Finance Jobs in South East

Ethex and Energise Africa are looking for an Investment Operations Associate who will be responsible for ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of our award-winning platforms. This role puts you at the heart of our organisation and at the cutting edge of making positive investing mainstream. We are in an exciting and pivotal time in our development, and we are currently recruiting for an ambitious, driven and motivated team member to help support across our Operations and Investment Management functions as we look to scale.

About Ethex and Energise Africa

We enable individuals to invest in impactful businesses they believe in – whether it’s fighting climate change, reducing poverty or building resilient communities. Since 2013 Ethex and Energise Africa have raised over £130 million of investment for over 100 impactful organisations from ~20,000 positive savers and investors. 

Job Overview

Reporting to the Senior Operations Manager. The role will embrace a wide remit to support colleagues across our Investment Management, Sales and Operations functions with day-to-day investment administration to enable smooth operation of the company and to enhance our customer service.

Roles & Responsibilities:

· Due Diligence: Conduct full operational due diligence on potential offers to be listed on the platform. This includes KYC, legal entity checks and offer document review.

· Offer management: efficiently and effectively managing the end-to-end process of creating, reviewing, tracking offers. This includes administration of post-close payments and investor updates. Serve as the central point of contact for enquiries from both the issuing clients as well as investors.

· Process improvement: Proactively identify opportunities to streamline and optimize offer lifecycle management processes through automation, standardization, and best practices.

· Standard Operating Procedures: Ensure that process notes are kept up-to-date with any changes or enhancements to offer management processes, and make them accessible to relevant team members for training purposes.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to work for an ethical, diverse and impactful organisation, and to advance our aim of taking Impact Investing mainstream.

Key skills and experience:

• As an ideal candidate, you will have experience in a financial services environment which could be in a customer service, investment management or business operations role (a financial services background is desirable but is not essential for the right candidate)
• Experience of working in the back office of a platform-based service organization would be welcomed but again is not necessarily essential
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset, a can-do attitude, engaging with multiple parties from inside and outside the company
• The ability to build relationships, influence, manage conflicts if necessary and efficiently navigate situations in order to get things done
• MS Office suite literate
• A passion for operational excellence and customer service excellence.
• A structured and self-disciplined approach to work
• An interest in sustainable development/impact investing or similar
• Preferable but not essential, experience in fast-moving, growing organisations

Our Values

• We want to create a positive impact and make a difference in the world. 
• We love helping communities, social entrepreneurs and businesses in innovative ways.
• We aim to provide excellent customer service and treat all our investors fairly.
• We are a friendly, dynamic, professional, and knowledgeable team.
• We are a small team that likes delivering big impact. 

We hire great people from a variety of backgrounds, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes our company stronger. If you share our values for making a positive impact in the world and making money do good, you will find a home at Ethex.

We believe in a fairer future for all, and we know that by working together we can do much, much more. We believe that everyone has the right to live and work without fear or prejudice regardless of race, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, social class, religion and belief.

We’d love to hear where your passions and interests lie and which areas of the job specification most appeal to you. Please indicate your salary expectations and whether you are applying for the role on a full time or part time basis. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.  This opportunity will close once the role has been filled so please apply early to ensure you don’t miss out.

A medium sized health education charity is seeking a Finance Officer on a full-time, permanent basis.

The organisation is an established charity that provides information and guidance on various aspects of veganism. Services range from general advice on vegan lifestyle – diet, travel, shopping etc, campaigning activities, additional services to charity members, and the certification and labelling of products based on their internationally recognised Vegan Trademark.

The organisation has around 65 staff with a turnover of around £4 million annually. Their central offices are in Birmingham, however this role can be taken on almost exclusively remotely – it is anticipated that there will be approximately 6 journeys per year required either to the Birmingham office or another mutually agreeable location – for staff events and meetings.

The role sits within a small finance team of 3, and will be highly varied covering most aspects of transactional finance. The starting salary is between £29,413 - £31,508, however they have regular salary reviews and growth in the role is possible. They also have an excellent benefits package including a pension scheme, employee assistance programme, 28 days leave + bank holidays, plus additional leave available as part of a sustainable transportation climate perks policy.

The ideal candidate will be AAT part-qualified with experience in a similar Finance Officer level role. Exposure to double-entry bookkeeping and an understanding of charity finance would be an advantage. Experience with Sage accounting is also useful. The organisation is a flexible employer and although the role is ultimately permanent they welcome applicants wishing to be considered on a part-time basis as part of a job share, and will also consider candidates on a shorter term fixed term contract basis if this is preferable to a permanent contract initially.

It is expected that staff adhere to a vegan lifestyle as much as possible, however being vegan is not a pre-requisite.

Typical duties will include:

-Work closely with the sales team and raise invoices in accordance with the sales process.

-Support the credit control function and chase outstanding payments for renewals and new business.

-Provide up-to-date debtor ledger reports as required.

-Process invoices and expenses for payment ensuring adherence to internal purchase policies and procedures.

-Provide support and guidance to staff members and chase outstanding documentation to ensure correct processes are always followed.

-On a weekly basis, process supplier payments and staff expenses online ready for authorisation.

-Support the reconciliation of bank accounts, credit cards, merchant platforms and aggregators.

-Maintain responsibility of designated balance sheet codes and assist with the preparation of month-end reporting.

-Ensure balance sheets are kept up to date in readiness for year-end and annual audit.

-Work closely with the Finance Manager and support the Auditor during the annual financial audit.

-Assist with the development of financial policies, streamline processes, production of working instructions and training materials.

-Support the development of financial business critical systems and processes to increase efficiency and improve user journeys.

-Investigate, report and where necessary make improvements to minimise non-compliance to ensure robust policies and procedures.

-Support the Finance Manager and make suggestions for continuous improvement of systems and processes to support business requirements.

-Support the management of the finance mailboxes and respond to emails in a timely manner.

-Act as the first point of contact and provide timely responses to internal and external stakeholders, customers and suppliers by email and over the telephone.

Candidate requirements:

-AAT part or fully-qualified

-Minimum of 2 years’ experience in a customer service environment.

-Good working knowledge of day-to-day transactional finance, including all aspects of purchase and sales ledger, credit control, bank reconciliation, balance sheet reconciliation and journal entries.

-A working knowledge of VAT.

-Excellent customer service skills.

-Experience of using accounting software – Sage Cloud /Sage Intact desirable

-Knowledge and experience of working with databases and CRM systems.

-An understanding of charity finance is desirable but not essential

Closing date: Thursday 25th April

Interviews: W/c 29th April

Please send your CV for further consideration.

Green Finance Manager

Salary c£38,000 pa dependent on experience & skills

If you are passionate about nature’s recovery and want to work within our Business Development/Nature Based Solutions Team with others who are creatively and systematically looking for solutions which will connect Surrey’s wildlife at a landscape level, this is your perfect job!

This role sits in the Trust’s Business Development/Nature Based Solutions (NBS) team, an innovative new team focused on county wide recovery and green finance investment within the county of Surrey. This role will also manage the Trusts internal and external processes around Green Finance and drive forward investment in nature at a landscape level.  

As a senior role reporting into the Director of Business Development and Partnerships; practical experience of green finance including biodiversity net gain is essential; experience will also need to include demonstrable examples of project managing medium/large scale projects, contract management, financial analysis and working in a fast paced environment.

Our challenge is to restore Surrey’s nature and maximise climate adaptation and resilience following Lawton’s approach for a bigger, better, more joined up ecological network.  We will do this both on our own land holding and by working with other landowners and managers in partnership as we strive towards a target of 30% of land connected and protected for nature by 2030.  We have the opportunity to embed a zero carbon, nature-based solution approach within economic recovery and landowner decision-making. 

Our offices are in Pirbright, Leatherhead and Wisley and our hybrid working policy aims to provide a good work/life balance which can incorporate partial home working.  The salary offered to successful applicants will form part of a benefits package including: above minimum pension contributions, life assurance of 4 x salary, employee support scheme, 22+ days holiday, flexible/hybrid working policy.

We are committed to having an inclusive and diverse workplace and encourage applications from backgrounds which may be underrepresented in our sector, including people from minority ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities.  We aim to offer an interview to all candidates that meet the essential criteria for the post. Please let us know if you require any adjustment to make our recruitment process more accessible.

Please apply using the Application Form available on our website or provide a full CV and explanatory covering letter, emailed to Zoe Channon, Director of Business Development and Partnerships by midday Monday 29th April 2024. Interviews will be on 7/8th May at our Pirbright Office. Please note due to the complexity and popularity of this role a second interview will be required.  Full job profile also available on Surrey Wildlife Trust website.

Guided by a collaborative vision where we all play a part in connecting nature, we provide expert advice and guidance to landowners and managers, making sure the land we look after leads by example, while inspiring and educating people and organisations across the county on what they can do. By doing this we will create a Surrey that is full of diverse and abundant wildlife, where nature is at the heart of individual choices, corporate decisions, and local economic and policy making. One that helps tackle the ongoing climate emergency, while supporting the health and wellbeing of all who live here.

Wild in the City was established in 2013 and was incorporated as an asset locked non- profit Community Interest Company in April 2016 to address the growing problem of disconnection from nature and generational loss of knowledge and skills, and to help make nature a meaningful part of everyday life. 

We are a national organisation supporting well-being through relationship with nature. We offer programmes in hiking, woodland living skills, natural history and ecotherapy, using the skills of our ancestors to develop a deeper relationship with the natural world and nurture a sense of belonging to communities past and present. 

We are a black led organisation with a focus on health and supporting Black and minority ethnic communities in accessing nature and the countryside, addressing the widely acknowledged lack of representation and lower levels of involvement of people of colour in nature-based activity. We are a leading organisation in research and the facilitation of forums about race and nature. 

We have an exciting vision for increasing the participation of people of colour in nature- based activity and highlighting black perspectives about the natural world through our core programmes. 

• Nature Guides 

• Nature Connectors 

• Wild in the City Festival 

• Black Nature Narratives 

• Research and Consultancy

We’re looking for an exceptional individual to become our new Director of Operations. The right person will balance strong interpersonal and leadership skills and robust operational ability in the areas of finance, administration and fundraising. The role of Director of Operations is central to helping us achieve our ambition of further growing as a Black led institution for learning and caring about nature. We are looking for someone with the experience to help shape our growth and guide implementation of our 5 year plan, and who will grow with us to become our Chief Operating Officer.

• The role is offered for 21 hours per week.

  Closing date: 3rd May 2024 

  Interview: w/c 13th May 2024 

  Start date: as soon as possible 

  Full job description with responsibilties and person specification is attached

Sustainable Finance Policy Advisor

£41,000 - £52,000

Woking, GU21 4LL.  / Hybrid Working

This is a UK based contract and as such, you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Evidence of your Right to Work will be checked prior to interview.

This is an exciting opportunity to use your knowledge of policy development and regulation of the financial sector to tackle climate change and loss of nature, as a member of the Sustainable Finance Unit of the Policy Solutions team in WWF, the world’s leading independent conservation organisation.

As Sustainable Finance Policy Advisor, you will help design creative policy solutions to some of the world’s most difficult and pressing challenges. Your work will influence government, central banks, regulatory authorities and the finance sector itself to respond to climate change and nature loss, and deliver the transition to a net zero economy. You will support policy development to transform the financial sector in the UK and beyond, focusing on government policy and regulation.

This will involve analysing existing and proposed policies for effectiveness and collaborating with colleagues to make the case for action and implementation to key stakeholders on proposed policy changes. You will also maintain oversight of the sustainable finance policy landscape internally and externally and be alert to new developments and policy ideas. You will produce technical reports, documents and briefings as well as commission research and consultants as needed. It will be important to build links and strategic relationships with other organisations and other parts of the global network of WWF offices to maximise our effectiveness.

You must have experience of policy development and / or financial sector regulation and an understanding of the sustainable finance landscape. Your expertise will likely have been gained in a government department, central bank, regulator, or a thinktank or NGO working on this agenda.  You will also have a record of developing and influencing key stakeholders, influencing opinions and practices and creating new models to deliver policy change. Politically aware, you will possess a strong understanding of how policy is influenced, both inside and outside Government as well as how policy and politics interact and how one can be used to influence the other. Expert at identifying key or underlying issues in complex situations, you will be experienced in conducting or using research to develop ideas and make the case for them. You will possess excellent influencing, relationship building and communication skills too.

If you have the expertise to ensure our sustainable finance policy development is politically relevant and of high quality, we would love to hear from you. Please click on the link and apply via our website by completing the online form with your relevant skills and experience, setting out what makes you a good fit for us.

WWF UK are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. As a Disability Confident Employer, we acknowledge that some candidates may require additional support to overcome barriers experienced during the application process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team via our website.

Every role at WWF is open to applications from all sections of society. We believe in the potential of everyone regardless of; sex, race, religion or belief, ethnic origin, different physical ability, family structure, socio-economics, age, nationality or citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other aspect that makes you, well you.  Here at WWF, we are committed to conscious inclusion that helps cultivate an ethos of belonging, connection and shared purpose.  We believe that the more diverse we are the better we become; this brings us together and empowers us to develop, engage and inspire; and critically to help build a future where people can live in harmony with nature.

Our policies and benefits reflect the importance of people being able to have a good work-life balance and being able to bring their ‘full self’ to work.

Our world needs you like never before. We are the first generation to know we are destroying the world and we could be the last that can do anything about it. We are looking for people who are passionate about making it politically, socially and economically unacceptable to destroy our planet’s natural resources. We need you to join us in the fight for our world.

Legal Counsel

The Clean Air Fund is looking to recruit a Legal counsel to join their team in finance and operations department. This is an exciting opportunity to join a rapidly growing organisation whose mission is to use philanthropic grants to catalyse a reduction in air pollution.   

As a Legal counsel with Clean Air Fund you would help to work closely with CAF’s Senior Leadership Team to ensure CAF complies with its required legal and funder obligations and to advise on all CAF contracts which primarily constitute grants. The role brings legal expertise to offer expert solution-focused input across a wide range of issues to ensure that as CAF grows rapidly and robustly. 

To be successful in this role you will have:

• UK qualified solicitor 
• Experience in drafting, reviewing, negotiating and advising on contracts with a range of external stakeholders 
• Experience of legal risk and compliance, gained in a non-profit, philanthropic or impact driven environment is preferable 
• An up-to-date understanding and practice of UK charity law 
• Previous experience working in-house will be beneficial 
• Ability to take complex information and present in a concise and simplified form 
• Ability to set priorities, think critically, objectively and strategically. 
• Skills required to work in a range of cultural and socio-economic contexts, adapting style and approach appropriately and in a culturally sensitive manner to maximise effectiveness. 
• Fluency in English. Proficiency in other languages is an advantage. 
• IT proficiency (most specifically in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint). 
• Strong personal motivation to work in the not-for-profit sector and interest in environment, air quality, health. 

For more information on this role, as well as the full person specification please see the job description

• Closing date –  3rd April 2024
• Salary & Benefits - Depending on location: 
  • In UK £54,429 - £69,912 gross per annum
  • In Ghana GHS 412,536.11 - 526,337.76  gross per annum
  • In India INR 3,807,625.40 - 4,858,003.82 gross per annum
  • In South Africa ZAR 1,250,000-1,300,000 gross per annum 
• Interview Date:
• Round 1 w/c 8th April 2024 
• Round 2 w/c 15th April 2024
• Type of employment - Full time, Permanent 
• The role will be based in Clean Air Fund’s offices (London, Delhi, Johannesburg or Accra). Applicants must be entitled to work in the location they have applied for (UK, India, South Africa or Ghana).  Clean Air Fund cannot support visa applications

As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, returning parents, carers or any other aspect which makes them unique. We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups  to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps we can take to ensure that the recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable. We are committed to ensuring the safety and protection of our employees from all forms of harm.