The company
At Fora, we’re fueled by a desire to enhance the way people work. We’re here for the progressives, the forward thinkers, the status quo-challengers, the creators and the innovators. With signature hospitality, a like-minded community of members and a re-energising wellness experience, Fora takes the grind out of daily work-life, so members can focus on what’s important – working productively, healthily and happily.
Our journey began over 20 years ago, when we opened our first location on London’s City Road. Since then, our collection has grown to over 60 distinctive workspaces across London, the UK and Germany, totaling 3.2 million sq ft of real estate. And in the last two decades we’ve welcomed nearly 30,000 members through our doors and boast market-leading retention rates.
As a trusted workspace provider for teams of all sizes, from established brands to new ventures, our uniquely designed, flexible office spaces come with a range of exceptional on-site amenities and a dedicated Member Experience team to take care of all the day-to-day details. Ocado, The British Fashion Council and Pangaia are just some of the businesses who call a Fora workspace home.
Fora is part of The Office Group, backed by Blackstone and Brockton Capital. We have ambitious plans to expand our collection of workspaces in the future, pioneering industry change through our conscious design and construction practices, and creating workspaces that empower our members to work in their own unique way.
The Role
This role is a rare opportunity for an experienced rating professional to move client side and take ownership of Fora’s extensive and complex business rates portfolio with an RV exceeding £100m made up of over 4000 separate hereditaments
Utilising a proven hybrid internal/external management model, you will have full control of this expense, with incredibly strong support from internal stakeholders and external experts. Rates payment and bill processing is oursourced, altough you will need to be comfortable with the financial reporting.
Business Rates are our second largest fixed cost and impact every part of our business and one which the business places a high focus and importance. You will benefit from working with all areas of the business and learning from field leaders across our Real Estate, Finance, Tech and operational functions.
You will land in the middle of exciting changes and will have the opportunity to quickly make your mark and shape the future of this business beyond business rates while learning from highly regarded leaders, working closely with our COO, CTO, CFO and our Executive Chairman.
There is a high level of financial reporting, risk and compliance involved in this role and you must be comfortable fully owning this area along side traditional rating work.
Key Responsibilities
* Manage and shape all areas relating to business rates management, with support from external advisors who will report to you, and with potential to change and adjust this structure to your expertise.
* Minimize business rates across the business through an active appeal strategy, proactive engagement with council’s and the VOA, and engaging with the wider business.
* Financial and C-suite reporting. You must be comfortable producing high quality reports and data for board packs, investors including scenario modelling.
* As the head of this key cost, you will need to produce monthly financial P&L statements, payment requests and balance sheet reconciliations (with reports coming from external advisors)
* Audit management. You will be responsible for working with our finance team and external auditors ensuring full compliance and technical accounting is accurate.
* Risk planning and management. Across the portfolio you will identify, accrue and manage risks such as buildings pending rating, spotting inaccuracies in the rating list and
* Forecasting. You will be able to produce annual budgeting models aligning with the businesses occupancy forecasts, cashflow forecasting and providing essential advice to our investor and acquisitions team.
* Prepare the business for upcoming changes including Duty to Notify, changing legislation and revaluation.
* Manage external partnering, including management of external advisors, industry body, and political organisations as appropriate
* Manage and mitigate legal risks and work with our legal team and external solicitors as required to adapt out business to the latest changes
Requirements
* Minimum 10 years experience working within the rating industry.
* Ideally you will have worked in the public and private sector .
* Proven experience of initiating and implementing process changes
* Experience owning clear areas of a business and managing accountability
* Understanding of basic financial reporting, balance sheet management, cashflow reporting and budget modelling
* High level of excel skills
* C-suite and investor engagement
Benefits
At The Office Group, we know that work isn’t just about working. We offer all of our employers a fantastic range of benefits, including;
* Flexible working hours
* Hybrid working - 4 days in the office
* 28 days annual leave
* Birthday off
* 2 weeks work from anywhere
* Annual leave purchase scheme
* Healthshield
* LinkedIn learning
* Study support
* 5% Pension scheme
* Life Assurance
* Discounted Gym membership
* Season Ticket Loan
* Cycle to Work Scheme
* 25% Discount at The Office Group Cafes