Enquiries and grants officer jobs

The Garfield Weston Foundation is a well-established and highly respected grant-making charity, supporting a wide range of causes across the UK. With a long-standing commitment to improving the lives of those in need, the Foundation provides funding to charities working across areas including welfare, education, youth, community, environment, faith, arts, and heritage. Known for its collaborative and impactful approach, the Foundation plays a vital role in strengthening organisations and communities nationwide.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a purpose-driven organisation at the heart of impactful grant-making. The role will play a key part in ensuring the smooth running of day-to-day operations, supporting internal teams and charities they support, and helping to maintain high-quality processes that underpin the Foundation’s work.

You’ll be at the centre of the organisation’s activity—providing hands-on support across administration, logistics, and operational processes—making a tangible difference to how the organisation functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Head of Operations to ensure systems and processes run efficiently for staff and applicants
• Provide project support for technology improvements and development initiatives
• Proactively identify, troubleshoot, and resolve data and system-related issues
• Deliver training and provide ongoing systems support to the team
• Support system upgrades, including configuration, testing, and troubleshooting the grantmaking system
• Manage the database day-to-day, including processing decisions and payments, reporting, maintaining data quality, and ensuring GDPR compliance
• Maintain and review operational processes and procedures to ensure effective organisational functioning
• Oversee website management, stakeholder enquiries, and provide general operational support to colleagues as needed

Person Specification

• Experience in an administrative or operations-based role, ideally within a charity or not-for-profit environment
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Proactive and solutions-focused, willing to engage and support where needed
• High attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records
• Comfortable working both independently and as part of a team
• Confident using Microsoft Office systems and/or CRM databases
• A genuine interest in the work of the Garfield Weston Foundation and the wider charity sector

What’s on Offer

• Salary: c£35,000
• Location: On-site, Mayfair, London
• Contract: Permanent, Full Time

How to Apply
We are partnering with The Talent Set on the appointment of this position. To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the “apply now” button. They aim to respond to successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Garfield Weston Foundation is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities and are happy to make reasonable adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process.
 

We kindly ask recruiters or agencies not to contact us about this role as we're managing this process directly. Due to the volume of agency enquiries, we're unfortunately unable to respond to each one individually.

Location: Reading, Hybrid (at least once per month to Reading Office)

Hours: 21 hours per week

Salary: £30,124 pro rata £17,097.41 for 21 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent, Part Time

Campaign Closes: 22nd June 2026

Interviews: First stage: 24th/25th June 2026,

                Second stage: 30th June 2026

On occasion, we may close a vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible, as we will be shortlisting on a rolling basis.

Core Purpose

To deliver high quality, accurate, and responsive financial support that ensures the smooth operation of Make-A-Wish finance function. This role is central to maintaining the integrity of financial data through timely processing of transactions, effective communication with stakeholders, and diligent reconciliation of accounts. By supporting both internal teams and external partners, the role helps uphold financial compliance and operational efficiency, enabling Make-A-Wish to focus on granting life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses.

Key Responsibilities

Customer and Communication Support

• Monitor the finance mailbox daily, ensuring all emails are reviewed and responded to in a timely, professional, and accurate manner. Provide first-line support for internal and external customer queries, escalating complex or unresolved issues to the appropriate team member or manager.
• Handle incoming calls to the finance team, offering courteous and knowledgeable assistance. Accurately log call details and follow up on outstanding queries to ensure resolution and customer satisfaction.

Sales and Purchase Processing

• Process sales invoices accurately and efficiently in accordance with MAW’s financial procedures, ensuring correct coding, VAT treatment, and timely dispatch to customers.
• Set up new customers and suppliers on the finance system, verifying all required documentation and approvals are in place. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records to support compliance and audit readiness.
• Process purchase ledger invoices (approx. 360 per month), ensuring they are matched to purchase orders, coded correctly, and approved in line with internal controls. Resolve discrepancies promptly to avoid payment delays.
• Create payment runs and upload onto the bank for approval, ensuring approvals are obtained in a timely manner

Reconciliations and Debt Management

• Perform supplier statement reconciliations regularly, identifying and resolving aged or unmatched items. Liaise with suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure accounts are accurate and up to date.
• Monitor outstanding sales invoices, escalating overdue items to the relevant ‘requestor’ or budget holder. Support the credit control process by providing timely updates and assisting with follow-up actions.
• Conduct income reconciliations on a regular basis, ensuring all income is accurately recorded and discrepancies are investigated and resolved.
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts as assigned, maintaining clear audit trails and supporting documentation for all entries.

Expense and Credit Card Management

• Process monthly credit card statements, ensuring all transactions are supported by receipts, correctly coded, and approved in line with company policy.
• Review and process employee expense claims, checking for accuracy, policy compliance, and appropriate authorisation before submission for payment.

Inventory and Stock Control

• Conduct stock takes at agreed intervals, working with relevant departments to ensure accurate counts and investigate variances. Support the maintenance of accurate stock records in the finance system.

Financial Recording and Reporting

• Post and process journal entries for accruals, prepayments, and other adjustments to ensure the general ledger reflects accurate and complete financial information. Maintain supporting documentation for all entries.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify process improvements and opportunities for automation, making recommendations to line manager and supporting implementation

General and Ad-Hoc Support

• Support with ad-hoc finance tasks as required, including data entry, reporting, and assisting with audits or internal reviews.
• Provide cover for team members during periods of absence, ensuring continuity of service and workload management. Take on additional duties as appropriate to the level of the role and contribute to team objectives.

Essential Criteria

• Proven experience in a finance or accounts role, with a solid understanding of financial processes such as invoicing, reconciliations, and ledger management.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and financial reporting.
• GCSE Maths or equivalent, grade 4/5 (C) or above.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to respond professionally to internal and external queries.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, managing workload effectively and meeting deadlines.
• Proficient in using finance systems, particularly Xero and Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with integrity and discretion.
• Strong organisational skills and a methodical approach to problem-solving.
• Willingness to learn
• Positive and ‘can do’ attitude

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working within a charity, non-profit, or mission-driven organisation.
• Experience with stock control or inventory management.
• Knowledge of VAT and basic accounting principles.
• AAT qualification or working towards a relevant finance qualification.
• Experience supporting audits or financial reviews.
• Willingness to take on additional responsibilities and support team members during absences.
• Proficiency in finance systems, Lightyear & JOIIN

Are you our next Trusts Fundraising Officer?

If you have a talent for story telling, are looking for a role where your words can make a lasting impact and are passionate about giving vulnerable young people life changing opportunities, then this is the job for you. We’re seeking a talented individual who can tell our story and help secure vital funding from trusts and grant-makers.

Trusts and other grant-makers are an important source of funding for our charity. As we look ahead, we’re expanding our Trusts fundraising portfolio to meet the growing needs of our programmes. This is where you come in.

As our Trusts Fundraising Officer, you’ll be an inspiring storyteller whose enthusiasm for our work shines through in your writing. You’ll play a key role in researching new funders, crafting compelling funding applications and keeping our supporters engaged with our work. Your work will involve developing case studies and gathering evidence to show the need for our services. This will help secure sustainable funding. You’ll be supported by our experienced Trusts Fundraising Manager to build lasting relationships with funders. Together, you’ll keep them engaged and informed about the positive impact they’re making on the young people we support.

The Trusts Fundraising Officer must be self-motivated, well organised, able to multi-task, have good administration skills and understand the “power of the outdoors”.  Paid or voluntary experience in a fundraising environment is essential.  This is a great opportunity for somebody looking to take the next step in their career, with plenty of scope to develop your skills and experience within a supportive team. Whilst the role is home-based you must live in the South West to ensure easy access for in-person meetings.

The Charity

At the Youth Adventure Trust, we use outdoor adventure to empower vulnerable young people from Swindon, Wiltshire and Somerset to fulfil their potential and lead positive lives in the future. We work with them to build resilience, develop confidence and learn skills that will last a lifetime, helping them to face the challenges in their lives. Dedicated support, guidance and mentoring from our staff and volunteers ensures young people receive the maximum benefit from our long-term intervention. Our aim is to make a lasting improvement to the lives of vulnerable young people. All our services are provided completely free of charge to the young people who are nominated by schools and other youth organisations to take part.

We’re proud to offer our programmes completely free of charge to participants which means the fundraising team is crucial. With ambitious plans to help more young people over the coming years, our Events Fundraising Officer role is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference. You’ll be well-supported as part of a small fundraising team with a big heart, with plenty of opportunities to visit our programmes and see the tangible impact of your work. 

What We’re Looking For:

• Outstanding communication skills – You can write clearly, persuasively and passionately. You’re confident speaking to others about the charity’s work.

• Writing experience – You have experience writing successful funding applications, proposals, or compelling articles, ideally but not necessarily with a  fundraising focus

• Fundraising experience - You may not have written a grant application before but you should have some paid or voluntary experience in a fundraising capacity.

• Attention to detail – You take pride in your work, have a good eye for detail and a thorough approach.

• Creativity - able to put together eye-catching proposals, impact graphics and social media posts.

• Self-motivation and organisation – You’re able to manage your own time and prioritise effectively.

• Passion for the outdoors and youth development – You understand the importance of giving vulnerable young people outdoor experiences and are willing to put on your waterproofs and join in on our activities and camps to witness first-hand the difference the Youth Adventure Trust makes.

• Willingness to learn - if you think you have what it takes but don’t have lots of experience as a Trusts Fundraiser, this role comes with plenty of scope to develop your writing skills and gain experience within a supportive team environment.

Safer Recruitment

The Youth Adventure Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and requires all employees to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.