Procurement assistant jobs in belfast
About the opportunity
As a Procurement Assistant within our Finance & Assurance directorate, you'll be part of a dynamic team that's transforming how we deliver financial partnership across the organisation. We're on an ambitious journey to become the Society's single point of financial truth - trusted partners and credible experts who enable the organisation to make faster, better-informed decisions. This is where you'll build your procurement expertise while making meaningful impact, where your support enables our procurement team to focus on what matters most: transforming lives affected by dementia.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone at the start of their procurement career or looking to move into the field. You'll be the person who supports Procurement Officers and Business Partners to deliver their work across the Society. From major strategic projects to day-to-day operational needs. You'll handle a broad remit of work, from keeping records organised and gathering data that spots efficiency opportunities, to helping design how we communicate with colleagues across the organisation. It's a role that gives you genuine insight into procurement in action at a major charity, building knowledge and experience that will set you up for future success.
You'll also collaborate closely with other Assistants and Trainees across Finance & Assurance, bringing fresh thinking about how we can work together more seamlessly and support colleagues even better.
The Apprenticeship Opportunity
We're committed to developing our people, and we're open to supporting the successful candidate to pursue a Level 3 Procurement & Supply Assistant Apprenticeship - though this isn't essential, and we equally welcome applicants with prior experience who are looking for their next step.
This apprenticeship offers:
- Two qualifications in one – You'll gain both the apprenticeship standard qualification and Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) certification.
- Clear progression pathway – With the option to progress onto Level 4 if desired.
- Manageable timescales – The programme typically takes between 13-15 months to complete.
- Flexible start – Learners can commence the apprenticeship within 3 months of starting the role.
- Professional development – Structured learning combined with on-the-job experience.
Apprenticeship Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the apprenticeship programme, you must:
- Have lived in England for the last 3 years.
- Be aged 16 or above (there is no upper age limit).
- Spend more than 50% of your time working in England.
- Not hold a higher qualification in the same subject area as the apprenticeship.
About you:
You're someone who's organised, eager to learn, and excited about building a career in procurement. You understand that great support work isn't just about completing tasks. It's about being proactive, spotting opportunities to improve processes, and helping teams work more effectively. You're comfortable with data and administration, and you're keen to understand the bigger picture of how procurement drives value.
You'll have:
- Good organisational and administrative skills, with attention to detail and the ability to manage records, files and documentation accurately.
- Good numerical and analytical abilities, comfortable working with data to support reporting and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Effective communication skills, able to engage with colleagues at different levels and help them navigate procurement processes.
- Enthusiasm for learning and development, with a genuine interest in building procurement knowledge and expertise over time.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, taking initiative while also thriving as part of a team.
- Proficiency with standard IT systems and a willingness to learn finance or procurement software (existing experience with finance systems would be beneficial but not essential).
What you’ll focus on:
- Supporting Procurement Officers and Business Partners to deliver high-quality contract management and advice to colleagues across the Society, with a focus on driving efficiencies.
- Managing procurement records, files and documentation with accuracy and care, ensuring information is accessible and well-organised.
- Providing administrative support to the procurement team and wider directorate, including scheduling and minuting meetings.
- Gathering and analysing procurement data to help identify efficiency opportunities and support senior colleagues with recommendations.
- Helping colleagues across the Society navigate and understand our procurement processes through creative engagement approaches.
- Working collaboratively with other Assistants and Trainees across Finance & Assurance to address duplication, streamline administration, and improve how we support the Society.
Can you see yourself as part of the team that keeps procurement running smoothly while building valuable career experience? Are you ready to learn, contribute, and grow in a role where your support makes a real difference? Can you bring enthusiasm, organisation and a collaborative spirit to help ensure every pound is spent wisely in our mission to end the devastation of dementia?
Important Dates
The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 23rd November 2025.
Interviews will take place in December 2025 and will take place virtually.
About Alzheimer's Society
Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.
At Alzheimer’s Society, we’re the UK’s leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.
Together with our supporters, we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.
Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.
Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.
We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society.
Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.
Our hiring process
During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply. Please also contact Alzheimer’s Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.
To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.
We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.
We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a DBS check at the relevant level.
Giving back to you
Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society.
You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it’s like to be an employee at the Society.
Are you a self-sufficient, organised, and highly enthusiastic individual with a high level of numeracy, attention to detail and technical IT skills? If so, join Shelter as a Finance Systems Assistant and you could soon be playing an integral role within our Finance Systems team.
About the role
This is a wide-ranging role requiring a postholder who can provide 1st and some 2nd line system advice, training, and troubleshooting across the procurement, accounting, common, and expenses modules of Unit4 ERP — Shelter’s financial system. The postholder will also be involved in system administration and managing user permissions for Unit4 FP&A (FABPS), Shelter’s budgeting system. Some testing and communications support on small process improvements or implementations across finance systems may also be required, including work on one of our key integrations with the HR system.
Role specifics
You’ll bring strong numeracy, attention to detail and solid technical IT skills, along with experience supporting customers to agreed SLAs, ideally through a helpdesk. You’ll be confident diagnosing and resolving problems, and able to communicate clearly in both writing and speech, adapting your style for different audiences. Familiarity with accounting software such as Unit4/Agresso is a bonus, as is knowledge of SQL. You should be comfortable using Microsoft Teams, Excel, Word and Outlook, and be organised, self-sufficient, and enthusiastic.
Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.
We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.
About the team
This role sits within the Finance Systems team, a mostly home-based team. We support and improve Shelter’s financial information systems, helping to make sure that our financial processes are efficient, easy to use, and well controlled.
Any applications submitted without a supporting statement will not be considered.
About Shelter
Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.
We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.
We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.
Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.
Safeguarding statement
Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.
Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Contract: 1.0 FTE (37.5 hours per week), permanent with 6-month probation period
Salary: £56,650-70,000 per annum, depending on experience
Location: Remote working, with option to use co-working space
Start Date: As soon as possible
Reports to: Executive Director
Please note: You must have the right to work in the UK.
How to Apply
Closing Date: 10 December 2025 (23:59 GMT)
To apply, please submit the following:
-
Cover letter (maximum 2 pages)
-
CV
Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, your application has not been successful on this occasion.
About BASIC
BASIC is an independent, non-profit think tank working to safeguard humanity and Earth's ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats, for generations to come. Our vision is for a global security consensus founded on multilateralism, the recognition of the indivisibility of security, adherence to Earth's planetary boundaries, and consideration of future generations.
For nearly 40 years, we have built a global reputation for groundbreaking dialogue and incisive thought leadership to strengthen international peace and security. We are an intellectually and culturally diverse team of 20 expert-practitioners with deep institutional experience, headquartered in London with additional presences in Berlin and Rome. We are independent, receive no core funding from any state, and our project work is funded transparently.
BASIC's approach to resolving contemporary nuclear dynamics is centred on dialogue as both a practice and a philosophy. We interpret dialogue broadly, recognising that meaningful engagement takes many forms: from facilitating direct strategic conversations between adversaries grounded in conflict resolution principles, to developing networks and diplomatic initiatives that build consensus around shared objectives, to shaping the intellectual foundations of policy discourse through rigorous research and thought leadership.
BASIC is a fast-paced and rewarding environment with an exceptionally positive and inclusive team culture. We have experienced rapid growth over the past decade and are well-suited to people who are motivated by our mission, able to work at a sustained pace, keen to develop professionally, and enjoy being part of a collaborative team working on consequential issues.
What We Offer
-
Competitive salary with room for growth
-
30 days annual leave (pro rata), plus bank holidays and closure days over the December festive period
-
Employer pension contributions of 5% (above the national minimum)
-
Flexible working arrangements, with set days (Wednesdays required) but flexibility on hours
-
Remote working with option to use co-working space
-
1-2 all-staff in-person team away day per year, as well as other in-person working opportunities
-
Opportunities for professional growth and development
-
Excellent team culture built on respect, openness, and inclusion
The Role
BASIC is seeking a hands-on Financial Controller to lead our finance function during a period of sustained growth. The Financial Controller will work across Programme teams ensuring strong financial management and reporting to funding partners, maintain strong financial controls, ensure compliance with charity finance regulations, and provide accurate financial reporting to our Directors and Board of Trustees.
The Financial Controller will oversee the small finance team, including line management of a Finance Assistant and management of an external bookkeeper consultant. This team will be responsible for the majority of financial accounting, processing payroll, and accurate bookkeeping, for which the Financial Controller will be ultimately accountable.
The role includes managing restricted and unrestricted funds in accordance with funder requirements and programme needs, preparing statutory accounts for external audit, and overseeing payroll processing. This role reports directly to the Executive Director to prepare annual budgets and financial strategy, and works closely with the Board's Financial Development Committee to present its implementation.
The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant with strong technical accounting skills, experience in charity finance, and a proven track record of effective financial management of a growing organisation. You should be comfortable both managing a small team and working hands-on when needed, building collaborative relationships across the organisation. You will need to be a multitasker with the ability to work at pace, and be willing to develop the finance function and best practices to enable the organisation to grow further.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Accounting and Reporting
-
Oversee the maintenance of accurate financial records and bookkeeping in accordance with charity accounting standards (SORP)
-
Prepare monthly management accounts including variance reporting and rolling forecasts
-
Prepare annual statutory accounts and manage the annual independent audit process in its entirety
-
Manage restricted and unrestricted funds in accordance with funder requirements
-
Provide accurate and timely financial reporting to the Board of Trustees, Executive Director, and funding partners
Financial Operations
-
Oversee day-to-day finance operations including payment processing, staff expenses, and cost allocation (including staff costs)
-
Oversee monthly payroll using QuickBooks (led by Finance Assistant)
-
Manage treasury functions including bank and cash management
-
Oversee procurement of key assets such as IT equipment
-
Cashflow management
Grant and Budget Management
-
Support budget development for funding bids and proposals
-
Monitor spend against grants and projects, working towards full cost recovery
-
Prepare financial reports for donors and funding partners
-
Lead annual budget-setting and forecasting processes in collaboration with the Board and Executive Director
Financial Systems and Controls
-
Develop and maintain robust financial systems, processes, and controls
-
Continuously improve finance processes and identify efficiencies
-
Advise on financial governance and best practice
-
Manage financial risks and opportunities (e.g., insurance, foreign exchange)
Team Management and Stakeholder Relations
-
Line manage the Finance Assistant and oversee external bookkeeper consultant
-
Build collaborative relationships across the organisation
-
Manage relationships with key external stakeholders including banks, international transfer services, and audit partners
-
Work closely with the Board's Financial Development Committee and BASIC's Treasurer
Please note: This list is not exhaustive. Other tasks may be required as they arise.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria:
- Qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent) or part-qualified with significant relevant experience
- Proven experience in a mid-level to senior finance role, with responsibility for financial accounting and reporting
- Experience managing restricted and unrestricted funds
- Experience preparing statutory accounts and managing audit processes
- Experience in a growing organisation, implementing and improving financial systems and controls
- Strong technical accounting skills and understanding of financial controls
- Excellent numeracy and attention to detail
- Proficiency with accounting software (experience with QuickBooks highly desirable)
- Strong Excel/spreadsheet skills
- Excellent communication skills, able to explain financial information to non-finance colleagues
- Highly organised with ability to manage multiple priorities and work to deadlines
- Proactive and solutions-oriented, with ability to work both independently and collaboratively
- Comfortable working hands-on when needed while also providing strategic oversight
- Ability to work at pace in a fast-growing organisation
- Commitment to BASIC's mission and values
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience in charity finance and understanding of charity accounting standards (SORP)
- Experience line managing finance staff
- Experience in an international organisation or with international funding
- Understanding of charity governance and regulatory requirements
Working to safeguard humanity and Earth’s ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.