Programme administrator jobs in birmingham

We are looking for an experienced Finance Director to join our team of nearly 100 staff, ideally before the end of 2025.

This is a full-time, home-based, permanent position. You can be based anywhere in mainland UK or Ireland, with some travel and occasional overnight stays to meeting and conferences mainly in England and Wales.

We offer flexibility around working hours, including the option of a 9 day fortnight - time off in lieu is also available. We offer 25 days holiday pro rata (rising to 28 days) plus statutory public holidays. We are happy to make adjustments for people with disabilities and/or caring responsibilities, and we welcome applications from all communities.

The role is a grade 7 position with a starting salary circa £75,000 plus benefits including 9% employer pension contribution.

The Finance Director (“FD”) works alongside the Chief Executive and Operations Director to manage the finances and governance of The Rivers Trust, a leading conservation charity with three associated trading subsidiaries operating across the UK and Ireland, with a collective annual income approaching £10m.

Given the prospective retirement of the current postholder at the end of 2025, we are seeking a well-qualified and experienced individual to take on this senior leadership role as soon as possible to enable handover to occur.

The role is very varied and wide-ranging, including presenting financial information to the Trustees and senior management on a quarterly basis, reviewing monthly management accounts, leading on annual budgeting, appraising internal project concepts and contracts, statutory compliance administration and liaising with auditors.

The postholder will lead a team of eight in the Finance department and join a very welcoming team of 95 highly engaged and passionate staff at The Rivers Trust.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Working alongside the CEO, the Finance Director will provide commercial, financial and governance management and leadership for The Rivers Trust ("the Charity") and its associated subsidiaries (“The Companies”). The FD will not only be an exceptional accountant, with executive oversight of the finance function, but will be commercially astute and have the confidence to represent robustly the best interests of The Companies. The FD will also be an experienced manager of people.

Key Accountabilities:

1. Act as a business partner to support and constructively challenge the CEO in the general management of the Charity and the Companies, reporting to the board.
2. Lead all aspects of the finance function (including maintaining and developing the financial control environment; robust financial accounting; cashflow management; incisive management information; clear and concise reporting to Board) to ensure that the Charity and the Companies’ assets are secured, risks are managed, and the Board of Trustees, subsidiary boards and committees can make well-informed decisions.
3. Manage relationships with auditors, funders, IT specialists, banks, investment platforms and other external organisations.
4. Provide support to project bids and the development of other commercial opportunities to ensure that bids/opportunities are optimised for the Charity and the Companies as a whole.
5. Provide input to project and programme delivery from time to time, to ensure that performance is maximised for the Charity and the Companies.
6. Attend Board meetings and Business Audit and Risk Committee meetings to guide the Board and the Senior Management Team on financial, commercial and governance issues.
7. Ensure compliance with the requirements of the Charity Commission and Companies House and, from time to time, provide guidance to members of the Rivers Trust movement on good governance practice.
8. Maintain the finance department operational manual for business continuity.
9. Serve as the Company Secretary for the Charity and Companies.

Staff Management:

1. Lead, manage and develop the finance team (who work remotely) and ensure the team understands their respective and collective contribution to achieving the Charity's and the Companies’ objectives.
2. Support the team in their professional development.
3. Ensure the team delivers a high-quality service focused on internal and external customers and funders.

Knowledge, skills, experience, and personal qualities:

Essential

• Significant experience in financial management and senior leadership roles, ideally gained in a range of organisations.
• A strategic thinker, able to see the big-picture, shape long-term direction and balance this with attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills combined with creativity and openness to innovate.
• Strong IT and digital skills, with experience of using technology to improve efficiency and automate processes.
• Proven people leadership experience, with a track record of managing, developing, and inspiring teams and creating a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative culture.
• Excellent relationship builder, with the interpersonal skills to influence, collaborate, and provide constructive challenge while maintaining positive relationships across the organisation, including with trustees and senior stakeholders.
• Experience reporting to boards of trustees and/or directors, with the confidence to contribute to board-level discussions as a trusted adviser.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, able to distil complexity into pertinent, concise and understandable messages tailored to diverse audiences.
• The courage to make and communicate tough decisions and be open about risks and setbacks.
• Resilient and calm under pressure, with the ability to maintain focus and steady leadership in challenging circumstances.
• Impeccable standards of integrity and personal ethics, acting as a role model for the organisation values.
• Knowledge of Sage financial software packages.
• Work to a good standard in Microsoft 365, especially Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams.

Desirable

• Experience of working in the charitable sector.
• Experience of being a Company Secretary.
• Understanding of the environmental sector or a passion for making a positive impact.
• Familiarity in using Sharepoint, Sage and Slack.
• Knowledge of Partial Exemption VAT rules.
• A basic understanding of Irish tax law, Irish and UK payroll taxes and corporate governance.

Qualifications/ Education

• Qualified Accountant, preferably ICAEW or ACCA.

Additional information

Everyone who works for us is expected to contribute to a respectful and inclusive working culture and follow our policies and procedures including Health & Safety, EDI, Cybersecurity and GDPR.

Please note we can only accept applications made through this site, and not sent by email or other methods.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. If you would benefit from any adjustments to support you through the process, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

To apply please send your CV and a covering letter.

Closing date: Wednesday 24th September 2025

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a strong pool of applications, so we encourage early submission

Job Description

About the Role

The Refugee and Migrant Centre is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Family Support Worker to join our Resettlement Department. As part of our mission to assist refugees and migrants in overcoming barriers to integration, this role will play a key part in helping newly arrived refugees settle into their new communities with confidence and independence.

RMC is a well-established charity with over 25 years of experience working with vulnerable refugees and migrants. We provide a range of services, including immigration advice, housing support, welfare assistance, and employment guidance. Our work ensures that refugees and migrants receive the necessary support to become equal citizens in the UK.

Purpose of the Role

The Family Support Worker will support newly arrived refugees and their families, enabling them to navigate the complex challenges of settling into the UK. Working closely with our multi-skilled resettlement team, you will deliver holistic support to refugees across a range of services, including welfare benefits, housing, health, education, and employment. You will also play a key role in empowering families to build their confidence, independence, and long-term integration into the community.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Client Support & Case Management:

• Manage a caseload of newly arrived refugee families, providing tailored support to meet their specific needs.
• Conduct home visits and orientation sessions to welcome clients to their new community and complete holistic needs assessments.
• Develop Personal Integration Plans for each household on a quarterly basis, helping them set goals for long-term independence.
• Coordinate support with external agencies and specialists to address clients’ needs, ensuring seamless service delivery.
• Support families with housing, welfare benefits, education, healthcare, and employment.
• Assist with registration for healthcare services (GPs, dentists, opticians) and support with medical assessments.
• Facilitate access to education for children and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes for adults.
• Provide guidance on immigration matters and ensure the correct paperwork is in place, including registering for Biometric Residence Cards and supporting welfare benefit applications.
• Ensure clients are financially supported by applying for relevant welfare benefits and assisting with mandatory reconsiderations as required.

Integration & Independence:

• Help clients develop the skills and knowledge to achieve independence, focusing on self-sufficiency and integration into the local community.
• Support families in securing suitable accommodation, liaising with landlords, housing providers, and relevant stakeholders.
• Provide ongoing orientation on UK systems, including financial rights and responsibilities, social services, and community resources.
• Encourage social integration by organising outings and community events to foster connections with local services and other refugees.

Partnership Working & Community Engagement:

• Work closely with a range of internal and external stakeholders to ensure that refugees have access to the services and support they need.
• Act as the lead contact for other agencies involved in supporting your clients, ensuring a collaborative approach to case management.
• Promote the long-term integration of refugees by identifying and facilitating opportunities for engagement with mainstream services.

Administrative & Reporting Duties:

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of client interactions and case progress, ensuring compliance with organisational policies.
• Provide written reports and case updates as required by the Resettlement Coordinator and Manager.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of services based on monitoring and evaluation feedback.

General Responsibilities:

• Uphold RMC’s values, principles, and policies, including those related to equal opportunity, confidentiality, and impartiality.
• Attend team meetings, training sessions, and contribute to service development initiatives.
• Provide feedback and suggestions for service improvements to ensure the best outcomes for refugees and migrants.
• Carry out other duties consistent with the nature of the role and in support of the Resettlement Department’s objectives.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Experience working with vulnerable individuals, particularly refugees or migrants.
• Strong understanding of the challenge’s refugees faces during resettlement and integration.
• Proven ability to manage a caseload and create detailed support plans.
• Experience in working with external agencies and coordinating services for clients.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to engage effectively with refugees, stakeholders, and service providers.
• Ability to manage sensitive and complex cases with a person-centred approach.
• Knowledge of UK welfare benefits, housing rights, and immigration services.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and use IT systems to document casework.
• Cultural competence and a commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion.
• Ability to work flexibly and independently, including delivering outreach services.
• Fluent in Farsi/Pashto and English.

Desirable:

• Experience working within a multi-disciplinary team, supporting volunteers to achieve client outcomes.
• Knowledge of community languages (particularly relevant to refugee populations) would be advantageous.
• Experience in delivering outreach support to families in their homes and community settings.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a car.

Flexibility

To achieve the objectives of this role, a degree of flexibility is essential. The post holder may be required to undertake duties not specifically listed above, provided they fall within the scope of the role and are appropriate to the pay grade. Accordingly, this job description will be reviewed periodically in consultation with the post holder to ensure it continues to reflect the responsibilities and duties of the position accurately.

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of gender identity or expression, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We recruit and develop our people based on merit and their commitment to achieving positive outcomes. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace where everyone can thrive.

Closing date: Tuesday, 30 September 2025, by 5:00 pm.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date.

Please note that if you require employer sponsorship to extend your right to work in the UK, the Refugee and Migrant Centre is not able to support visa sponsorship.