Policy manager jobs in cradley heath, staffordshire

We are seeking a dedicated Grants Officer to join our Online Grants Team ensuring that members of the Armed Forces Community receive crucial financial assistance when they cannot cover essential welfare needs themselves. This role is a vital link in providing immediate, life-changing support.

Come and be part of the leading Armed Forces charity, making a difference to the lives of those who have served to keep us safe and protect our way of life.

The Grants Department is dynamic, adapting its focus based on RBL strategy and emerging community needs. The team operates across two primary functions: the Online Grants Team and the Central Grants Team, and flexibility is essential to meet high service demands and ensure continuous support across the department.

Key responsibilities underpin our service delivery including:

- Case Advocacy: Assess case priority and know when to advocate for established policy exceptions to meet the applicant’s needs most appropriately.
- Customer Service Excellence: Deliver considered, tailored support and communicate all decisions and updates clearly, professionally, and within a 24-hour response time.
- Expert Knowledge: Maintain working knowledge of welfare benefits and relevant statutory provisions.
- Value & Compliance: Identify the most cost-effective products and ensure all data handling adheres to GDPR and charitable requirements.
- Professional Conduct: Manage challenging situations and complex client issues with the utmost compassion, dignity, and professionalism.

You will be contracted to your home address, and you will perform most of your work remotely there using our collaboration tools to work with colleagues, with occasional travel (incl. for monthly team meetings).

Employee benefits include

- 28 day’s paid holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing with service, with optional annual leave purchase scheme of up to 5 working days
- Generous pension contributions, with Employer contributions ranging from 6% to 10%
- Range of flexible working options may be available, depending on your role
- Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential counselling, financial and legal advice
- Range of courses delivered by learning specialists to support your development goals and objectives
- Opportunities to volunteer
- Travel loans, Cycle to Work, and more!

For more detailed information about the role, please see our Vacancy Information Pack attached to our direct advert. Our shortlisting is performed on the evidence provided in your application against the Essential and Desirable criteria in the Person Specification.

RBL is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation, reflecting the diversity of the armed forces community and of wider society. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and personal characteristics.

We may close this vacancy early if we believe we have enough strong applications to be able to successfully fill the role(s). Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
 

Do you want to make a real difference in people’s lives? Do you want to work with like-minded professionals in a great team? 

The Welland Trust, set up for public benefit, is a charity seeking to relieve the needs of care experienced people primarily, but not exclusively through promoting their health, relieving unemployment and by developing their skills and capacity so that they are able to participate more fully in society. It provides housing and mentoring support for care experienced people and associated facilities, amenities, and services for them.

“Care experienced” means adults who have, at some stage, had foster care or residential care experience.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Head of Finance, you will be accountable for the sale and purchase ledgers for the various legal entities across the group of charities and companies for which the finance department is responsible.

You will match and code invoices, prepare and run BACS payments, reconciling bank statements and working out VAT payments.  You will provide a professional and efficient service to the finance function, monitoring how much is owed at all times and providing accurate financial information to the Finance Director as needed.

Finance Responsibilities may include (but are not limited to):

· Checking, coding and posting invoices

· Making payments via online banking.

· Processing financial support requests to charity beneficiaries

· Processing monthly credit card statements.

· Processing staff expenses

· Setting up of new customer and supplier accounts, and maintaining existing account details

· Reconciliation of supplier statements

· Liaising with suppliers and being the first point of contact for all relevant enquiries

· Raising sales invoices as and when required.

· Chasing customers for outstanding invoices and working to resolve queries as and when they arise.

· Monthly bank reconciliations

· Updating crisis and grant analysis schedules.

Technical competencies required and demonstrable in your application:

· Sage knowledge would be advantageous for this role

· Bookkeeping

· Advanced excel skills and working knowledge of other Microsoft applications

· Experience working in a financial environment and able to demonstrate an understanding of accounting issues

· Ability to resolve and reconcile issues with limited supervision by identifying sources of errors, making retrospective corrections, and ensuring that appropriate changes are put in place to prevent reoccurrence

· A clear thinker with a calm manner who is able to provide logical and practical solutions when faced with various challenges.

· Excellent communication and organisational skills and be able to manage your workload independently.

· A positive team player with ‘glass half full’ approach

· Highly numerate with a high degree of accuracy

· Strong attention to detail

· Strong interpersonal skills, particularly in developing relationships with internal customers

· Prepared to take ownership of tasks and outputs.

In addition, you will:

 · Work in line with the Charity’s Vision and Values. 

· Work to deadlines and respond in a flexible way to changing demands.

· Maintain strict confidentiality in relation to the work undertaken.

· Actively engage and participate in team meetings, training courses, supervision sessions and appraisals punctually and well prepared, as appropriate and when required.

· To be aware of and adhere to policies and procedures which are appropriate to the position.

· Maintain a positive demeanour that supports a happy working environment and remain flexible and professional at all times.

· Treat other staff as one expects to be treated oneself.

· Be a good ambassador for the organisation in any external dealings.

· Undertake continuing professional Development (CPD) with support from your manager to further enhance your skill base.

· Undertake any other duties as directed by the Head of Finance

· To undertake such other duties as may from time to time be required to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the charity.

It is the nature of work of The Welland Trust that tasks and responsibilities may be unpredictable and varied.  All staff are therefore, expected to work in a flexible way when the occasion arises where tasks are not specifically covered in the Job Description and have to be undertaken.

The Organisation

This is a well-established national charity with an income in excess of £100 million, playing a vital role in supporting people affected by a major health condition. The organisation is values-driven, impact-focused, and undergoing continuous improvement in its financial operations. The Finance & Assurance directorate is a trusted partner across the charity, enabling better decision-making through high-quality financial insight and compliance.

The Job

As Financial Accountant, you'll lead a small team and report to the Head of Financial Accounting. You'll be responsible for producing accurate financial statements, managing audit deliverables, ensuring compliance with charity and company law, and driving improvements in financial processes and reporting. This is a hands-on technical role with leadership responsibilities, requiring collaboration across finance, systems, and planning teams to deliver a seamless finance function.

Key responsibilities include:
- Preparing statutory accounts and technical accounting adjustments
- Leading year-end processes and audit engagement
- Ensuring compliance with VAT, Corporation Tax, and Gift Aid
- Driving system and process improvements
- Supporting and developing Associate Accountants

The Person

You'll be a qualified accountant with strong technical expertise in SORP/FRS102 and experience in a large, complex organisation. You'll bring a track record of producing high-quality financial reports, managing audits, and improving performance through data and collaboration. Open to candidates coming straight from practice, especially those who have previously laised with charities.

We're looking for someone who:
- Communicates confidently with senior stakeholders
- Builds high-performing, accountable teams
- Is resilient, adaptable, and committed to continuous improvement
- Works collaboratively across departments and disciplines
- Champions inclusion and values-driven leadership

What's in it for You?

- A meaningful role in a purpose-led organisation making a real difference

- Remote working with occasional office attendance
- Competitive salary in the region of £50,000-£58,000
- 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with service
- Up to 8% employer pension contribution
- Life assurance and income protection
- Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
- Season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme
- Opportunities for professional development and career progression
- A collaborative, high-support environment focused on learning and impact

What to Do Now

If you're a technically strong accountant who thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven environment, I'd love to hear from you. Apply now or get in touch for a confidential conversation.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk