Finance Project Accountant Jobs
Focused on developing cultural and accessible opportunities for new and existing audiences, building local and long-term relationships, embedding meaningful and relevant ways of working with young people and collaborating with artists, partners, programme team to create impact. Emphasising an audience-centred approach, this new role has been established to develop and deliver new initiatives and engagement projects that bridge the gap between artistic programme and communities.
Key aims include:
• Platform new narratives, underrepresented perspectives and reflective discourse to widen audience engagement
• Futureproof the creative industry for generations to come through inclusive pathways and progression routes – supporting young people that enter the programme to expand and grow skills set and build the talent pipeline.
• To produce programmes that have impact by ensuring effective implementation of the Learning and Engagement and Audience Development strategy.
Strategy
• Deliver on the ICA’s vision and mission, the L&E strategy, audience development targets, increasing reach to work with diverse audiences, working to team targets and SMART objectives. Promote equality and inclusivity in all aspects of work.
• Instigating new collaborative models to engage with contemporary society that leverages the ICA’s assets as a resource.
Programme delivery
• Working closely with the Head of Learning and Engagement to devise and produce ICA’s Learning and Engagement programme, including co-creating with young people on our core youth projects (ICA Creatives and youth forum), monthly talks programme, book launches, symposia, workshops (inc reading groups), residencies.
• Developing programme that is responsive to the artistic programme and audience need.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with institutions including higher education and third sector for collaborative purposes and to grow new audiences.
• Liaise and collaborate with the Bookstore Manager on creating opportunities in line with the talks programme and book launches. 
• Ensure programmes are accessible, in content, language and reach.
• Contracting freelance artists, facilitators, and other collaborators, ensuring they understand and apply the organisation ethos and policies in their approach to work.
• Devising and delivering new online content opportunities, that create programme visibility, promote and target audience reach, including contributing towards digital strategies (in collaboration with comms team).
• Contribute to and participate in a collaborative working environment, including weekly team discussions and other conversations.
Finance Management
• Manage the project budget ensuring both quality control and good value for money, including authorising expenditure via any payment method, tracking all transactions, and tracking actual, committed, and forecast (uncommitted) costs. With oversight from Head of L&E.
• Track income, request sales invoices, and submit a third-party audit trail for all income received.
• Reconcile project budgets and cashflow to our accounting system monthly, in collaboration with the Finance Manager.
Comms & Marketing
• Work to maintain the profile of ICA and our projects.
• Work with the Communications Team to plan and deliver communication and participant recruitment campaigns and implement appropriate strategic marketing for each project.
• Arrange photography and video documentation as necessary.
• Write copy in line with ICA guidelines to promote programme
General Administration
• Ensure all day-to-day project administration is carried out efficiently and appropriately.
• Maintain that all project activity and outcomes are carried out in line with ICA’s policies and procedures, including and not limited to insurance, liability, health & safety, safeguarding, privacy & data protection, access, equity, diversity, inclusion, safer spaces, and anti-racism.
• Work in a sustainable and environmentally conscious manner in the production and presentation of ICA programme.
• Maintaining data collection to contribute towards evaluation, tracking monitoring information to monitor impact.
KEY REQUIREMENTS:
• At least 5 years’ experience of working effectively as a producer in the cultural sector within a participation / learning / engagement context
• A strong track record of producing programmes that respond to audience need and create impact
• Experience working with diverse audiences including young people and communities
• Knowledge of access, diversity, equality and inclusion, anti-racism policies in the cultural sector.
• Growth specific mind-set; adaptive and fresh thinking in new approaches to engage audiences
• Experience of working with artists and supporting them in complex project delivery
• Excellent project management, administrative and organisational skills
• Good numeracy and project budgeting skills
• IT literate and confident across a range of programmes and platforms
• A strong written and oral communication skills with an ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group of people
• Awareness of safeguarding management principles and best practices
• Keen interest in contemporary culture and shifts in generations and society.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Finance Business Partner
Salary £50,000 - £60,000
Permanent, Full-time
Hybrid Working, 2 days in office
Location: Stratford
A prestigious humanitarian Not for Profit organisation is recruiting a Finance Business Partner to take on a key role against the backdrop of a transformation programme. As the Finance Business Partner you will be responsible for the following duties:
- You will bring valuable experience, financial and business acumen that will drive the delivery of the long-term plan
- Working closely with the Head of finance and other key stakeholders, you will support the business with understanding its risks, monitor and track progress against plan, understand factors driving business results, build relationships with managers and provide business insight and advice. You will also lead on finance systems and process transformation projects
- Analyse and investigate financial performance for all business areas to identify areas of weakness
- Provide commercial financial advice and guidance tailored to the individual needs of stakeholders that enables them to deliver their business and financial objectives
- Develop and operate appropriate financial models and tools to support recommendations of pricing for products and services to achieve financial goals
This opportunity provides an excellent platform for a qualified accountant to build on their Business Partnering skills whilst playing a key role in organisation’s transformation journey
This is an exciting opportunity for the right individual. The successful candidate will be fully qualified (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA) with previous experience gained in audit, the charity, commercial or wider
public sector. You will have robust technical skills and be highly organised. We are looking for someone who is eager to learn, strong analytical skills, excellent communication, financial modelling, and managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Experience. You will possess the ability to influence and build rapport with a range of finance and non-finance persons across the organisation.
Finance Officer
About Internews:
Internews works to ensure access to trusted, quality news and information that empowers people to have a voice in their future and to live healthy, secure, and rewarding lives. We envision a world where everyone can communicate freely with anyone, anywhere, and exchange the news and information they need to shape their communities and the world.
For 35 years and in more than 100 countries, we have worked with our local partners to build hundreds of sustainable organizations, strengthened the capacity of thousands of media professionals, human rights activists, and information entrepreneurs, and reached millions of people with quality, local information, improving lives and building lasting change. On issues ranging from health and the environment to conflict and governance, Internews has developed approaches that harness the power of media and information to create positive change.
Internews is a charity operating internationally, with administrative centres in California, Washington DC, London, and Paris as well as regional hubs in Bangkok and Nairobi. Formed in 1982, Internews currently has offices in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and North America.
Our commitment to a culture of belonging:
Internews is passionate about our core values and about supporting positive change in the world. We pride ourselves on our commitment to innovation and flexibility. We believe that diverse teams are strong teams, and work to support an ethic of belonging, dignity, and justice for all people. Our current team includes a mix of genders, parents and non-parents, the self-taught,and people of multiple races, nationalities, ages, sexual orientations, and socio-economic backgrounds. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage candidates of all races, genders, ages, abilities, orientations, ethnicities, and national origins to apply, and actively welcome those with alternative backgrounds and experiences.
POSITION SUMMARY:
Performs Accounts Payable function; processes transactions in the accounting system and maintains accounts payable files for vendors. Primary point of contact for questions and assistance regarding entry and payment of invoices.
Essential duties and responsibilities:
· Subject matter expert on Unit 4 ERP System Vendor Master File and accounts payable, provide support to other Internews staff also entering invoices.
· Prepare and enter multi-currency invoices for all payment methods (Barclays wire Transfers, ACH, check, FX, Western Union, etc.), including review for proper coding and approvals.
· Review and research open payables to resolve outstanding issues prior to payment.
· Process recurring remittances according to corporate schedule, including payment of invoices entered by others.
· Processing payments and Provide payment confirmations to appropriate parties as necessary.
· Maintain AP vendor master records in accounting system.
· Organize and maintain A/P files.
· Research vendor payment history in response to queries from Internews staff and others.
· Cross trained as backup staff to other department functions, including PSC payment processing and expense reimbursements and AP mailbox cover.
· Support of commitment accounting and purchase order monitoring
· Maintain Asset Register incl Additions and Disposal, Monthly Depreciation calculation and posting the journals into the accounting system.
· Balance Sheet Reconciliations including Payroll and Bank Reconciliations before month-end close.
· Debtor and Creditor reconciliations and Advances (Cards) before month-end close
· Processing and posting Prepayments before month-end close.
· Income & Expenditure Recording in the accounting system
· Proving support during Statutory and Donor Audits
· Fixed Asset Management.
· Understanding of and demonstrated commitment to upholding Internews Core Values.
· Maintains confidentiality in all matters related to vendors and payments.
· Other duties as assigned. Maintains confidentiality in all matters related to vendors and payments.
Qualifications:
· 3+ years progressively complex accounting experience
· Proven ability to work both independently and as an effective team member.
· Proven ability to prioritize and handle multiple on-going assignments.
· Intermediate expertise in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
· Excellent organizational skills
· Proven ability to set priorities and manage time effectively.
· Proven analytical and problem-solving ability.
· Ability and willingness to travel to international locations, including challenging or remote locations up to 10% of the time.
· Relevant university degree
· Accounting Degree or Qualified by experience.
· Familiarity with computers and computer software including spreadsheets, word processors, e-mail, and accounting systems.
· Ability to read and comprehend basic instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
· Ability to write simple correspondence.
· Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to other employees of the organization
Vacancy Timeframe:
Deadline for Applications: 30 April 2024
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met or may be encountered by an employee performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work hours are generally Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm; occasional irregular hours are required to accommodate international tele-conferences.
The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the associate a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of his/her position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the essential functions of this position.
This position will be in the United Kingdom and therefore a successful applicant must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
National Gallery
Senior Finance Business Partner
Salary: 62,938
Permanent, flexible working
Hybrid working, 2 days a week in office
Office based in the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square
This is an exciting time for the National Gallery as we prepare to celebrate our Bicentenary, and this role offers a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of the Gallery as we begin our third century by influencing our financial strategy to keep our ambitious programme of activities sustainable and delivering optimal value for money.
In the role, you will be responsible for leading the annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting cycles at the group level, as well as ensuring that monthly reporting is timely, accurate, and continuously evolving to best suit the needs of the business. You will be expected to build strong relationships with senior stakeholders to become a trusted and valued advisor, and be someone who can influence financial and operation outcomes through insights, analysis, and guidance that will directly impact business performance.
Key areas of responsibilities;
- To manage the monthly reporting process for the Group as a whole, to ensure timely and accurate reporting of financial results to the Head of Finance, Budget Holders, the Executive Board, and Trustees, including operating result, projects, capital, risks and opportunities.
- Coordinate the review of actual and forecast results against budget, obtaining and recording variance explanations, identifying material issues and mitigating actions.
- To lead the annual budget process and quarterly forecasts for the group, including agreement of an overall framework and communication with budget holders.
- Coordinate the preparation of budget schedules (revenue, capital and projects) and consolidation of the budget pack for presentation to the Executive, Finance Committee, and the main Trustee board.
- To support the Head of Finance in the development of the financial plan in line with the Group’s operational plan and targets.
- Lead the FP&A team in maintaining the short, medium and long term financial plans for the Group.
- To continue to develop reporting processes and tools to ensure that they adhere to best practice and meet the needs of stakeholders.
Who are we looking for?
- A formally qualified Accountant with relevant experience in a planning and organisational performance management role
- You think strategically, seeing the bigger picture, making connections and critiquing the strategy and plan to make it stronger.
- Experience of managing and developing staff.
- An excellent communicator who is able to influence at all levels within the organisation
- Ability to work on own initiative, assess priorities and be proactive.
Benefits working at the National Gallery:
- Civil service pension scheme with employer contribution rate up to 28%
- Gallery related benefits including free tickets to gallery exhibitions
- Onsite classes and workshops
- Holiday trading scheme and many more!
National Gallery is fully open to sector experience. As such we welcome candidates from industry, charity or practice backgrounds.
Timetable:
Closing deadline: Sunday 28th April
Interview w/c 6th May
Location: St Albans - Flexible working options (including hybrid)
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)
Salary: £44,110 to £48,109 inclusive annual salary + £7,000 Market Factor Supplement plus up to 19.7 percent employer pension contribution.
Job Ref: P2218
Our client are looking for an ambitious, enthusiastic, and motivated Senior Finance Business Partner to join their committed finance team. You will be one of 3 Senior Business Partners and what is important in this role is an ability to work with a broad range of stakeholders, supporting them to deliver their own challenging objectives.
About the role
You will be responsible for supporting managers in the Customer Business and Corporate Support (CBCS) Directorate which is a wide-ranging directorate including all the back-office functions, councillor, and Mayor’s support. The role is responsible for maintaining clear and effective communication between the Finance team and the wider business and for ensuring that financial concepts and priorities are understood. Attention to detail is of the utmost importance and the ability to work with senior stakeholders is essential.
Your main responsibilities will be:
• Work with budget holders to manage financial performance, forecasts, and budgeting including understanding financial opportunities and risk for the area of business partnership.
• Own the internal recharge process and support the delivery of some large-scale change programmes, such as the transfer of service to shared services arrangements.
• Work with the Strategic Director for CBCS Assistant Director of Finance and Finance Business Partnering Team to plan, deliver, and review the annual budget and monthly forecasts.
• Write financial commentary on performance and analysis on decisions.
• Support with projects and new process development to continuously improve and evolve our approach to internal financial reporting and modern finance business partnering.
• Provide training and advice to individuals internal and external to the Finance department.
• Generate monthly management accounts for our Senior Leadership Team and managers, ensuring their accuracy and timely delivery.
About you
To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:
• Membership of appropriate professional body (CCAB or AAT) or equivalent experience
• Up to date working knowledge of relevant finance legislation, regulations, standards, and core disciplines.
• Experience of supporting managers in managing budgets.
• Experience of working in the finance function of a complex organisation.
• Experience of supporting senior stakeholders in delivering their own objectives and supporting change
St Albans is a unique English Cathedral City with a colourful history which can be seen in the Roman remains and variety of beautiful architecture, heritage sites and conservation areas. Set within green belt, off the M25, A1M and M1 the District includes a cathedral, vibrant city centre and thriving villages. Their centrally located offices in the city are near to the station (London St Pancras 20 minutes), shops and restaurants. In short it is a great place to live and work.
In addition to working within a great team and a comprehensive salary you will have access to:
• 30.5 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Local Government Pension Scheme with current employer contribution up to 19.7 percent employer contributions
• Flexible working options
• Staff Parking Permit
• Reimbursement of professional fees
• Comprehensive development and training
• Discounted membership at selected local sports and fitness centres
• Access to the Council’s Vivup platform to access discounts and benefits
This post is subject to a Basic Disclosure Check.
Come along to find out more about the range of opportunities and meet some members of the finance team at their open evening event at the Council Offices (Civic Centre), on Tuesday 26 March, 5-7pm.
Closing date for applications: 22 April 2024
Interviews are scheduled for w/c: 6 May 2024
You may also have experience in the following: Budgeting and forecasting, Financial reporting, Performance analysis, Stakeholder management, Decision support, Cost management, Risk assessment, Relationship building, Leadership, Management reporting, Financial modelling, Cross-functional collaboration etc
REF-212 675
Program Finance Business Partner
About Internews:
Internews works to ensure access to trusted, quality news and information that empowers people to have a voice in their future and to live healthy, secure, and rewarding lives. We envision a world where everyone can communicate freely with anyone, anywhere, and exchange the news and information they need to shape their communities and the world.
For 35 years and in more than 100 countries, we have worked with our local partners to build hundreds of sustainable organizations, strengthened the capacity of thousands of media professionals, human rights activists, and information entrepreneurs, and reached millions of people with quality, local information, improving lives and building lasting change. On issues ranging from health and the environment to conflict and governance, Internews has developed approaches that harness the power of media and information to create positive change.
Internews is a charity operating internationally, with administrative centres in California, Washington DC, London, and Paris as well as regional hubs in Bangkok and Nairobi. Formed in 1982, Internews currently has offices in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and North America.
Our commitment to a culture of belonging:
Internews is passionate about our core values and about supporting positive change in the world. We pride ourselves on our commitment to innovation and flexibility. We believe that diverse teams are strong teams, and work to support an ethic of belonging, dignity, and justice for all people. Our current team includes a mix of genders, parents and non-parents, the self-taught, and people of multiple races, nationalities, ages, sexual orientations, and socio-economic backgrounds. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage candidates of all races, genders, ages, abilities, orientations, ethnicities, and national origins to apply, and actively welcome those with alternative backgrounds and experiences.
About the candidate:
The successful candidate will be a part/fully qualified accountant. They will have comprehensive experience/technical skills in the areas of financial accounting, management accounting and balance sheet analysis in a multi-currency environment. Experience in the Non-Profit Sector will be an advantage.
About the Role:
One of two roles to be recruited, the successful candidate will be working in a small team, based in London, and will be expected to assist with all aspects of Accounting and Reporting. Whilst the role will have specific duties, a wide variety of other duties can be required depending on deadlines and staffing. The role will require both independent and collaborative working within a diverse working environment.
Key Responsibilities:
· Project reporting (Internal/External)
· Managing Project Audits
· Reviewing Project expenditure
· Multicurrency analysis
· Project staff financial management
· Direct financial programme support to countries
· Project budgeting
· Monthly management reports
· Supporting the annual statutory auditing process
· Supporting the annual organisational budget process
· Any other tasks as required by senior management.
Expectations:
Timely production of project financial reports for donors and other internal/external stakeholders.
· Ensuring professional and compliant delivery of all Internews Europe financial processes, drive improvements in processes and ensure all staff members understand and adopt such processes.
· Proactive provision of internal finance training and policy guidance as needed
Provide back-up cover, as required for:
· Weekly purchase ledger process
· Banking processes (GBP and currency, income and payments)
· Cash flow reporting to management
· Day to day financial accounting (prepayments, accruals, depreciation)
· Other corporate finance duties
Person Specification:
Experience
· Experience of financial and management accounts systems/processes, including annual accounts, budgeting, cost allocations, audits and external reporting (E)
· Experience of liaising with and advising non-financial managers and staff (E)
· Experience of managing external professional and service provider relationships (D)
· Experience of external (donor project) reporting (E)
· Experience of working in, or dealing with, developing countries and fragile states (D)
· Experience of providing finance support to international programs funded by European donors (D)
Knowledge
· Understanding of charity finance regulations and systems (D)
· Accounting qualification (D)
· Knowledge of SORP accounting requirements (D)
· Intermediate Excel skills (E)
· High degree of proficiency in use of Accounting Software (E) (Agresso / Unit4 Business World will be an additional advantage)
Person skills / aptitudes
· A willingness and ability to adopt a hands-on approach to your work (E)
· Be comfortable working in a collaborative & diverse environment (E)
· Strong communication, liaison and interpersonal skills to work effectively with people at all levels (E)
· Strong analytical, problem solving and creative thinking skills (E)
· Willingness to travel (D)
Candidates must submit a succinct covering letter of no more than 2-pages explaining how they satisfy the requirements of the person specification in addition to a CV highlighting relevant experience.
Closing date: 22 April 2024
Applications will be reviewed as and when received, and interviews may be scheduled ahead of the vacancy closing date.
Candidates must submit a succinct covering letter of no more than 2-pages explaining how they satisfy the requirements of the person speciation in addition to a CV highlighting relevant experience. The successful candidate will also be asked to provide three professional referees, one of whom must be from their most recent employer.
The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, all the tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the job holder a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of his/her position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the essential functions of this position.
This position will be located in the United Kingdom; therefore, a successful applicant must be present in the UK for the duration of the assignment and obtain the Right to Work in the UK in order to commence their employment.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Donor Finance Cost and Pricing Manager - up to £51,000. London - Hybrid
For an International NGO operating in 40 countries worldwide, we are recruiting a Donor Finance Cost and Pricing Manager - Programme Design and Development. Reporting to the Senior Cost and Pricing Manager, this role will partner with the Programme Design and Development Team to secure new funding via first-class responses to country-level, multi-country, regional and global opportunities for donor funding. This role will support the team in ensuring overall quality of cost proposals and bid submissions while building capability of in-country support teams to create effective cost proposals and program budgets.
Main Duties:
- Develop Cost Proposals: Supporting the proposal development processes and coordinate the Donor cost proposal; reviewing budget templates and cost guidance for country programs, ensuring all Donor cost requirements are met. Travel to country programme to assist in budget building as required
- Manage Relationships: Coordinate with partners for the provision of budget guidelines and time-lines, review partner budget submissions ensuring standards are maintained. Ensure handover from proposal stage to securing a project is managed effectively
- Create and distribute information packs for partners with supporting financial information. Train country Programmes in the use of proposal templates and develop tools and processes for developing proposals and budgets
- Support the Donor Forecast and Pipeline Development Project Manager with reports and analysis
- Ensure there is a good understanding in the organisation of project coding, grant, and contract payment terms
- Work with the SUN systems team to ensure projects are opened and closed effectively
- Statutory and Donor Audits - ensure year end analysis of project budgets, assist partners and in-country staff prepare for donor audits
- Review country programme and external partner budgets for donor proposals
- Set up new projects in SUN and ensure donor reports are submitted and reconciled to SUN
- Review and provide analysis on the Project Finance Reports (PFRs)
- Manage the invoicing, cash flow forecasting and grant receivables balance reporting
- Monitor Consortium partner's financial performance and compliance to Donor requirements
- Ensure projects are closed-out effectively
Person Specification:
- Advanced Excel skills including H/Vlookup, If and nested If statements, Sumif/countif function, cell validation and goal seek (will be tested)
- Experience in NGO project accounting and financial management of large international projects and country programmes
- Experience of financial reporting to Governmental, Private and Institutional Donors (FCDO, USAID, Gates Foundation)
- Ideally SUN systems and Q&A experience
- Skilled in developing value for money analysis, budget narratives and cost competitiveness assessments
- Proven experience of data analysis and visualisation for internal and external audiences
________
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, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps, we can take to ensure that your recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Baird and Co Recruitment, a specialist Social Housing recruitment firm, have been retained by The Yardley Great Trust Group and Sir Josiah Mason Trust in their acquisition of a Finance Director.
The role will work across both businesses following their partnership agreement in January 2023. Both businesses are steeped in the history of Birmingham, with the origins of The Yardley Great Trust Group going back to the 14th Century and SJMT’s beginnings in 1868. Their work in the Alms House arena is also highly individual, an area of support found in the heritage of SJMT.
The Finance Director role would ideally start swiftly and will take on a largely strategic direction whilst still requiring operational input.
Based in Olton, candidates with experience in a senior leadership role in finance whilst holding an understanding of how charities, housing providers or public sector organisations work will be highly advantageous.
The Finance Director post will cover many facets including, but not limited to:
Executive Leadership
- Working with the executive team to develop and manage the delivery of robust corporate, strategic and financial business plans
- Demonstrating positive leadership behaviours and bringing values to life within the organisational culture
- Effectively planning and providing for the resources required to action strategic and operational plans
- Undertaking quarterly reviews of the Charity's Risk Registers, reporting on major risks and mitigations at each Board meeting.
Financial Strategy and Control
- Leading on the delivery of strategic and annual financial business plans, ensuring viability is regularly tested through scenario modelling, appraisals, and stress tests
- Taking responsibility for annual budget and management accounts processes and preparation of statutory accounts
- Maintaining up-to-date reserves policies that meet the requirements of both the Charity SORP and RSL SORP
- Managing relationships with investment managers, ensuring regular review of performance and satisfaction
- Developing and maintaining effective systems of financial control that ensure that business plans are continually reviewed and reported on
- Maintaining overall responsibility for the computerised accounting system, including sales ledger, purchase ledger, cash book and nominal ledger
Treasury
- Being responsible for each Trust’s Treasury Management strategy and policy to ensure the availability of and flexibility of funding to support the achievement of strategic objectives and reduce exposure
Risk Management
- Leading on the development of risk management strategies and registers, audit frameworks, procedures and appraisal systems for capital projects and all other significant areas of risk.
Growth and Innovation
- To support the Chief Executive in the development of the Strategic Business Plans in a way that supports innovation and growth in services
ICT / HR
- Leading on the development and delivery of an effective ICT and Telecoms Strategy which supports mobile and agile working and customer relationship management that underpins our drive for excellent business
- Supporting with the development, implementation and review of an effective People Strategy which supports the vision and values of each Trust
- Reviewing the administration of all statutory returns and sector-relevant returns/surveys
- Leading on the annual remuneration review to approve or decline and make recommendations for salary increases
- Taking responsibility for the outsourced payroll and workplace pension scheme
- Overseeing the relationship with the outsourced IT support provider, ensuring optimal support to staff and monitoring performance against contract
- Working with and developing the use of financial accounting software to meet the operational and strategic development needs of the business
To secure the Finance Director post, the Trusts are seeking the below:
- Proven experience at a senior leadership level in a finance environment
- Experience preparing financial business plans, modelling scenarios and sensitivity analysis
- A track record of delivering on a range of other corporate support services such as IT or HR and Governance
- A relevant Professional Qualification i.e. CCAB or equivalent and membership of a recognised UK body desirable
- Up-to-date knowledge of all regulatory requirements including Finance, People, IT & Governance
- Experience developing services to achieve and support strategic organisational objectives.
The Trusts are also seeking a Finance Director who can demonstrate the values of SJMT and YGT:
- Personalised
- Dignity
- Innovation
- Excellence
- Honesty
- Fun
If interested or want to discuss other Social Housing Executive roles please get in touch with Matt Baird.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Field Lane Job Description
Job Title: Senior Finance Coordinator
Salary: £37,500 plus Study Assistance
Responsible To: Finance Manager
Hours: 35 Hours per Week
Annual Leave: 25 days per annum
Location: Head Office – London Near Victoria
Job Purpose
To manage the day-to-day accounting and financial tasks, ensuring accurate recording of financial transactions, and providing support in the preparation of financial reports. This includes processing of both purchase and sales invoices and the reconciliation of the books of prime entry. You will assist senior members of the finance team at month end and year end.
Main Duties
1. Go through relevant financial procedures as necessary with new staff.
2. Set up and train new starters on the purchase order system.
3. Review and post all monthly petty cash and prepaid card returns per the management accounts timetable.
4. Maintain the Purchase Ledger making any changes necessary such as name and bank details with the necessary correct documentation.
5. Maintain the Sales Ledger making any changes necessary such as name and bank details with the necessary correct documentation.
6. To clear accounts payable queries daily
7. Answer queries via telephone and e-mail relating to creditors and payment of invoices.
8. Reconcile monthly the balances on the creditor ledger and supplier statements.
9. Prepare BACS run with supporting documentation
10. Document processes used in the Finance function to support the ongoing development of the department and ensure that potential efficiencies are maximised.
11. Support the of Director of Finance with the Business Partnering approach to non finance colleagues.
12. Reconciling the Aged Debt report at month end to the General Ledger ensuring all payments are allocated and providing notes on any outstanding debt and action being taken for recovery.
13. Collecting Payment and managing the credit control function for both Field Lane and Fun.
14. Ensuring all Fee invoices are properly raised accurately for all Client Services
15. Ensure all rent and service charges are billed accurately.
16. To act as a point of reference for guardians when it comes to invoices queries and rent and service charge increases.
17. Produce weekly report showing voids per project and distribute to senior management team.
18. Produce monthly analysis showing the fees received compared with fees expected by client and to raise any adverse variances with the director of finance.
General
· Complying with Field Lane’s policies and procedures at all times.
· Covering and supporting other members of the team as necessary.
· Attending and participating in team meetings and other meetings as required.
· Being proactive in reflecting on own performance and identifying and acting upon areas for improvement and development.
· Undertaking as required any other duties compatible with the level and nature of the post and/or reasonably required by your line manager or other senior colleagues.
Person Specification
We need you to provide a covering letter to give evidence with supporting examples of how you meet the requirements in each point listed below.
Experience
· A formal finance qualification, or evidence of a significant period of study towards one.
· Experience of databases for the purposes of inputting and extracting information, report writing and design
· A proactive attitude
· To have demonstrable experience of working across multiple financial disciplines within a busy finance department
· Liaising with banks & auditors.
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
· Willingness to undertake training and continuing professional development.
· Advanced experience of Excel spreadsheets skills including the use of and knowledge of complex formulae set-ups.
· Ability to plan, manage and organise own workload.
· Good interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate with staff at all levels across all departments.
· Team working.
· Computer literate, including Word, Excel, and Microsoft Office.
· Excellent written and numeracy skills.
· Sound analytical skills and the ability to apply those skills to problem solving.
· Adaptable to different situations
· Positive attitude towards disability.
· Commitment to the principles of equal opportunities and diversity
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Finance and Operations Manager
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week (however, we will consider part-time 28 hours per week)
Salary: £38,000 - £45,000 per annum
Location: The successful candidate will either be posted at our office in London or Colchester: Coram Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AZ or Colchester Wellington House, 4th Floor, 90-92 Butt Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3DA
About Coram
Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.
One of the nine members of the Coram group, Coram Children’s Legal Centre (CCLC) is the UK’s specialist centre for children’s rights in education, immigration, community care and family law, and provides significant international legal systems consultancy. The centre is located on the Coram Campus in central London with bases in Colchester and Leeds. We champion access to justice through information and advice, legal practice and representation, policy and strategic litigation. Our Legal Practice Unit provides advice and representation primarily under legal aid contract. Our Migrant Children’s Project promotes the rights of refugee and migrant children, young people and families through the delivery of advice, practice change through training and capacity building to professionals and systems change through research, policy and advocacy.
About the role
This role will provide financial and operational leadership and management for CCLC particularly focussed on the Legal Practice Unit and the Migrant Children’s Project but with support for the Child Law Advice Service and Coram International where required. Managing a small finance team, the role will hold primary responsibility for core financial functions within CCLC including legal aid billing and management and tracking of grant and other charitable funding. Through systematic and efficient financial management, the post holder will play a pivotal role in CCLC’s financial sustainability. The role will act as a key point of contact with Coram’s central finance team and a range of internal and external stakeholders on financial matters.
The role will also oversee the smooth running of the London and Colchester offices through line management of operations and administrative staff.
The role would suit a high organised and efficient business support professional with experience of financial management within the legal or charity sector. In particular, candidates with experience of legal billing and more specifically, civil legal aid billing, would be welcomed.
This is a largely office-based role in order to fully provide support to the finance and operations team. However, some remote / hybrid working may be possible depending the experience of the candidate after the initial settling in period (to be negotiated with the successful candidate).The finance team are split between the London and Colchester offices and the post holder should expect some travel to both locations. The large majority of the legal and policy team are based in London and as such regular (at least twice weekly) presence in our London office will be expected. However, on other days the candidate could be based in the London or Colchester office.
Whilst this is a full-time position, we will consider requests for part-time working (28 hours per week minimum) and we will endeavour to offer some flexibility with days and hours to be agreed.
To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.
Closing date: Wednesday 24th April 2024 at 23:59
Test and Interview date: Week commencing Monday 29th April 2024
Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from, Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.
If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Registered Charity No. 312278.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Are you passionate about Jesus and gospel outreach into London?
Are you a wise, risk savvy and servant-hearted financial leader?
Then London City Mission would like to hear from you!
London City Mission shares the gospel alongside the local church of London, equipping everyday Christians to lovingly bring a message of hope in Christ to those least likely to hear it.
One in two people don’t have a Christian friend to invite them to church, open a Bible with them, or tell them the good news of Jesus. We want to see that change. The poor areas of London are incredibly diverse, in fact London is the most ethnically diverse in the world, growing at over 100,000 people a year. The world has come to London – we long to see the Gospel taken to the world by working alongside churches to visit homes and go out into the streets of London with the good news of the Gospel.
We are praying for a talented Director of Finance, Property and IT to join our Leadership Team. You will be inheriting a skilled and diverse team across the finance, property and IT functions, with the possibility to grow this team, as needed, to fulfil your responsibilities.
- Salary: £84,000 depending on experience + 13.8% employer contribution to pension, 30 days holiday plus Bank Holidays and 3 days ex-gracia during Christmas and New year + other benefits.
- Location: London City Mission will carefully consider flexible working patterns where possible, though at least 2 days a week presence at Nasmith House, 175 Tower Bridge Road will be necessary.
- Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week). Permanent. Let us know if you need more flexibility than this.
- Responsible for: Currently the team is 26 people, with five direct reports across finance, property and IT. Additional staff may be needed to fulfil the job description.
- Closing date: Friday 26th April 2024 at 5pm BST.
- Interview dates: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a first interview via MS Teams on either Thursday 16th or Friday 17th May. Finalist candidates will then have the opportunity to have an informal meeting with the CEO, Graham Miller on the 22nd or 24th May, prior to second round in-person interviews scheduled for either Monday 3rd or Friday 7th June.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leading and overseeing financial strategy, planning and control.
- Leading and overseeing property disposal, development and management.
- Leading and overseeing the management and development of IT operations and systems.
- Providing inspiring leadership and contributing proactively to a vibrant worshipping Christian community.
Benefits:
- 13.8% employer contribution to pension.
- 30 days holiday plus Bank Holidays and 3 days ex-gracia during Christmas and New year + other benefits.
- Life insurance.
- Season ticket loan option (following completion of probation for permanent employees).
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Regular LCM and team prayer events; monthly LCM team days with worship, teaching, prayer, and updates; and an annual week of prayer in January.
This post is subject to an occupational requirement under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act that the post holder be a practising Christian (see application pack for details).
Global Canopy is a data-driven not for profit that targets the market forces destroying nature. We do this by improving transparency and accountability. We provide innovative open-access data, clear metrics, and actionable insights to leading companies, financial institutions, governments and campaigning organisations worldwide.
A growing number of companies and financial institutions are seeking to mitigate their impacts on nature. But many have made commitments that are not being met, and others are failing to take any action at all. Through our Corporate Performance work and Forest 500 project, we assess the policies and performance of influential companies and financial institutions. Our newly launched Deforestation Action Tracker monitors financial institutions with significant climate commitments to track their action on deforestation and associated human rights abuses.
This newly created role will be part of our Corporate Performance team and will lead on the next phase of a groundbreaking project.This role sits under the Forest IQ team, along with two researchers and the Forest IQ Lead. This role will support the operational smooth running of the team, with a particular focus contracting and onboarding Forest IQ’s users.
Forest IQ provides major data-service providers and financial institutions with market-leading data about corporate performance on deforestation, conversion of natural ecosystems and associated human rights abuses. This will enable financial institutions to identify risks and opportunities to help them to deliver deforestation free portfolios by 2025.
To be successful in this role, these are the things that will matter the most:
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A track record of managing project operations to a high standard, particularly around contracting or licensing
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Able to work with both external and internal stakeholders, delivering clear and professional communication
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Able to work to support a variety of different team members including data scientists, researchers, finance business partners, and operations
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A willingness to contribute to all aspects of Forest IQ’s operations
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Proactive attitude, motivated by impact and making Forest IQ a success
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A strong drive to contribute to our mission, a passion for sustainability and the role that the finance sector can play to drive change
At Global Canopy, we value diversity and inclusion. You can read our diversity statement on our website. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and are committed to having a team with a diverse set of skills, experiences and abilities. We are committed to reducing systemic barriers in our recruitment processes.
Global Canopy works on issues of tropical deforestation. We are particularly interested in strengthening our team to include those with a background from forest regions such as Latin America and South East Asia. We welcome applications from people from these regions.
Global Canopy is an inclusive employer and accommodations will be made to allow anyone who requires additional support to apply for this role. Please get in touch with us if you require any additional support.
To find out more, download the recruitment pack or visit our website.
About Us
MSI Reproductive Choices is one of the world’s leading providers of sexual and reproductive healthcare. We believe that everyone should have the right to choose. From contraception to safe abortion and life-saving post-abortion care, we are committed to delivering compassionate, affordable, high-quality services for all.
Today, our organisation has over 9,000 team members working in 37 countries across the world. Our success lies in the fact that MSI teams are locally led, entrepreneurial and results-driven, and are passionate about delivering high quality, client-centered care in their own communities. As a social business, we focus on sustainable delivery, efficiency, and funding models that are built to last, so that the women and girls we serve today will have a choice in the future too.
We know that access to reproductive choice is life changing. For some, it can mean the ability to complete an education or start a career. For others, it means being able to look after the family they already have. For everyone, it means the freedom to decide their own future, creating a fairer, more equal world.
About the Role
MSI Reproductive Choices (MSI) is one of the 20 largest charities in the UK; providing family planning & safe abortion services across the globe. MSI operates as a social enterprise, and revenues are split between donor income and revenue from clients that receive our services.
The Global Accounting Team is responsible for core financial accounting, producing consolidated global financial information and preparing the group management accounts, group statutory accounts and Global Support Office management accounts
MSI receives substantial amounts (> £160m p.a.) of funding from a variety of governmental and private donors (including DFID, USAID and Gates Foundation) for its international family planning activities in 37 countries around the world. We are recruiting a talented, experienced and driven accountant to lead restricted income accounting across the organisation
About You
We recruit talented, dynamic people with diverse backgrounds and experiences, all united by a belief in our mission and a focus on delivering measurable results. We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and are committed to creating a fully inclusive workplace, where everyone feels able to participate and contribute meaningfully. You must be open-minded, curious, resilient, and solutions-oriented, and committed to promoting equality, and safeguarding the welfare of team members and clients alike.
To perform this role, it is essential that you have the following skills:
- Advanced MS Excel Skills
- Excellent attention to detail
- Commercial understanding
- Ability to work in a diverse and inclusive environment, respecting and collaborating with all individuals equally, and with a commitment to overcome bias and prejudice.
- High levels of numeracy
- Analytical approach to information gathering and dissemination.
- Effective communicator, demonstrated on both financial and narrative reporting
To perform this role, it is essential that you have the following experience:
- Background of analytical, quantitative, and problem solving
- Experience in an analytical/financial role
- Engaging multiple stakeholders across different departments
- Working and prioritising multiple deadlines
- Experience in project accounting and financial management of large international projects and country programmes
- Experience of financial reporting to governmental, private, and institutional donors
- Experience working with financial systems and software (SUN systems preferred) and Q&A
- Experience working in a not-for-profit environment (Preferred) and organisational headquarters.
The following experience is desirable but not necessary:
- A degree in a numerate subject and/or professional finance qualification.
- Studying towards an accountancy qualification – CIMA / ACCA / ACA / ICAEW
- Certified accountant ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent
Personal Attributes:
We seek exceptional individuals who are aligned to MSI’s mission and entrepreneurial mindset. You must be a strong communicator, self-motivated and solutions-seeking, committed to driving social change in an environment that measures sustainable results and impact at an individual and global level. You must be able to work effectively with and across diverse teams and be comfortable with ambiguity.
For this role, we’re looking for an individual who is:
- Committed to the protection of team members and clients, with a focus on vulnerable groups.
- Able to role-model inclusive and culturally sensitive attitudes and behaviours
- Ability to manage a heavy and fluctuating workload. Results orientated.
- Demonstrates MSI team member behaviours.
- Pro MSI philosophy of social enterprise and cost recovery
- Ability to travel up to 12 weeks a year.
- Pro choice
For more information about the role, please view the job description and person specification on our website.
Location: London Support Office (hybrid working, 2 days per week in the office) or where any MSI country programme operates.
Full-time: 35 hours a week, Monday to Friday (UK contracted hours).
Contract type: Permanent
Salary: £40,000 - £51,000 per annum for UK based candidates. Discretionary bonus + benefits.
Please see the job description on our website.
Salary band: BG 9
Closing date: 30th April 2024 (midnight GMT+1). Interviews may take place before this date for exceptional candidates.
For internal employees applying from an MSI country programme, the role will be positioned within the existing salary structure of the country. Local terms and conditions of the country will apply.
Salary: £46,920 (London) / £42,373 (National) per annum
Hours: Full time (but open to proposals including part time, job shares etc)
Contract: Permanent
Benefits:
· 27 days annual leave + statutory holidays + 3 closures days over the Christmas period;
· Flexible working for all staff including working from home / hybrid working, and flexi-time/TOIL scheme;
· Attractive family friendly policies;
· Private healthcare cover;
· Season ticket loans;
· Employee awards, and training and development opportunities.
For more information about our benefits please visit our website.
Location: London/Bristol - employees are able to work from home on an arrangement agreed with their line manager and we have colleagues based around the UK.
An exciting opportunity has arisen at the National Housing Federation (NHF) for a Policy Leader (Finance Policy).
The NHF is the voice of housing associations in England. We are the trade body to almost 600 housing associations, who have grown from philanthropic roots to provide 2.6 million homes to around 6 million people.
This role is a crucial and exciting one within our policy team and the wider organisation. You will use your knowledge and understanding of housing associations and their finances to build strong relationships with Finance Directors across our membership, and use their and your specialist knowledge to shape the financial environment so that housing associations can best deliver on their social purpose.
Whether this is making a persuasive and evidence-based case to the government for additional grant funding to build new homes, or working with sector experts on the detail of accounting, pensions, tax or treasury policy, or meeting with banks, lenders, ratings agencies, UK Finance, HMRC, and the Treasury on behalf of our members, this role is central to our work influencing national social housing policy.
Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to download the full job profile and person specification for this role.
Key elements of the role:
· Shape and lead our policy work on key strategic issues for housing associations around housing finance – advocating for solutions and mitigating risks that affect the delivery of housing associations’ social purpose;
· Develop evidence and ideas on technical policy areas into salient policy solutions that will make a difference for the sector and influence government;
· Represent the NHF to senior colleagues in government, members and external stakeholders with credibility, expertise and political judgement;
· Communicate with and provide advice to members on critical changes to policy and the external environment.
The successful candidate:
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:
· A strong and in-depth understanding of housing association finances and the operating model of housing associations (finance qualifications are not required, but a technical understanding of finance and accounting issues will be vital);
· An ability to lead the development of credible, robust, evidence based policy, including on complex and technical policy areas;
· An ability to communicate credibly, clearly and persuasively in writing and in person including to Chief Executives, senior government officials and finance professionals;
· An ability to draft, oversee, adapt and deliver complex plans for the delivery of multiple projects or programmes of work.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and we value the contribution each individual makes to our work.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and are working to increase the diversity profile of our workforce. We are currently under-represented by ethnic minorities, people with a disability or disabilities and LGBT+, and would particularly welcome applications from people in these groups.
Disability confident committed employer
We are a disability confident committed employer and if you are a disabled person who demonstrates you meet the skills and experience we consider essential for the role, we will offer you an interview.
We are happy to consider reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process if you have a disability or have a condition that you feel may affect your performance during the recruitment process. Please contact Stephanie Green, People Manager with your request or to arrange a time to discuss in more detail.
Our role profile and job advert can also be requested in large print or in accessible format via this email address.
Uploading your CV and cover letter
If you decide to apply for this role, when requested, please upload a version of your CV that does not include any personal details, such as name, gender, age etc. You should also ensure that you do not add your name at the end of the cover letter. This will help us to shortlist candidates for interview based solely on their knowledge, skills and experience.
Right to work in the UK / UK VISA Sponsorship
You must have the right to work in the UK and it is important to note that the NHF does not sponsor individuals to work in the UK.
Closing date for applications: 6 May 2024
Interview date: 16 May 2024
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Scope is a disability equality charity in England and Wales. Together we are Disability Gamechangers. We work to a society where all disabled people enjoy equality and fairness. We campaign tirelessly for everyday equality for disabled people.
This is a key role in Scope’s Financial Planning and Analysis Team working closely with the Retail Team to act as their finance business partner, understanding the detailed retailed strategy and results and providing financial information for planning and decision making. The role also includes overall responsibility for the production of the whole company management accounts, therefore an understanding of all departments and collaboration with other finance managers is also needed.
Permanent, 35 hours per week
Location: Here East Press Centre, 14 East Bay Lane, London, E15 2GW with working from home most of the time.
The role
You will:
- Support senior management through a deep knowledge of their operational activities, detailed cost structures and income streams. Drive the production and monitoring of budgets, forecasts and actual results and providing constructive challenge and assistance to teams.
- Take responsibility for production of detailed, accurate and timely management information is essential.
- Lead continuous improvements in the content and efficiency of reporting.
- Work closely with the wider finance team to develop and maintain pricing and costing tools, model the financial implications of projects, review investment proposals and monitor their return on investment.
For more information about the role’s responsibilities and the skills and experience required, please go to the role on the Scope website.
About you
You will:
- Have experience of accounting and reporting with the ability to analyse and present data to financial and non-financial colleagues in various formats that are user friendly and accessible.
- Have experience within the retail sector
- Hold a professional accountancy qualification or demonstrating proven experience.
- Have experience of proactive stakeholder management and ability to communicate and collaborate with various teams across Scope is essential. Excellent teamwork and commitment to the team objectives and internal customer service.
- Have experience of charitable retail activities and their financial reporting is helpful.
- Be flexible, the role is suited to someone who enjoys the challenge of implementing change.
- Be accountable for the production of the management accounts accurately and on time. This requires management of a small team and collaboration with other teams to obtain all information needed.
We ask you to show an appreciation of Scope’s values and our ambition of everyday equality for disabled people.
Our values - pioneering, courageous, connected, open, fair
By living our values and trusting each other, we empower our colleagues to make decisions. By giving our colleagues freedom and space to spark creativity for innovation, we can push boundaries, change mindsets and be empowered to change the game with grit and determination and a sense of urgency.
Disabled candidates
We are a disability equality charity. We encourage applications from disabled people and people with impairments, conditions, and access needs. We want to create a workforce that is a true reflection of the communities we serve.
Scope will interview all disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the post. This is part of our commitment as a Disability Confident Leader. Just let us know in your application that you are applying under the Offer an Interview Scheme. This was previously known as the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.
Some applicants might need adjustments during the application process. You can find out more about interview adjustments on the Scope website.
Scope benefits
We believe hard work deserves reward and recognition. We offer a wide range of benefits including:
- 27 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
- Flexible, hybrid and remote working options
- Pay progression at 6 months and 2 years
- Company pension
- Excellent training and career development
- Strong colleague networks across disability, race and LGBTQ+
- Discounted gym membership, cycle to work scheme and much more.
How to apply
If you want to become a Disability Gamechanger, we'd love to hear from you.
Click the apply button to create an account and complete your application form.
Please note applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may take place and an appointment be made before the closing date. Early applications are therefore encouraged.