour to promote the wellbeing of all who work for us, creating a positive atmosphere in which people are happy and feel supported.
CAEL Staff
Last year there were about 65 staff and volunteers working across the area. Since the departure of the CEO last year, we have operated with a senior management team of three, led by the Chief Operations Officer, who was the Chief Officer of Burnley and Pendle CA prior to the merger. Beneath them is a team made up of the managers of the various projects, and those responsible for training and bids/funding.
Because of the nature of project funding, which is usually for a limited period only, we have lost some staff recently as funding streams come to an end. Currently there are 37 paid staff, but we are currently recruiting, so this will rise by 6 or 7 during the next month. It is envisaged that the new CEO will wish to look at the current structure of the organisation to see whether improvements can be made.
Finances
Last year, our income from all sources totalled over £1.7 million. Our expenditure came to £1.4 million. Our reserves currently stand at over £900,000. This year, with some large funding streams coming to an end, there will probably be a deficit in the budget at the end of this year. This is why we ensure that we have adequate reserves in order to be able to meet contingencies such as this.
We are aware that the unrestricted funding that we receive from the local authorities in our area could be at jeopardy from the funding cuts which pose a problem for councils. We must therefore seek to maximise the opportunities for bringing in additional funding, and this will no doubt be a priority for the new CEO.
£1.4m Reserves
£900,000
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
As an organisation, we recognise the importance of championing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Consequently, we are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive culture for our service users, volunteers, staff and other stakeholders.
To ensure that CAEL plays an active role in monitoring and advocating for EDI, it is a standing agenda item at all CAEL trustee board meetings, with one member providing regular updates to the board in collaboration with a staff member. This TB member supported the development of clear and objective goals to ensure that CAEL’s goals align with the national CA’s EDI priorities. Further projects included updating staff and volunteer EDI policies to a standard more reflective of society’s needs.
At present we endeavour to ensure that EDI practices within CAEL are well informed and embedded into everyday practice. We would welcome our new CEO’s input into these considerations.
Role Description
Job title:
Chief Executive Officer
Location:
Hybrid, with a minimum of 3 days in one of the 4 offices: Pendle, Rossendale, Burnley or Hyndburn
Salary:
£60,000 - £65,000
Key purpose of the role
The Chief Executive Officer is the senior employee of the organisation responsible for the effective and efficient delivery of Citizens Advice East Lancashire’s charitable objects and strategy as delegated by the Trustee Board. This involves ensuring the effective delivery of advice and advocacy services locally to meet identified need, and nationally as part of national Citizens Advice led programmes offering benefits, energy and debt advice. You will provide positive, engaging, inspiring and credible leadership of Citizens Advice East Lancashire so it can achieve its mission.
Key Responsibilities
• To work with the Trustee Board to establish and maintain the long term vision, strategic direction, and delivery plan.
• To lead on developing new business bids and tendering to meet the income objectives.
• Ensuring that all necessary policies and procedures are in place.
• Developing and leading a capable senior management team.
• Oversee robust financial controls.
• Establishing an optimal staffing structure that incorporates the use of volunteers, while upholding the highest standards of people management.
• Promoting safeguarding.
• Being an effective leader at local, regional and national levels by fostering partnerships, streamlining collaborative processes, and building strong relationships with key stakeholders.
• Ensuring that the Trustee Board is provided with sufficient information to make appropriate decisions in a timely manner.
• Ensuring the Trustee Board has a thorough understanding of the market’s challenges and opportunities.
• Overseeing the creation and regular maintenance of a risk register.
• Ensure compliance with all legal and reporting obligations.
• Ensure the effective management of financial activities.
• Serve as a signatory and authorise expenditure within defined limits.
• Ensure compliance with all health and safety policies.
• Establish, maintain and monitor efficient administrative systems.
Person Specification
• Experience of leading/managing an organisation.
• Proven senior leadership experience and a passion for leading and enabling teams to thrive and develop.
• Strong leadership skills, with an ability to think strategically and to communicate that strategic vision.
• Experience of running and improving high-quality, value and volume clientfacing services at a senior level in a multistakeholder environment.
• An understanding and experience of good governance and its delivery.
• Experience of leading on partnership working.
• Strong relationship-building, networking and influencing of external stakeholders.
• Comprehensive strategic business planning experience and ability to deliver on key targets both strategically and operationally.
• A commitment to social justice, equality, diversity and inclusive practice within organisations, services and society.
• An understanding of the Charity, voluntary and community sector in the UK.
• Excellent financial and business acumen with a track record of successful business development, income generation and income diversification.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Charity financial governance framework.
How to Apply
To apply for the role, please upload your CV together with a supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) onto the Prospectus website via the link.
For guidance on formulating your Supporting Statement, please review our guide here.
Please ensure that you have included a telephone number, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable.
If you wish to apply using an alternative format please contact Prospectus on 020 7691 1920 or email executive.admin@ prospect-us.co.uk
Applications via the Prospectus website should be made at: https://prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/191345
At Prospectus we believe passionately that a truly inclusive workplace leads to increased social impact. We are committed to supporting our clients build more inclusive teams. To understand how we are performing, we ask that you kindly complete the brief equal opportunities questionnaire when you submit your application via our website. Please be assured that your responses are kept confidential, separate from your candidate record, are not part of any application you make, and that the consultants never see individual responses to the questionnaire.
Recruitment Timetable
Deadline for applications: 4th May, Midnight. 2025
Interviews with Prospectus: w/c 12th May 2025
Interviews with Citizens Advice East Lancashire: Thursday 29th May
Queries
If you wish to arrange an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained advisors Jane Ray with your CV via email:
jane.ray@prospect-us.co.uk