Operation officer jobs

Who we are

Chefs in Schools is a young, ambitious charity that’s rapidly growing. Our mission is to improve kids' health, through improving school food & food education. Working in areas of high deprivation, we support and train schools and their kitchen teams to serve the best, freshest and tastiest food possible, alongside meaningful food education. We share our learning and resources freely, aiming to inspire and enable others to follow our lead.

We’re backed by some of the biggest names in food and have ambitious targets to ensure every child has access to incredible school food and food education, setting them up for life with the skills and knowledge to feed themselves well.

About you and the role

This is a pivotal role, at a pivotal moment for us. We are entering a critical growth phase, which includes rapidly expanding our own operations and managing significant external partnership. As Head of Finance & Systems, you will be accountable for ensuring we have the right systems and structures in place to grow at pace without detriment to good governance.

The purpose of this role is to lead on our finance strategy, and ensure all of our systems, reporting and processes are helping to drive forward the charity and deliver on our objectives at scale. You will work closely with the Chief Executive and Directors to ensure that financial planning is effective and supported by accurate data analysis. You will report directly to Trustees as required and ensure that the highest standards of transparency and probity are maintained. 

You will be joining the team during a period of growth in the size and complexity of our delivery. We currently have 24 employees and anticipate growing significantly in the next twelve months. You will have a crucial role in shaping our systems and processes to ensure we can scale effectively, both our existing programmes and a new membership-based programme that is in development. We’re looking for an experienced finance professional with an interest in effectively using technology and systems to drive efficiency, without compromising on accuracy or compliance. 

You will oversee all financial administration, ensuring this is carried out proficiently and in line with all legal and regulatory requirements, including ultimate responsibility for ensuring that all statutory filings are made accurately and on time. Your role will also encompass ensuring that we operate within legal & regulatory frameworks and stay up to date with changes in relevant legislation.

The responsibilities, skills and experience listed below are intended to give you an idea of what we need for this role. If you don’t meet every requirement, but feel as though you would be able to work with us to deliver the majority of them, we would urge you to apply anyway. We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and for us the most important ‘experience’ is passion for our mission. You may be just the right candidate for this, or other roles.  

We want to get to know you at the interview and understand we can do this best if you’re at ease. We’re an inclusive employer and work hard to create a welcoming working environment for everyone, including appointing a neurodiversity champion to help us identify how we can make our work environment work for everyone. If you need adjustments to the interview process please let us know.

As we work with children & young people, an offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and DBS clearance, in line with our safeguarding policy.  

Key responsibilities:

• Developing a comprehensive financial strategy that supports the delivery of the charity’s objectives and activities.

• Have ultimate oversight of the external audit and production of the statutory accounts, supported in delivery of this by the book-keeper.

• Produce the monthly management accounts and bespoke financial reports—including accurate forecasting, restricted fund tracking, and variance analysis—ensuring decision-makers have clear, actionable data.

• Forecasting cash flow and managing the treasury position.

• Manage the contract and performance of the bookkeeper  and outsourced payroll providers; setting strict monthly closing deadlines, enforcing data accuracy, and ensuring they deliver a clean trial balance for management accounting.

• Oversee sound financial administration, management and governance across the organisation, ensuring robust financial controls in place and operating effectively.

• Provide leadership and guidance to all things finance related, providing mentoring and support to the team, and coaching on financial awareness. 

• Accountability for monitoring that the organisation’s services are, and will, run to budget, supporting budget holders and reporting promptly on risks 

• Support the Partnerships & Impact team and Programme Managers with financial inputs to funding proposals and ensure restricted funds are used in compliance with grant conditions.

• Developing our systems strategy, including reviewing suitability of our current systems (Quickbooks for accountancy, Beacon CRM, PLEO for expenses management, Survey Monkey for data collection etc. ) and ensuring optimal use of systems, maximising automation, and using AI where appropriate.

• Constantly seeking to develop and improve the organisation’s financial systems, policies and procedures to promote dynamic, best practice and up-to-date application of tools, systems and approaches

• Supporting the organisation’s data governance by ensuring financial systems (e.g., Quickbooks, payroll, expenses) are secure, compliant, and integrated in line with data protection principles.

• Leading an effective risk management process.

• Ensuring the organisation’s compliance with charity law, in accordance with the Charity Commission in England & Wales and all financial reporting requirements.

Essential Skills & experience:

• Charity Finance Experience: Practical, senior-level experience working within a UK non-profit finance function, including a strong working knowledge of the Charities SORP and accounting for restricted vs. unrestricted funds.

• Hands-on Management Accounting: Proven experience independently producing monthly management accounts, cash flow forecasting, and variance analysis from scratch.

• End-to-End Audit Management: Experience preparing year-end audit files, reconciling balance sheet control accounts, and acts as the primary point of contact for external auditors.

• Accountancy Qualification: Full or partial qualification through an accredited body (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, CIPFA). 

• Tech Literacy & Data Reconciliation: Comfortable troubleshooting and navigating modern finance tech stacks (e.g., Xero, Pleo) and pulling financial data/reports from a CRM system (e.g., Beacon).

• Vendor & Staff Management: Experience supervising junior staff (or office managers) and actively managing the performance, timelines, and accuracy of outsourced providers (e.g., bookkeeping and payroll).

Desirable skills & experience

• Systems Implementation: Past experience project-managing a software migration or building native integrations/automations between a CRM system and accounting software.

• Broader Operations/HR Exposure: Basic familiarity with HR administration, GDPR workflows, or managing organizational risk registers in a small team environment.

• Sector Passion: A demonstrable interest in food education, children’s health, or food systems.

Benefits

You would be joining a friendly, supportive team who works hard but believe in a healthy work/life balance. We were voted one of CODE Hospitality’s happiest places to work in 2024. We seek a diverse range of perspectives, skills, experience and knowledge. Joining a small, collaborative team means you’ll be able to contribute to and draw on various projects and strategic insights.

We offer 33 days of holiday per year including bank holidays, 3 additional office closure days over the Christmas period as well as wellbeing days over the summer school holidays.  We also have a Cycle to Work scheme, hybrid working, enhanced parental leave, and free access to the CODE app for discounted restaurants & hospitality venues. We are committed to developing our team and will support you with relevant training opportunities including £250 towards elective training and development of your choice.

We also offer Bupa Dental Insurance, Income Protection Insurance, as well as access to the Aviva Smart Health Platform which offers health benefits including free rapid access online GP appointments, free counselling and wellbeing support.

Application process

In line with our commitment to ensuring a fair and unbiased recruitment process, we invite candidates to answer a series of questions related to their day-to-day job. 

We recommend that you develop your answers offline and copy them in when you’re ready to ensure you don’t lose your work if interrupted.

Your answers will go through our sifting process: all answers will be anonymised, randomised and then reviewed by a panel of reviewers. A long list of candidates will then additionally have their CVs reviewed. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 30 mins online interview. Successful candidates will be invited to attend a second, in-person interview at our office in Brixton, London.

Expected duration of this application process: 7 weeks

First interviews will be held 1st -4th September

Nb. for full information on this role please read both attachments: Job Pack and Job Description

Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled individual to serve as Coordinator, leading the mission of Street Pastors in Kingston. The ideal candidate for this role will be a person of integrity who is able to demonstrate experience and potential in leadership of Christian outreach and mission. They should have experience leading and managing volunteers in a relevant context. They should possess effective organisational and communication skills and demonstrate a passion for building and sustaining partnerships around community outreach.

Context

Kingston Street Pastors is a churches initiative which has been operating since 2006 deploying Christian volunteers in the town centre in the night time to Care, Listen and Help. We enjoy excellent relationships with key stakeholders in Kingston’s night time economy including our local council, police and businesses. Within the wider Street Pastors movement we have made significant contributions over the years to develop policy and practice and have worked closely with neighbouring Street Pastors initiatives and with the Ascension Trust. For governance purposes Kingston Street Pastors operates as an affiliated project of Oxygen, a Kingston based youth work charity.

Our key strategic priorities are to maintain and build on the positive relationships we have with our local council, the police and businesses in the night time economy, taking advantage of opportunities for collaboration, accessing funding and other forms of support. We are perennially focused on the recruitment of new volunteers to serve as Street Pastors and Prayer Pastors to sustain and grow our capacity to deploy teams to the streets.

About the Role

This role has a Genuine Occupational Requirement for the post holder to be a practicing Christian (as outlined by 2010 Equality Act, Section 9)

Our new Coordinator will work closely with the Street Pastors Deputy Coordinator, leading the regular operations of Kingston Street Pastors and the deployment of teams while also overseeing the strategic development of the initiative in response to emerging needs and opportunities. 

Applicants should have people skills and demonstrate an ability to solve problems using a range of creative solutions including working with volunteers or using technology in new ways. The ideal candidate will have an ability to work flexibly and manage their time and resource effectively amidst competing priorities. 

A strong applicant will also be able to demonstrate the following: 

• A good understanding of the work and ethos of Street Pastors and how this resonates with your approach to Christian mission.

• A passion for the role the Church plays in our local community and an ecumenical ethos which is appreciative of a diversity of Christian traditions.

• The ability to partner with key stakeholders in the community to increase the resources, reach and depth of charitable projects. 

• A high level of proficiency in project management with competent administrative and IT skills.

• A good understanding of the night time economy, its users and key stakeholders.

• Experience and skills in charity/ church project leadership with specific reference to the recruitment, development and management of volunteers.

• An understanding of monitoring and reporting on the impact of charitable work.

Relevant experience in fields such as youth work, homelessness support, drug and alcohol services and promotion of community safety are also highly desirable.

This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check and suitable references including at least one reference from a church minister.

Job Description: Head of Services

Reports to: Chief Executive

Location: Woking, Surrey

Hours of Work: Full time, 37.5hrs per week

Salary: £42,000 - £45,000 (DOE, pro rata)

About Us:

At York Road Project, we are dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness in Woking. We believe in harnessing the unique strengths and potential of each individual to create a pathway towards stability and independence.

The Role:

We are looking for a proactive and organised Head of Services,  providing full operational leadership across our Accommodation Services and Day Centre Services, ensuring safe, consistent and effective delivery across all frontline provision.

This includes:

• Direct Access Accommodation (10 beds)
• Move-on properties (14 beds)
• Day Centre Services
• Frontline staff across both services

The role holds full responsibility for day-to-day operational delivery and decision-making within services, ensuring they run safely and effectively, with only critical or strategic issues escalated to the Chief Executive.

The role also provides management oversight of property, compliance and health and safety functions delivered by the Facilities Manager and wider staff teams.

Key Responsibilities:

Service Oversight

• Provide operational leadership across both services, ensuring safe, consistent and effective delivery.
• Support and enable staff delivering day-to-day services, providing clear leadership, guidance and appropriate autonomy within agreed standards.
• Maintain service quality, structure and consistency, stepping in where required to resolve operational issues.
• Promote a collaborative, trauma-informed working culture where staff are empowered to deliver services effectively.
• Use service delivery data, client feedback and staff insight to support continuous improvement.
• Ensure accurate recording of service activity and outcomes is maintained.

Accommodation & Day Centre Services

• Provide management oversight of Direct Access Accommodation and move-on properties, ensuring safe and effective delivery.
• Ensure occupancy levels, allocations and housing processes are effectively managed by operational staff and administrative support functions.
• Maintain operational oversight of property standards, compliance systems, inspections, maintenance reporting and fire safety processes delivered by the Facilities Manager and wider staff teams.
• Ensure compliance with HMO requirements, supported housing standards and organisational procedures through monitoring and escalation where required.
• Provide leadership and support to staff responsible for housing management functions, ensuring systems are followed consistently.

Safeguarding & Risk Management

• Provide oversight of safeguarding across all services, ensuring procedures are followed consistently.
• Ensure safeguarding systems, risk assessments and incident management processes are implemented effectively.
• Monitor safeguarding activity and ensure appropriate action and escalation.
• Support staff in managing safeguarding concerns, complex needs and high-risk incidents.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns are escalated in line with organisational and statutory requirements.

Health & Safety

• Provide management oversight of health and safety across all services, ensuring safe and compliant working environments.
• Work alongside the Facilities Manager to ensure health and safety policies, risk assessments, inspections and safe systems of work are effectively implemented and maintained.
• Monitor operational health and safety activity within services, ensuring hazards, incidents and safety concerns are identified, recorded and escalated appropriately.
• Ensure safe systems of work are followed across services, including lone working procedures and site safety processes.
• Escalate serious health and safety concerns in line with organisational procedures.

Staff Leadership & Management

• Provide supportive leadership across both services, fostering a stable and positive working environment.
• Lead supervision, reflective practice and performance management conversations.
• Promote a trauma-informed approach across the team.
• Build a culture of accountability, openness and professionalism.
• Oversee recruitment, induction, training and development.
• Manage rotas and staffing levels to support service delivery and wellbeing.
• Ensure staff are supported in managing complex and challenging situations.

Reporting, Service Development & Operational Oversight

• Oversee referrals, allocations and engagement pathways across services.
• Maintain oversight of operational data, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
• Monitor service performance, demand, outcomes and operational pressures.
• Produce regular reports for the CEO covering activity, performance, risks and outcomes.
• Analyse data and feedback to identify trends and service improvement opportunities.
• Support development of effective client progression pathways.

On-Call & Operational Cover

• Participate in a Monday–Friday on-call rota.
• Respond to urgent operational incidents and staffing issues.

Professional Standards & Ways of Working

• Work in a trauma-informed, person-centred and non-judgemental way across all service delivery.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with GDPR and organisational policies.
• Work collaboratively with partner agencies to support positive outcomes for clients
• Maintain clear and appropriate professional boundaries with clients, staff and external partners.
• Manage workload independently, prioritising competing demands effectively.

Knowledge and Skills:

Essential

• Significant experience leading frontline or community-based services delivering high‑quality, trauma‑informed emotional and practical support.
• Strong track record of supervising, developing, and supporting staff and volunteers, including performance management and professional growth.
• Demonstrable experience of safeguarding adults and/or children at risk, with confident use of safeguarding processes.
• Proven ability to oversee operational service delivery in complex or high‑pressure environments and make sound, independent decisions.
• Experience setting service aims, outcome objectives, and KPIs, and reporting performance to senior leadership, commissioners, or governance boards.
• Ability to reach, engage, and develop services for vulnerable or underserved groups.
• Experience working collaboratively with partner agencies and external stakeholders to deliver integrated support.
• Skilled in managing competing priorities while maintaining service quality and compliance.

Desirable

• Working within homelessness, supported housing or related sectors.
• Delivery of trauma-informed services.
• Involvement in service development, redesign or improvement projects
• Setting and monitoring KPIs or outcome frameworks
• Managing budgets or operational resources.
• Working with volunteers in service delivery.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to manage competing priorities under pressure.
• Resilient and confident working in complex environments.
• Commitment to supporting people experiencing homelessness.
• Positive attitude, maintains a positive attitude even in challenging situations.
• Future-orientated, has a forward-thinking perspective, anticipates future needs or issues and plans accordingly.
• Team worker, demonstrates a commitment to strong collaborative work by actively engaging with colleagues, volunteers, external partners and to be accountable for the outcome.
• Ownership, a willingness to take ownership of tasks and projects and to be accountable for the outcomes.
• Aligned with the values and mission of York Road Project.

Benefits:

• Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum, plus bank holidays (pro-rata) 
• Pension Scheme.
• Birthday day off.
• Medicash healthcare plan,
• Flexible working and hybrid working opportunities. 

We are seeking a warm, creative leader for our vibrant creative wellbeing hub in Templars Square. In this hands-on, community-facing role, you will co-design inclusive arts activities that boost mental health, support our wonderful volunteers, and foster deep community connection. No two days are the same! Experience in community arts coordination and safeguarding essential. We warmly welcome applications from underrepresented communities. 

UoGSU is a value-driven organisation. The work we do has the power to impact the real, lived experiences of our members - and how we do it is incredibly important. UoGSU exists to support its members to overcome the myriad challenges they face, so that they can love their time at the University of Gloucestershire. 

Students’ Unions are amazing membership organisations bringing together hundreds of students with shared and varied interests. The Student Activities & Communities Manager is a key role within UoGSU to support our members to feel a sense of belonging whilst at University.

Managing and leading a growing team this post will support the delivery of a range of engaging events and enable our various student groups to access a highquality service. This role holder will work across the SU to drive positive student engagement and deliver a sector leading experience for our member.

To all our members and stakeholders, we promise to be:

• Inclusive
• Democratic
• Courageous
• Sustainable 

To apply and see our full job pack, please visit our website. 

For an informal conversation, please visit our website. 

Key Details 
Closing Date: Sunday 23rd August 2026
Interview Date: w/c 31st August 2026
Start Date: ASAP - September 2026 or can be negotiated 

Applications are to be made by submitting a CV and supporting statement of no more than 2 pages. We advise that you look through the person specification in the job pack available on our website.

Candidates can arrange an informal conversation with Lou Fensome, Chief Operating Officer, in advance of submitting an application. To arrange an informal conversation, please contact find contact details in the job pack via our website. 

Key details

Position: Student Activities & Communities Manager

Responsible to: Chief Operating Officer

Location: Across all of the main University of Gloucestershire sites with an office space location in Gloucester and Cheltenham. Flexible working to be negotiated. 

Hours: 35 hours a week (full time)

Salary: £31,030

Main duties and responsibilities

Deliver high quality community events

• Lead on the delivery of our large-scale events including our Welcome events, our Varsity series and Student Awards
• Manage our SU crew volunteering programme which takes place in the early part of each academic year
• Have oversight of all student-led events ensuring we deliver innovative, bespoke and targeted activities for our members
• Ensuring delivery of a portfolio of SU-led events designed to maximise student engagement and experience
• Manage and support staff to lead and support student groups to produce engaging events to create a sense of community

Delivering excellent student groups

• Manage the creation of engagement plans with student led committees to increase engagement and support the development of groups in such a way to ensure their sustainability
• Manage the delivery of sporting and society activity across UoGSU
• Develop and deliver training and support for student volunteers who lead sports clubs, societies and other student groups within UoGSU
• Develop an inclusive and welcoming culture across all UoGSU student groups, supporting staff in the Student Communities Department to challenge negative cultures where they might arise
• Create and set annual departmental KPIs, monitoring these and reporting as required on the work of the Department
• Have oversight for member discipline and complaints within student groups contributing to an effective and fair process
• Support daily operations for the department where necessary

To view our full job pack and person specification, please visit our website.

NICE is a charity dedicated to improving the lives of people with movement disorders. We work with children and adults affected by neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s, Stroke and MS. We push the boundaries of human potential for people living with these physical disabilities by teaching them, through Conductive Education, a range of skills that promote an active lifestyle and showing them that there can be life after diagnosis.

This is an exciting time to join NICE, as we build on our existing fundraising strategy to grow our supporter base and develop new income streams to support the expansion of our services. We have a small but successful fundraising team in place, who work collaboratively to manage fundraising activity and meet agreed income targets.

We are looking for a candidate to support the fundraising and communications team to ensure the effective administration of all fundraising activities and to maintain and develop the Fundraising database as we move towards a new platform.

To apply for this role please send your CV with a covering letter, outlining why you would like this role.

We actively encourage applications from under-represented groups as we are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and perspectives. As a disability charity we especially welcome applications from disabled candidates and people with a long-term health condition.

About Manx National Heritage

Manx National Heritage (MNH) is the Isle of Man’s national heritage charity and the custodian of some of the Island’s most significant cultural, historic and natural assets. The organisation cares for nationally important heritage sites, extensive museum collections, archives and landscapes, preserving and promoting the Isle of Man’s unique heritage for current and future generations. Through conservation, education, public engagement and cultural services, MNH plays a vital role in protecting the Island’s heritage while contributing to its prosperity, identity and quality of life.

About the Role

As Head of Finance, Governance & Corporate Services, you will be a key member of the senior leadership team, providing strategic financial leadership to support the long-term sustainability of the organisation. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will oversee all aspects of financial management, governance and corporate services, ensuring robust financial controls, effective decision-making and compliance with charity and regulatory requirements.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced finance leader to combine strategic thinking with operational delivery, helping to safeguard the future of a respected heritage charity while supporting its charitable, educational and cultural objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the organisation’s finance function, ensuring the delivery of high-quality financial services.
• Develop and implement financial strategies that support organisational sustainability and growth.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and end-to-end cashflow management.
• Produce accurate and timely financial reports, management accounts and statutory returns.
• Ensure robust financial controls, risk management processes and regulatory compliance are maintained.
• Provide strategic financial advice and insight to the Chief Executive, Board and senior leadership team.
• Support organisational decision-making through effective financial analysis and performance monitoring.
• Lead on governance matters, ensuring compliance with charity, legal and regulatory obligations.
• Oversee corporate services functions and contribute to the effective management of organisational resources.
• Manage, develop and support finance managers and their teams, fostering a high-performing finance function.
• Drive continuous improvement in financial systems, processes and reporting, including the effective use of financial management software.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of organisational strategy and business objectives.
• Promote value for money, operational efficiency and long-term financial resilience across the organisation.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, auditors and funding bodies.

ABOUT US

The Great Friendship Project is an award-winning organisation tackling loneliness through research-informed community programmes, campaigns, and partnerships.

We design and deliver social interventions that help people build real-world friendships, strengthen social confidence, and rise out of loneliness.

Over the past four years, we have delivered hundreds of community activities, partnered with major brands and public institutions, contributed to national research and policy conversations, and built a highly engaged community of tens of thousands of young adults.

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THE ROLE

We are looking for a new Programmes & Community Coordinator to help turn ambitious ideas into well-run programmes with meaningful impact.

This is a varied, hands-on role at the heart of a growing organisation. Working closely with the Founder and CEO, you will coordinate programmes from planning through to delivery, support our volunteer team and ensure that participants receive a consistently welcoming and well-organised experience.

You will also strengthen the systems and processes behind our work, helping us deliver programmes that are effective, sustainable and capable of growing.

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PROGRAMME DELIVERY

• Programme Coordination - Coordinate the planning and delivery of community programmes, pilots, campaigns and other initiatives
• Delivery Logistics - Manage programme schedules, venues, partners, materials and communications to support smooth delivery
• Participant Experience - Act as a friendly and reliable point of contact for participants and help create welcoming, inclusive and well-organised experiences
• Impact & Improvement - Collect feedback, track participation and outcomes, and identify ways to continually improve our programmes

VOLUNTEER COORDINATION

• Recruitment & Onboarding - Support the recruitment, selection and onboarding of volunteers involved in programme delivery
• Training & Support - Coordinate volunteer training, shadowing, guidance and ongoing development
• Rotas & Communications - Manage volunteer availability, rotas and communications, ensuring people understand their responsibilities and feel supported

SYSTEMS & OPERATIONS

• Planning & Organisation - Maintain clear plans, timelines, schedules and task-management systems across programmes
• Process Development - Build and improve practical processes that strengthen delivery, reduce manual work and prevent important tasks from being missed
• Systems Management - Maintain digital tools, databases, records and shared documentation so that information remains accurate and accessible
• Documentation - Develop templates, guidance and playbooks that support consistent delivery and organisational growth

PARTNERSHIPS & GROWTH

• Partnership Support - Help coordinate relationships with venues, delivery partners and other external organisations
• Fundraising Support - Contribute to funding research, applications, reporting and partnership follow-up
• Campaigns & Growth - Support the delivery of campaigns, stakeholder events and other opportunities to extend our reach and impact

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WHO YOU ARE

• Organised & Reliable - You can manage competing priorities, maintain accurate systems and ensure that tasks, deadlines and follow-ups do not get missed
• People-Focused - You understand how to support volunteers and create welcoming experiences for people from different backgrounds
• Confident Communicator - You can build positive relationships with community members, volunteers, colleagues, partners and other stakeholders
• Problem Solver - You take initiative, respond calmly when plans change and find workable solutions to operational challenges
• Tech-Savvy - You are confident using digital tools and can improve processes to make work clearer, more efficient and easier to manage
• Flexible - You're able to work evenings and weekends to support programme delivery, with Time Off in Lieu provided

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EXPERIENCE - ESSENTIAL

• Experience in an operations, coordination, programme delivery, or project support role with responsibility for outcomes
• Experience managing multiple priorities across people, systems, and deadlines in a small or fast-moving organisation
• Confidence taking ownership, exercising judgement, and working with limited supervision

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EXPERIENCE - DESIRABLE

• Experience in a charity, community, events, or volunteer-led environment
• Experience supporting partnerships, fundraising activity, or grant applications
• Experience working closely with senior leadership or a founder

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BENEFITS

Beyond the opportunity to play a pivotal role in a growing social movement, we provide a supportive environment designed to help you thrive personally and professionally.

• Meaningful Work - Play a central role in tackling loneliness and helping people build lasting, real-world friendships
• Flexible Working - Work across home, co-working and community settings, with autonomy around how you structure your week
• Annual Leave - 20 days' annual leave, plus bank holidays and your birthday off, increasing by one day for each completed year of service up to five additional days
• Learning & Development - Receive mentoring and relevant training while developing experience across programme delivery, operations, partnerships and leadership
• Progression Opportunities - Shape a new role designed to develop as the organisation continues to grow

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HOW TO APPLY

Please complete our online application form by Thursday 13th August 2026 at 11pm.

If you have any questions about the role or application process, please contact us by email or through the enquiry form on our website.

About the role

This is a role for an experienced financial leader who can think strategically to ensure financial sustainability and resilience. You will enjoy being part of a mission driven team, be able to translate numbers into insight, and understand the importance of relationships, collaboration and trust.

Who We Are

Merton Connected strengthens the voluntary, community and faith sector and supports organisations across the borough through training, advice, volunteering and partnership building. We pioneered social prescribing in Merton, now embedded in every GP practice for over a decade, and deliver services including Healthwatch Merton, the Home Visits Library and Merton Giving, the borough’s place-based giving scheme. 

Our new 2025–2030 Strategy sets out a bold vision: A borough recognised for resilience, inclusion and community connection. To achieve this, we need strong internal foundations, and that includes a confident, people‑centred Finance Manager who can help us grow sustainably, work collaboratively, and prepare for the challenges facing the sector.

Our strategy commits us to being:

• A Convenor - bringing people together.
• A Capacity Builder - strengthening organisations.
• An Incubator - developing new ideas.
• An Amplifier - making community voices heard.

 To deliver this, we need financial leadership that is:

• Strategic but not disruptive
• Supportive, not siloed.
• Collaborative, not transactional
• Forward looking and resilient

You will help ensure Merton Connected remains financially strong, transparent, and sustainable for the future while maintaining excellent relationships with partners, funders, commissioners and community organisations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

 Strategic Financial Leadership

• Support long term financial planning, scenario modelling, and risk management, including exploring income diversification.
• Ensure financial systems remain proportionate, efficient, and aligned with our strategic pillars.
• Help the organisation prepare for sector wide challenges such as rising demand, funding pressures, and increased complexity.
• Support the Quarterly Finance Sub Committee Meetings and attend Board Meetings

 Annual Accounts and Audit

• Prepare year‑end accounts in line with the Charities SORP.
• Work closely with auditors to ensure a smooth, timely audit process.
• Draft the financial commentary for the Trustees’ Annual Report.
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, including Charity Commission, Companies House, and HMRC.

Oversight of Day to Day Finance Operations

• Produce clear, accurate quarterly management accounts and cash flow forecasts with meaningful commentary.
• Work closely with the Assistant Accountant, providing them with support and direction.
• Maintain oversight of income, expenditure, payroll, reconciliations, and journals.
• Ensure robust tracking of restricted funds, project budgets, and grant reporting.
• Strengthen internal controls and financial procedures.

 Building Strong Relationships Across the Organisation

• Work collaboratively with department leads, supporting them to understand budgets and forecasts.
• Communicate financial information to colleagues and the Board in a clear, supportive, and accessible way.
• Contribute to a positive, team‑centred culture that reflects our values of Empowering, Collaborative and Inclusive.

 Customer relations with partners and funders

• Provide timely, accurate financial information for commissioners, funders, and partners.
• Build confidence with stakeholders through professionalism, clarity, and responsiveness.
• Support collaborative funding bids, shared investment pathways, and partnership‑led projects - aligning with our Convenor and Incubator roles.

 Support innovation and organisational development

• Work with Head of Operations to develop and embed robust and effective financial systems
• Help us test new approaches, pilot ideas, and strengthen our internal resilience.
• Ensure financial systems support accurate and timely information, as well as innovation and collaboration.
• Contribute to business planning, strategic development, and organisational learning.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

 Essential

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience producing management accounts and year‑end accounts in the charity sector.
• Strong understanding of restricted funds, project accounting, and the Charities SORP.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills - able to build trust with colleagues, trustees, and partners.
• A collaborative, team‑centred approach.
• Ability to think strategically and anticipate future challenges.
• Commitment to our values: Empowering, Collaborative, Inclusive.
• Ability to present reports to the Finance Sub Committee and Board
• Ability to represent the organisation with funders stakeholders when needed.
• Familiarity with MS Office applications including Word, Excel, Teams and Sharepoint
• Commitment to confidentiality, safeguarding, equality and diversity.

Desirable

• Experience in infrastructure, health, community, or multi funded charities.
• Familiarity with NHS/ICB (Integrated Care Board)  funded programmes or local authority contracts.
• Experience with cloud based accounting systems such as Xero, Sage or QuickBooks
• Understanding of the voluntary sector landscape and its emerging pressures.

Who This Role Is Perfect For

Someone who:

• Brings solid charity financial management and reporting experience.
• Enjoys being part of a friendly, purpose‑driven team.
• Communicates well with non‑finance colleagues.
• Can balance strategic thinking with hands‑on oversight.
• Values relationships as much as spreadsheets.
• Wants to help build a more resilient, connected, and inclusive Merton 

We are looking for a creative, organised and experienced media and communications professional to join our External Affairs team within the Policy and External Affairs Directorate.

The Senior Media & Communications Manager will manage our press office and lead our media engagement activity to support our strategic impact and communications objectives, aligned to our business plan and wider corporate strategy.

You will use your skills and experience to help engage a range of media outlets on our expertise, insights and evidence on youth employment, placing our spokespeople appropriately for a variety of opportunities.

• You will also work closely with wider External Affairs colleagues and teams across the organisation to build our corporate impact narrative.

• At a time when youth employment is a high priority for Government and the news agenda, the post holder must also be able to demonstrate policy and political literacy and high comfort levels when working with policy, research and public affairs colleagues.

• This role is perfect for a proactive and agile professional with strong writing skills, who is excellent at building relationships internally and externally and able to engage external stakeholders and partners.

At a time when the youth employment agenda is so prominent, this role presents an exciting opportunity to be part of Youth Futures’ mission to help every young person achieve good work.

This role can be based at our Birmingham, Leeds or London hub. We currently operate a hybrid model of two-days per week in the office and three-days from home.

Please download our recruitment pack for more information on this opportunity.

Due to receiving high volumes of interest in our opportunities, this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised deadline. To ensure your application is considered, please submit it as soon as possible.

Administrative Assistant (6-Month Maternity Cover)

Salary: £32,000 per annum
Location: Hackney, East London (Hybrid)
Hours: Full-time
Contract: Fixed-term, 6 months

We're recruiting on behalf of an innovative charity working to tackle financial inequality and provide vital debt advice, financial education and support services across London.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a small, collaborative team and play a key role in keeping the organisation running smoothly during a period of growth. You'll work closely with senior leaders, providing high-quality administrative and operational support across the organisation.

No two days will be the same. From coordinating meetings and supporting recruitment processes to managing office operations and assisting with events, you'll be at the heart of the charity's day-to-day activities.

Key responsibilities

• Providing comprehensive administrative support to the senior management team, CEO and Board.
• Managing diaries, coordinating meetings and arranging travel where required.
• Preparing agendas, taking accurate minutes and following up on actions.
• Supporting recruitment administration, including onboarding and offboarding.
• Maintaining office supplies, records and filing systems.
• Assisting with invoices, expenses and financial administration.
• Supporting internal and external meetings, events and audits.
• Maintaining organisational policies, procedures and operational documents.
• Supporting technology and systems administration, including maintaining asset registers.
• Troubleshooting operational issues and helping to improve processes across the organisation.

About you

We're looking for an organised, proactive and detail-oriented administrator who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and takes pride in delivering high-quality support.

You will have:

• Previous experience in an administrative or operational support role.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong minute-taking and proofreading skills.
• Excellent organisational and time management abilities.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office.
• Experience managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively within a small team.
• A proactive approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.
• The ability to handle confidential information with discretion.

Experience of using CRM systems and supporting operational processes would be advantageous.

If you're a self-sta

About the role

The Academy runs some of the most valued grant schemes and development programmes in UK biomedical and health research. Springboard Awards help researchers establish their independence. Starter Grants keep talented clinicians in research alongside their clinical work. Leadership programmes like FLIER develop people who can work across academia, healthcare and industry to tackle real-world challenges, and alongside these sit opportunities to spend time working in industry, the NHS or government. Moving between sectors should be a normal part of a medical research career (it is not yet), and much of our work is built with that belief: a more connected and mobile workforce is better able to turn discovery into benefit. Between them, these schemes change the course of people's careers, and the research they enable reaches patients across the UK and beyond.

This role leads that portfolio. The heart of the job is excellent delivery: schemes that are well designed and well run, and that make a real difference to the people they reach. You will work closely with the Fellowship, whose expertise and generosity run through the whole portfolio, and you will make sure the schemes serve the whole of the medical sciences community (across the devolved nations and the regions, in industry as much as academia), not just those already inside the most established institutions. And science is global, so this work is too: the portfolio draws on evidence and partnerships from around the world, and the mentoring and networks around the people we support reach well beyond the UK.

Today much of the portfolio's focus is research talent and careers. That will always be a substantial part of the portfolio, but over time we plan to expand it further. That expansion could go in several directions, and what matters is that we are taking an evidence-based approach to ensure that our efforts are responding to what the medical sciences sector needs. Whatever we launch next, the same principles apply; good design, sound funding, proper governance and solid evaluation, with our effort concentrated where it delivers the most impact. So, the job is twofold: run today's portfolio brilliantly and build the future portfolio. It is a role where you can see your work land in people's lives, with real scope to shape what comes next. And none of it stands alone: what we learn from the people we fund sharpens our policy voice, the community our programmes build strengthens our engagement and public trust work, and insight flows back the other way to shape what we design next.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will share in the leadership of the Academy as a whole, working closely with the other directors: the Chief Operating Officer and the Directors of Policy, Communications and Engagement, and Translation and Enterprise. The relationship with Translation and Enterprise matters especially. That team will shape new partnerships and initiatives that your team is best placed to deliver, so the two of you will work in very close partnership.

What we are looking for

These are the six areas we will explore with candidates. They match the six parts of the role above, so you can read straight across — and your supporting statement can follow the same structure if that helps. We do not expect anyone to arrive with every part fully formed, but the strongest candidates will be convincing across most of them.

1. Excellent delivery

A strong track record of running grant schemes or of significant programmatic delivery. Much of this is operational: holding an annual cycle to time and budget, catching problems early and getting stuck things moving again. It is also about making sure the portfolio adds up to a coherent whole rather than a collection of separate schemes, with the governance discipline — sound contracts, clean compliance, rigorous oversight — that sits behind delivery done well.

2. Building partnerships and negotiating well

A track record of building and sustaining partnerships with funders, delivery organisations and industry, and the skill and pace to turn them into agreements where appropriate. We will want to hear how you have handled a complex negotiation and brought it to a close. The Chief Operating Officer leads the Academy’s income strategy, so we will also explore how you develop partners in concert with colleagues.

3. Range and credibility across the community

This role runs from Fellows (some of the most eminent scientists in the country) to researchers at the very start of their careers, and from government and funders to industry partners. We are looking for someone with the range to work well across all of them, and the credibility to be taken seriously at every level. We will also explore how you have widened access and drawn talent in from beyond the usual places.

4. A focus on impact

A commitment to looking at what difference the portfolio you lead makes. We are looking for someone who treats evaluation as a source of learning and uses what it shows to decide what the Academy should do next, keeping sight of the people and patients the work is for.

5. Leading and empowering people

A brilliant leader of people: someone who gets the best from a talented team by giving them space and ownership, backing them with real support and coaching, and building a culture where people thrive and develop.

6. Collective leadership

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you would share responsibility for the Academy as a whole, not only your own directorate. We want someone who takes that seriously, brings challenge where it is needed, backs colleagues when it counts, and helps make the Academy a brilliant place to work.

Benefits

We offer a competitive and evolving benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, development and work–life balance, including:

• Competitive salary and pension
• 26 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Option to buy or sell annual leave 
• Additional paid closure between Christmas and New Year
• Hybrid and flexible working
• Health, wellbeing and employee support programmes
• Cycle-to-work scheme and everyday benefits
• Structured learning and development
• Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity leave
• Enhanced occupational sick pay

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button.

Closing date for completed applications: Midday on Monday 17 August 2026.

First interviews will be held 25-26 August 2026 with the CEO, Roz Campion, and the COO, James Lawrence, and focused on two competencies – leadership and delivery.

Second interviews will be held on 1 September 2026 with an external panel.

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) is partnering with Robertson Bell on a retained basis to recruit a Director of Finance on a permanent basis. This is a rare opportunity to join a globally influential organisation at a pivotal point in its growth, leading the transformation of the finance function whilst helping drive the organisation's ambitious mission to eliminate avoidable sight loss worldwide.

This is far more than a traditional Finance Director role. The successful candidate will inherit a finance function ready for transformation, with the full backing of an ambitious Senior Leadership Team committed to investing in modern systems, stronger processes and strategic financial leadership. It is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious finance leader looking to make their first move into a Director position, whilst remaining close to the operational detail and leading meaningful organisational change.

The role

• Partner with the Deputy CEO and Senior Leadership Team to shape the organisation's financial strategy and support the delivery of its ambitious three-year strategic plan.
• Lead the transformation of the finance function, moving from manual, spreadsheet-led reporting to streamlined systems, efficient processes and insightful business partnering.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting and financial planning, including scenario modelling to support significant organisational growth and major international funding opportunities.
• Deliver high-quality management reporting for the Executive Team, Finance & Audit Committee, Board of Trustees and major international funders.
• Lead the production of statutory accounts, oversee the annual audit process and ensure full compliance with Charity Commission, Companies House and tax requirements.
• Develop robust financial controls, policies and governance frameworks that support a growing international charity.
• Manage treasury activities, cashflow and foreign currency exposure across an increasingly global operation.
• Build strong relationships with budget holders across the organisation, embedding a proactive and commercially minded finance business partnering culture.
• Lead, develop and mentor a small finance team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Play a key leadership role in organisational decision-making, helping ensure finance is viewed as an enabling function that supports innovation and impact.

The organisation

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness is the only global alliance dedicated to eliminating the world's avoidable vision crisis. Representing NGOs, professional associations, hospitals, academic institutions, corporations and philanthropies, IAPB works to influence policy, mobilise investment and strengthen health systems across the world.

The organisation has experienced significant growth in recent years, expanding to over 50 staff and securing substantial new investment to support its ambitious global agenda. This includes convening the inaugural Global Summit for Eye Health in November 2026, bringing together heads of government, multilateral organisations and major funders to accelerate progress towards ending avoidable sight loss for the 1.1 billion people currently living without access to the eye care they need.

With strong leadership, genuine investment in organisational development and a culture built around being ambitious, collaborative, inclusive and strategic, IAPB offers an outstanding opportunity to shape both the finance function and the future direction of the organisation.

Essential criteria

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience working within an international charity.
• Strong understanding of charity finance, including restricted funding, grant reporting and Charity SORP.
• Demonstrable experience producing high-quality financial reporting, budgeting and statutory accounts.
• Experience improving financial systems, controls and reporting processes.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, trustees and non-finance colleagues.
• Strong leadership skills, with experience developing and supporting finance teams.
• Commercial mindset with the ability to translate financial information into strategic insight.
• Excellent communication skills, with confidence presenting complex financial information to a range of audiences.

Apply now

This is a permanent, full-time position with a salary of £87,000 based on a hybrid working model requiring one day per week in the London office, typically on Tuesdays.

The role offers an excellent benefits package, including a 10% employer pension contribution, 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, flexible working, enhanced family leave policies and an Employee Assistance Programme.

Purpose of the Role

The Director of External Affairs and Growth is an SLT role responsible for leveraging the voice and power of the eoa's network to influence and accelerate the growth of the employee owned sector.

The role leads the eoa’s external affairs, policy and insights, marcomms and events, shaping the external environment for employee ownership and securing the funding and commercial income needed to support sustainable sector growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead external affairs strategy, building the relationships and influence needed to shape policy, remove barriers and expand EO.
• Build strategic relationships and secure grant funding and commercial partnerships, generating income to support advocacy, events and sector growth initiatives, including the UK EO Growth Strategy.
• Oversee our policy and insights work, engaging key stakeholders to co-produce content that influences EO practice and policy and strengthens the eoa’s voice in public affairs.
• Oversee the delivery of a mar-comms strategy that delivers commercial objectives and positions the eoa as the leading authority on EO.
• Oversee our events programmes, ensuring they drive knowledge-sharing, sector development
• and commercial sustainability.
• Represent the eoa at industry forums, policy roundtables and public affairs events,
• championing the employee ownership model.
• Collaborate with the Director of Membership and Operations to align advocacy and external
• engagement with member needs and priorities.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering innovation and delivering measurable impact across income generation, advocacy, policy, events and mar-comms activities

Knowledge, Experience, and Attributes

• Proven expertise in external affairs, advocacy, or policy leadership, ideally within a business, trade body, or membership association.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with experience influencing government, media, and corporate partners.
• Demonstrated ability to drive sectoral or policy change, leading successful advocacy initiatives.
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience in sponsorship acquisition, revenue generation, grant funding and developing financially sustainable initiatives.
• Exceptional strategic communication and storytelling skills, able to engage and mobilise diverse audiences.
• Experience in event programming, ensuring high engagement and sector impact.
• Passion for employee ownership and economic models that promote shared prosperity.
• Innovative, creative, and proactive in problem-solving and strategy execution.
• A confident and transparent leader who fosters collaboration and inclusivity.
• Self-aware with emotional intelligence, resilience, and integrity.

What Constitutes Success in This Role?

Success in this role means having a positive impact on the growth of the employee-owned sector, strengthening the eoa’s influence and increasing the adoption of “great EO”. Stronger stakeholder relationships, greater advocacy impact and improved commercial sustainability through a diverse mix of grant funding, sponsorships and strategic partnerships will also be key indicators of success.

Key outcomes for the role 

• Outcome - Growth of the employee ownership sector
  • Measure - Increased number of EO businesses, heightened sector awareness

• Outcome - Strengthened corporate engagement
  • Measure - Growth in strategic partnerships, corporate and government engagement

• Outcome - Strong Commercial Sustainability
  • Measure - Increased sponsorship revenue, secured long-term commercial partnerships

• Outcome -Increased policy influence
  • Measure - Policy recommendations adopted, increased government engagement

• Outcome - Enhanced sector insight and intelligence
  • Measure - Utilisation of high quality data and insights for regular sector related content outputs

• Outcome - Development and adoption of best practice
  • Measure - Creation, adoption and promotion of best practice across the EO network.

• Outcome - Successful events programmes
  • Measure - Increased participation, sponsorship growth, positive feedback.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit:

• A two-page CV
• And one of either:
  • Cover letter setting out your motivation, approach, and what you will bring to the role
  • Video (maximum 10 minutes) setting out your motivation, approach, and what you will bring to the role

Applications should be submitted before 9:00am 17 August 2026. We will close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. If you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Interviews will be in two stages. The first stage will be a virtual interview via teams on
26 August. For those who successfully move to stage 2 there will be an in-person
discussion w.c. 31 August.

The eoa welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those
who are under-represented. We recruit based on values, skills, and contribution to our
purpose.