Assistant jobs in Liverpool

12-month fixed-term contract | Full-time 

Salary: £58,560 – £71,480 per annum

Hours: 35 per week

Location: Home-based with regular national travel 

Job reference number: 1766

Help shape the future of Cranstoun’s services 

Cranstoun is a social justice and harm reduction charity supporting and empowering people to live healthier and safer lives. Each year, we support more than 45,000 people through services including substance use, criminal justice, domestic abuse, housing and services for children and young people. 

Following a successful five-year strategy and significant growth, we remain ambitious about the difference we can make. As we enter our next phase, we are investing in the leadership and operational capability needed to support our continued development. We are now recruiting an Assistant Directors of Services to join our senior management team. 

This is a significant senior leadership role offering the opportunity to lead substantial service portfolios while helping shape how Cranstoun’s services are led and delivered across the organisation. 

The role 

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead a substantial portfolio of complex commissioned services and senior operational managers. 

You will lead nine services with nine direct reports, spanning criminal justice and housing/homelessness provision. You will have clear accountability for ensuring services are safe, effective and well-led, with strong contractual performance, financial sustainability and positive outcomes for the people and communities we support. 

You will provide operational grip and evidence-based assurance, strengthen safeguarding and management accountability, build effective relationships with commissioners and partners, and ensure risks and underperformance are identified, escalated and addressed early. 

You will also work collectively with fellow senior operational leaders to embed a One Cranstoun approach, strengthening common standards, sharing learning, developing leadership capability and improving quality and resilience across our services. 

What you will be accountable for 

As an Assistant Director, you will take senior operational accountability for: 

• Safe, effective and well-led services – ensuring strong safeguarding, quality, operational risk management and service user outcomes.  
• Contractual performance – ensuring services deliver against contractual requirements and KPIs, with strong commissioner relationships and timely action to address underperformance.  
• Financial sustainability – maintaining strong financial oversight, effective workforce management and oversight of the sustainability of individual contracts.  
• Evidence-based assurance – using reliable performance, quality, workforce and financial information to identify risks and drive improvement.  
• Collective organisational leadership – working beyond individual portfolio boundaries to build consistent standards, stronger leadership and shared ways of working across Cranstoun.  

You will lead and develop senior operational managers, set clear expectations and create a culture in which support and accountability operate together. 

You will also lead and contribute to service mobilisation, transformation, workforce planning and continuous improvement. 

Who we are looking for 

We are looking for established senior operational leaders with substantial experience leading complex commissioned services and geographically dispersed teams. 

You will bring a strong track record of: 

• leading safe, high-quality services for people with complex needs;  
• safeguarding, quality and operational risk management;  
• contract and performance management;  
• managing significant service budgets and improving financial performance;  
• building effective relationships with commissioners, regulators and strategic partners;  
• leading service improvement, mobilisation and organisational change;  
• developing senior operational managers and addressing underperformance; and  
• using performance, quality, workforce and financial information to provide assurance and drive improvement.  

You will need to combine strategic leadership with operational pragmatism, understanding the detail when necessary while maintaining oversight of performance, risk, quality and sustainability across a complex portfolio. 

Above all, we are looking for collaborative, credible and values-led leaders who can support and challenge in equal measure, build leadership capability and bring people together around common standards and organisational priorities. 

Specialist experience 

For this role, you will need significant leadership experience across both Criminal Justice and Housing/Homelessness services, including housing or accommodation-based provision. 

You will understand the complexity of working across criminal justice, housing, local government and other statutory systems and be experienced in building effective relationships with commissioners and partners while maintaining strong operational and contractual oversight. 

This is a 12-month fixed-term appointment at an important stage in Cranstoun’s transformation, offering the opportunity to lead a significant portfolio, strengthen operational performance and help shape the future development of our operating model. 

Be part of Cranstoun’s next chapter 

Our successful five-year strategy has seen Cranstoun grow considerably, extending our reach and the range of services we provide. We remain ambitious and innovative, committed to developing services that respond to the changing needs of people and communities. 

As we look to the future, we are investing in the leadership, operational capability and organisational infrastructure needed to support our continued development, strengthening operational governance, consistency and assurance across our services. 

This role offers the opportunity to do more than manage established portfolios. You will help shape the future of our services and build an Operations Directorate characterised by high standards, clear accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

Find out more 

Please refer to the accompanying recruitment pack for the full Job Description, Person Specification and details of the application process.

Please note: All posts are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

How to Apply:

For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button. Please quote the appropriate Job Ref in all correspondence.

Applicants must be able to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work in the UK at the application stage.

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026.

We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work. 

Registered Charity No: 1061582

 

Job Title: Hertfordshire Project Assistant

Salary:  £27,980 (London Fringe weighting)

Position Type: Full time/Fixed term (until December 2028)

Reports to: Scaling Manager

Based at:  Remote, with travel to schools in Hertfordshire

Working Hours:                  5 days a week, 9am-5pm (flexible)

Pension: School Food Matters matches pension contributions at 7% of pensionable earnings

Holiday: 31 days including bank holidays that fall on working days. Holidays must be taken during the school holidays

This role requires occasional work outside of core hours (for example, if visiting a school breakfast club). It also requires travel to schools across Hertfordshire, so access to a car would be desirable. Training for delivery of the programme will be provided online and in person, and you will be expected to travel outside of Hertfordshire for some of these sessions.

Background to School Food Matters

At School Food Matters we believe that school food can unlock a happier, healthier, more sustainable future for every child. We want a school food system that delivers for all children, so they can enjoy nutritious, delicious and sustainable school food and leave school with an informed and positive relationship with food. To achieve this, we campaign for a better school food system, bringing the voices of children, parents, and teachers to government policy, and deliver fully funded food education programmes in schools across the country.

Background to Nourish

Our Nourish programme supports schools to create a food environment that puts children and young people's nutrition first. The evidence-based, multi-component programme helps schools to develop action plans and policies to cover the food served across the whole school day. Nourish uses a collaborative whole school approach to food involving everyone across the school community to create lasting positive change.

Job purpose

· To support two Project Officers with the delivery of Nourish in 30 schools in Hertfordshire (primary, secondary and SEND settings) over 2 years

Key tasks include

· Recruit schools to take part in Nourish

· Shadow and support project team to deliver in person food audits in schools

· Build relationships and work closely with teachers, teaching assistants, cooks, kitchen teams and senior leaders in schools in Hertfordshire to improve the food they offer their students

· Provide practical support to the project team with setting up workshops including paperwork and food shopping

· Provide admin support to the project team

· Tailor Nourish resources for Hertfordshire schools where required

· Collect data and maintain accurate records relating to the project

· Gather content for our comms team, website and social media platforms

· Keep project team fully updated on progress

· Keep up to date with safeguarding requirements and reporting procedures

· Maintaining the ethos of the charity and positively promoting our work at all times

· You will also be expected to undertake any other tasks relevant to the affairs of SFM that may arise from time to time. Therefore, being flexible and approaching the job with an open and positive mindset is essential.

Person Specification

Essential

· Excellent administrative and organisational skills with great attention to detail

· Excellent IT skills including excel, word and email

· Ability to work in a team, and seek help when needed

· Comfortable engaging with variety of audiences (students, school staff and parents), incl. writing and responding to email, conducting telephone, virtual and face to face meetings, and running workshops

· Self-motivated and optimistic with a can-do attitude

Desirable

· Experience of working for a charity or not for profit organisation

· Experience of working in schools

· An interest in food education and children’s health

· Access to a car

ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S CHARITY 

Job title: Executive Assistant 
Salary: £31,125 - £39,823 

Hours: 37.5 hours per week 
Location: Alder Hey Children's Charity (based within the hospital), Liverpool. Hybrid working available. 

About us 

Alder Hey Children’s Charity raises vital funds to help make Alder Hey Children’s Hospital a truly world-class, patient-friendly hospital for the 450,000 patients and families we care for every year. 

The charity helps to fund a range of activities and projects that are designed to enhance and improve the lives of our amazing young patients. This includes the funding of specialist medical equipment to ensure our brilliant surgeons and clinical staff have the most up to date and cutting-edge technology available and funding hi-tech distraction equipment designed and proven to reduce pain and anxiety in our patients. We also fund a range of programmes and special projects such as our ward musicians, our on-site magician and the play specialists we have on every ward. 

About this role 

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Charity as an Executive Assistant, providing high-quality support to the Senior Leadership Teamand support for the governance functions. 

You will manage complex diaries, coordinate meetings, and deliver key administrative support in a fast-paced environment. Working closely with senior leaders and the Executive Affairs and Governance Manager, you will ensure deadlines are met, confidentiality ismaintained, and operations run smoothly. 

The successful candidate will be proactive, organised, and resourceful, with excellent communication skills and the ability to prioritise competing demands. This rewarding role offers variety, responsibility, and the chance to make a meaningful impact across the organisation. 

Key responsibilities will include: 

Executive and administrative supportfor the Senior Leadership Team 

• Provide high-quality, proactive executive and administrative support to the Senior Leadership Team.This willincludesupportingthe management of complex diaries and inboxes, coordinating appointments and meetings, resolving schedulingconflictsandanticipatingrequirements and priorities. 

• Support charity-wide projects, initiatives and working groups, coordinating activity and following up actions asrequired. 

Governance Function Support 

• Support the Executive Affairs & Governance Manager inmaintainingeffective, well-organised governance processes and delivering governance-related activities across theCharity and its subsidiary. 

• Provide administrative support to the Trustee Board and other Boards,Committeesand working groups, including scheduling meetings,coordinatingand collating agendas and papers, attending meetings, draftingaccurateand professional minutes,maintainingactionlogsand following up agreed actions. 

Event Planning 

• Support the planning, organisation and delivery of high-quality internal and external meetings and events, includingManager and Senior Leadership Team meetings,workshopsand other events at internal and external venues. 

• Coordinate eventlogistics, including venues, suppliers, attendees, materials, catering,technologyand other requirements, ensuring events run smoothly and delivergood valuefor money. 

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration 

• Build positive and effective working relationships across the Charity and with colleagues at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and other key partners, supporting collaboration and shared organisational priorities. 

• Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality, professionalism and discretion when handling sensitive information and engaging with internal and external stakeholders. 

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information. 

Our Values 

At Alder Hey Children’s Charity, our values guide how we work. Being courageous, working together, showing passion and embracing creativity enables us to support the hospital in delivering the very best care for young patients and their families. 

Courage 

We try new things, take risks and innovate. We speak up, take accountability and act with responsibility. 

Together 

We work as one team, sharing knowledge and learning. We partner with patients, families, supporters and colleagues. 

Passion 

We are passionate about what we do and inspire others. 

Magic 

We are creative, fun and child-led, creating special moments and going the extra mile. 

Additional Information 

In April 2025, the charity adopted a four-day working week policy. Staff previously working 37.5 hours now work 30 hours across four days, maintaining full pay while supporting a better work-life balance. 

This job description outlines the general nature of the role and is not exhaustive. It may be subject to change in line with organisational needs. 

Alder Hey Children’s Charity will make reasonable adjustments where required and is committed to equal opportunities and safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. 

The post holder will be required to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check. 

How to apply 

You can apply by clicking the link below. Applications must include your CV and a covering letter (no more than one side of A4) which answers the following questions: 

• How do you meet the person specification? If you don’t exactly meet all of the role requirements but have transferable skills please do consider applying and provide details as part of your answer.

• Why do you want to work for Alder Hey? 

Additional information is included within the Job Description and Person Specification.

Closing date: Monday 14th September 2026, 12pm 

Interviews will be held in person at Alder Hey on Tuesday 22nd September 2026 

Assistant Youth Worker

Are you passionate about supporting young people and helping them thrive? YMCA St Helens is looking for enthusiastic and approachable Assistant Youth Workers to join our growing Youth Team.

Working across our Youth Hub and community venues, you will support the delivery of engaging activities, build positive relationships with young people aged 11-18 (and up to 25 where appropriate), and help create safe, inclusive environments where young people can develop confidence, wellbeing and life skills.

We're looking for someone with:

• Experience of working, volunteering or engaging with young people.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• An understanding of safeguarding and the needs of young people.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• The ability to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends.

Why join YMCA St Helens?
Join a values-driven organisation that believes in creating opportunities for young people to connect, grow and flourish. You'll be part of a supportive team making a genuine difference across the borough.

YMCA St Helens is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

Closing date 11-09-2026

Head of Housing and Support Are you an experienced housing leader with a passion for supporting people to achieve independence and positive outcomes? YMCA St Helens is seeking an ambitious and values-driven Head of Housing and Support to lead our housing services and play a key role in the organisation's future growth and development.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across housing services, ensuring high-quality, safe and compliant accommodation provision. You will lead service development, oversee housing compliance and safeguarding, manage high-performing teams, and build strong partnerships that help us meet the needs of local communities.

We're looking for someone with:

• Significant experience in housing management, supported housing or homelessness services.
• Proven experience of strategic leadership and service development.
• Strong knowledge of housing legislation, compliance and regulatory requirements.
• Experience leading teams and driving service improvement.
• Experience managing safeguarding within a supported housing environment.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication and decision-making skills.
• CIH Level 5 qualification.
• Willingness to participate in an on-call rota.

Why join YMCA St Helens? This is an exciting opportunity to shape and grow housing services within a forward-thinking charity that is committed to transforming lives. You'll help drive innovation, influence strategic direction and lead services that make a real difference to people experiencing homelessness and housing need.

Closing date 20-09-2026

Assistant Accountant – Operations & Control

Salary: £39,129.53 - £43,128.79

Location: National / predominantly remote working

MLC Partners is currently recruiting an Assistant Accountant – Operations & Control for a large, highly impactful organisation operating nationally across the UK.

This is a fantastic to develop a broad finance skillset offering exposure across several areas of finance, with responsibility for maintaining accurate financial records, supporting strong financial controls and helping ensure key finance processes operate effectively.

You'll gain hands-on exposure to multiple areas of financial control while working alongside experienced finance professionals within a collaborative, purpose-led organisation. The organisation is also committed to career development and progression, making this a strong opportunity for someone looking to continue developing their finance career.

The role is predominantly remote, with a national remit and connection to a regional business unit.

The Role

Reporting to the Financial Controller, you will work closely with colleagues across Finance and the wider organisation, supporting a broad range of accounting and financial control activities. In this role, you will gain exposure to cashflow and treasury, balance sheet control, fixed assets, audit, VAT and tax, insurance, credit control and regulatory reporting.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Producing daily cash position reporting and supporting effective treasury and cashflow management.
• Completing bank reconciliations, investigating variances and ensuring transactions are accurately recorded.
• Supporting the preparation and maintenance of cashflow forecasts, including deposits and short-term investment balances.
• Supporting balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring balances are accurate, complete and appropriately evidenced.
• Assisting with fixed asset and lease accounting, including additions, disposals, depreciation, provisions and reconciliations.
• Maintaining accurate intercompany balances and resolving differences promptly.
• Supporting the preparation of statutory accounts and year-end audit, including working papers, audit requests and statutory disclosures.
• Preparing and supporting the submission of quarterly VAT returns and assisting with wider tax compliance requirements.
• Providing support across credit control and income processes, including monitoring aged debt and helping resolve queries.
• Contributing to continuous improvements across finance processes, systems and controls.

About you:

We are looking for someone with previous experience working within a finance or accounting environment, ideally with exposure to reconciliations, cashflow, month-end, audit or other operational finance processes.

You may be AAT qualified, approaching the final stages of ACCA, CIMA or ACA, or have equivalent experience. A good understanding of VAT and tax compliance is essential, while knowledge of financial controls, accounting standards and balance sheet accounting would be advantageous.

You will need:

• Has strong attention to detail and takes pride in producing accurate, well-controlled work.
• Is confident reconciling and analysing financial information and investigating discrepancies.
• Can manage multiple priorities and work effectively to month-end and audit deadlines.
• Has strong organisational and planning skills.
• Can communicate financial information clearly to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Is proactive, solutions-focused and keen to identify opportunities to improve processes and systems.

If you're an ambitious finance professional who enjoys variety, problem-solving and taking ownership of your work, we'd love to hear from you.

Please get in touch with Sam at MLC Partners for a confidential conversation.