Contract jobs

Prospectus are working with a purpose led organisation operating at the intersection of financial services, public policy, and social impact. With a strong focus on data, transparency, and financial inclusion, the organisation plays an important role in informing policy, supporting responsible decision making, and contributing to wider societal outcomes. This is an exciting opportunity to join a high impact environment and help shape conversations that influence both policy and practice.

Reporting directly to the CEO, with close engagement with the Chair and wider Executive Team, the Public Affairs Officer will lead the organisation’s public affairs and policy activity. You will monitor and analyse legislative and political developments, helping to shape timely and informed responses, while designing and delivering advocacy and campaign strategies aligned to organisational priorities.

The role involves building and maintaining senior relationships across government, regulators, industry, and advocacy groups, as well as producing high quality briefings, consultation responses, and policy papers. You will also play a key role in translating complex data and research into compelling insights, supporting external communications, stakeholder engagement, and the organisation’s overall policy positioning.

The successful candidate will bring proven experience in public affairs, policy, or government relations, alongside a strong understanding of the UK political and legislative landscape. You will be an excellent communicator, with the ability to influence and build credibility with senior stakeholders, and demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills. A proactive, resilient, and adaptable approach is essential, as is the ability to manage multiple priorities and work both independently and collaboratively.

Experience in financial services, credit, or related policy areas, and confidence in campaigns, media engagement, or public speaking would be advantageous but is not essential.

If you are looking for a role with visibility, autonomy, and the opportunity to directly influence policy and stakeholder engagement at a senior level, we would be delighted to hear from you.  Please apply in the first instance and we will contact suitable candidates for further conversations. 

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process, then please contact Catherine Bunting at Prospectus.

Do you want to be part of making a difference to, and supporting, the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector across Hampshire? 

Action Hampshire works with communities across Hampshire and beyond on innovative, impactful, asset-based projects. We support communities to have their voices heard and to take action together. We support and partner with a range of voluntary community and social enterprise organisations to help make great things happen. We celebrate diversity and challenge inequalities.

We are seeking a values-led finance and operations professional to lead on our finance and operations systems at Action Hampshire. In this senior leadership role, you will guide the finance team, support strategic objectives, and influence decision-making processes at our organisation. Your expertise in charity finance operations will be crucial to informing the Senior Leadership team and guiding the finance team to ensure our compliance and adherence to financial planning, budgeting and reporting.

Who You Are: 

• Proven experience in charity finance and operations management

• Strong leadership, coaching, and team management skills 

• Excellent understanding of financial compliance and operational best practices for VCSE organisations 

• Ability to convey complex information effectively to internal and external stakeholders 

• A commitment to fostering a positive team culture and supporting the professional growth of others 

• Be committed to Action Hampshire’s values and have an understanding of and an empathy with the culture and values of the VCSE sector.

Your new company
My client is a large London-based charity which offers hybrid working.
Your new role
My role is a Financial Accountant on a fixed-term contract basis for 12 months. Duties will include:
- Take primary responsibility for a number of subsidiary entities, ensuring the preparation of financial statements and liaising with the external auditors.- Assisting with preparation of financial statements and undertaking relevant analysis.
- Reviewing the year-end trial balances and analysing key variances with previous years to identify potential omissions or misstatements.
- Developing and managing a regular schedule of review and reconciliation of all GL accounts, ensuring all accounts are reconciled and cleared appropriately.
- Ensuring all key GL accounts are reviewed each month, including suspense, control and clearing accounts to identify discrepancies, investigating and making corrections as required.
- Managing the month-end timetable, including sending out regular communications, following up on outstanding actions to ensure deadlines are met.
- Ensuring all payments are processed using the most appropriate payment method, considering value and payment terms, ensuring appropriate authorisation and sufficient funds are available.
- Ensuring bank accounts and bank mandates are kept up-to-date, including opening of new bank accounts and any alterations to arrangements with existing accounts.
- Ensuring regular (at least monthly) bank reconciliations are prepared and overseeing the monitoring of daily bank balances.
- Ensuring the production of daily/weekly/monthly cash monitoring and forecasting spreadsheets, working with the Financial Accountants to ensure the maintenance of appropriate liquidity whilst optimising funds available for investment.
What you'll need to succeed
In order to succeed, you will need previous experience of financial accounting. If you were studying for a professional qualification, that would be an advantage. Strong systems skills, including Excel, are also required.
What you'll get in return
In return, you will have the opportunity to work for a large, forward-thinking organisation with scope to develop your skills and take on additional duties over time.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk

Prospectus are delighted to be working with a national charity in their recruitment for a Finance Manager role.
 
This role is available on a fixed term contract (12 months) and full-time basis. The salary on offer for this role is circa £45,000 per annum. There is a mainly remote role with expectation that the postholder will attend the Kent office on occasion. 
 
The Finance Manager will lead the day‑to‑day operations of the charity’s finance function, maintaining strong financial controls, delivering clear and reliable reporting, and providing proactive support to internal teams. The role will be instrumental in managing costs, tracking income, overseeing the financial elements of contracts, and equipping managers with the insight they need to manage their budgets effectively.
 
To be successful in this role, you will be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with experience in a similar position, ideally within the not-for-profit sector. You will have experience preparing management accounts. You will have experience in budget management. You will have experience using finance systems and Microsoft Excel. You will have a strong understanding of restricted funding and contract‑based income. You will have experience in line management, mentoring colleagues, and working within a team.
 
Desirably, you will have knowledge of Charity SORP. You will have familiarity with local authority and/or public‑sector contracts. You will have experience overseeing or supporting payroll processes.
 
To apply, please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will arrange for a meeting to brief you on the role. You'll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon.
 
At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process then please contact George Cook at Prospectus.

Headstart is transforming how we restore and manage headwater catchments — bringing together water companies, conservation experts, researchers and policymakers to help the water sector to capitalise on the special benefits of working with small waters.

We’re looking for a dynamic and collaborative Technical Programme Manager to drive delivery across a complex, multi-partner programme. You’ll sit at the heart of the programme — coordinating people, science and delivery — turning innovative ideas into real-world impact.

Why this role?

• Lead a nationally significant programme influencing policy and practice

• Work with a diverse partnership across the water and environmental sectors

• Play a key role in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises

• Help shape future investment and decision-making in water management

About you

You’ll be a confident programme leader with strong organisational skills, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to navigate complexity. Experience in environmental or catchment-based work is a plus — but just as important is your ability to connect people, manage delivery and drive progress.

Freshwater Habitats Trust is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.

Please send a covering letter and application form as well as a copy of your CV. 

No agencies, please.

Closing date for applications: Friday 26th June 2026 at 5pm

Interview date: 7th & 8th July 2026

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Finance and Operations Manager with a human rights charity on a full-time, 12-month FTC (maternity cover) basis. As Finance and Operations Manager, you will lead the charity’s finance and operations functions, ensuring strong financial stewardship, smooth organisational operations, and a supportive, compliant environment for staff and Fellows.

You will work closely with the CEO, Treasurer and Board, bringing the charity’s values into action in a fast-moving organisation responding to global crises.

There is hybrid working in place with this organisation with a minimum of 2 days per week required in their London office.

As Finance and Operations Manager, you will:

- Oversee budgeting, forecasting, cashflow and financial controls

- Lead audits, manage banking relationships and ensure transparent reporting

- Strengthen operational systems, compliance, data protection and digital tools

- Support recruitment, onboarding, HR policies and staff wellbeing

- Manage a small finance/operations team and key external providers

The successful applicant will:
- Have significant demonstrable experience in finance and operations within the charity sector, in a similar role
- Be part qualified (ACA, ACCA, CIMA etc) or equivalent

- Have experience of managing compliance areas such as data protection, cyber security, insurance and risk

- Have a proven track record in budgeting, forecasting, cashflow management, and financial modelling

- Have experience with managing or leading a small team
- Have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

If this sounds like you and you're keen to hear more, please do get in touch ASAP!

Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted with further information.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

The Woodland Trust is looking for two Funded Project Managers to lead the successful delivery and completion of our funded projects.

The Role:
•    Provide leadership to Project Officers, ensuring all funded projects are delivered and completed to a high standard.
•    Manage the Funded Projects team to maintain consistent, robust project standards across all activity.
•    Support the development of strong funding bids, realistic budgets and informed organisational decision-making.
•    Maximise grant opportunities, identify risks early and safeguard the Trust’s financial and reputational interests.
•    Maintain excellent relationships and effective negotiations with funders, regulators and contributors.
•    Champion continuous improvement in reporting processes across the Trust and for external funders.
•    Monitor resources, highlight risks and ensure compliance with statutory obligations, VAT, procurement rules and best-practice project management.
•    Produce high-quality management information, support forecasting and contribute to fund accounting and full cost recovery modelling.
•    This is a hybrid position with a mix of home working, and from our head office in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Head office attendance would be required no more than once a month on average. Occasional travel to other offices and remote locations may also be required.
•    These roles are to be offered on a 12-month fixed term contract.

The Candidate:
•    Brings proven experience in supporting, mentoring and developing individuals and teams.
•    Skilled at building strong, productive relationships across internal teams and external partners.
•    Able to navigate complex financial challenges, including funder restrictions and avoidance of double funding.
•    Capable of interpreting, challenging and explaining financial principles to non-experts with clarity and influence.
•    Understands the financial implications of projects and how they flow through organisational accounts.
•    Makes sound decisions based on budgets, policies, funder guidelines and project management frameworks.
•    Brings knowledge of conservation and/or relevant finance or project management qualifications (desirable).
•    The successful candidate will be required to undertake a Basic Background Check, as part of our pre-employment screening.

Benefits and Wellbeing:
Joining our team means you’ll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:
•    Enhanced Employer Pension
•    Life Assurance
•    Flexible & Hybrid Working Options
•    Generous Annual Leave - 25 Days Plus Bank Holidays (pro rata’d for part-time)
•    Buy and Sell Holiday Scheme
•    Enhanced Parental Pay
•    Employee Assistance Programme

About Us:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity.  We want to see a world where trees and woods thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make their difference tackling the nature and climate crisis helping protect, restore and create our vital woods and trees.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:
To achieve our vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. All people, no matter their background, identity, ability, or circumstance, should benefit from trees.  
People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply. 
Please contact us to discuss any additional support or adjustments you may need to complete your application.

Application Advice:
For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, and we do not ask for your CV at application. 
Make sure that you answer the Application Questions to show your relevant skills and passion for the role. Even if you don't meet every requirement of the role, we would encourage you to apply. 

Acceptable Use - Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications-for example, to help structure or edit written responses. We welcome the use of AI in this way, particularly where it helps improve accessibility, such as for neurodivergent applicants. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools. 

Apply Now:
If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We might close the job opening early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. If we do close the advert early, and you have an application in process, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete.

1st stage interviews are to be held via MS Teams on June 23rd & 24th, with 2nd stages on July 8th.