Project Finance And Risk Officer Jobs in Battersea, Greater London

Westway Trust is seeking a qualified accountant to join as our Head of Finance who will lead on all aspects of the finance function to achieve the Trusts goals.  You will also manage a small team and will offer strategic finance support across the range of activities undertaken by the organisation.

You will have significant experience operating at a senior level within a complex organisation and registered charity, and will possess the right blend and balance of strategic, communication, innovation and people skills.

Key responsibilities of the role include but not limited to:

• Lead, manage and improve the Trust’s finance function and provide accurate, timely and relevant financial reports as required by the CEO, Executive Team and the Trust Board.
• Be the Executive Lead of the Finance Audit and Risk Committee, ensuring timely papers to the CEO and to the Committee and Board as required and liaising with the Head of Governance and HR as required.
• Ensure the provision and reporting of financial accounts, forecasting and large-scale project/programme budgets, estate development plans, and the associated reporting.
• Oversight of the legal and financial statutory processes in line with the Charity Commission and Companies House requirements, including the Annual Audit. Allocating tasks for timely responses and keeping all colleagues abreast of progress.
• Monitor, cash flow, reserves, analysis of performance against the organisation’s annual business plan and dashboard as it relates to the finance function.
• Contribute to the overall leadership of the Trust and to the Trust’s future strategic and operational planning. Support Executive Team colleagues as required on the delivery of cross-team initiatives.
• Line management of the Senior Finance Manager, the Debt Recovery Consultant and the Development Partnerships Lead.

Essential Experience, Skills and Attributes:

• Significant and successful experience of operating as a Head of Finance, ideally in a charity setting.
• A track record of working collaboratively with a team to develop successful internal partnerships and achieve joint success against shared objectives.
• Experience of the finance function and all the associated processes, with strong attention to detail.
• Experience of implementing enhanced reporting tools within financial software, including the ability to coach others.
• Practical knowledge of VAT, including accounting of partial exemption relevant to charities.
• Experience of managing staff and supporting their development.
• Strong interpersonal skills for both workplace and external representation contexts, operating with enthusiasm, flexibility, energy and commitment and demonstrating credibility and gravitas.

Desirable Experience, Skills and Attributes:

• A good understanding of the local area.
• Experience of change management.
• Competency in use of Access Dimensions, Focal Point and other MS Office software packages.

Qualification:

• Must hold a formally recognised professional accounting qualification.

The application deadline is Wednesday 15 May 2024 when applications will be reviewed and shortlisted for interview.  However, we reserve the right to close the application early.  An early application is strongly recommended.

About Westway Trust:
The Westway Trust is a unique charity that stewards the resources of 23 acres of space under the Westway A40. In 2019, a local community campaign ensured that the Board of the Trust is led by local people and the Westway Trust now works together with the local community to enable North Kensington to thrive.

In 2021 a new plan was created for the organisation. This plan set a new vision, mission and values and the Trust now has a clear transformation programme to achieve social, environmental, and economic wellbeing and justice. Our leadership team is testament to our values as we strive for excellence and to deliver our ambition, we work with a full range of stakeholders including around 80 Member Organisations.

The estate is home to more than three acres of public green space, 120 tenants including more than 20 charities and non-profit organisations, two sports and fitness facilities, 48 light industrial units, 4 car parks, 34 offices, 32 shops, and an Olympic-registered skate park.

We already receive more than one million visitors each year to the estate, and we want to expand the community, cultural, retail, sporting, and enterprise opportunities here together with improvements to the public realm so that it is a place the tenants and community is proud of, and even more visitors can enjoy.

We have ambitious goals here at the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) and are looking for an experienced, strategic, and financially savvy Head of Finance to join us. The RCR is a charity with a focus on supporting doctors who deliver medical imaging and cancer services and we require a passionate and dynamic finance professional to helps us continue making a difference.

The Head of Finance will manage the high-performing finance team consisting of a Management Accountant, Assistant Accountant and Finance Business Partner. Sitting in the Business and Resources Directorate the team are instrumental to the successful running of the RCR. In this role you will be responsible for the operational finance function which handles accounting, financial reporting, planning and transactional activities as well as supporting longer-term strategic planning.

As a finance professional you will use your expertise to further support the RCR by delivering the organisations financial objectives and build strong working relationships with managers to equip them with the tools to make good financial decisions. Furthermore, you will support the Executive Director, Business & Resources in the delivery of effective risk management activities and reporting, lead discussions on how our financial controls and processes may need to change and adapt, shape and drive business performance to ensure your leadership of the finance function results in the delivery of excellent services.

What you’ll do:

• Lead, motivate and develop the finance team to deliver essential business services adapting and anticipating changes in business needs.
• Develop, agree and maintain a suite of internal service standards to meet business needs.
• Plan and lead the organisation’s financial budget process ensuring a comprehensive capture of business needs and advise SMT and managers.
• Ensure timely and accurate monthly financial management accounts are produced according to appropriate standards.
• Maintain a suitable suite of business financial policies, processes and controls that meet the business needs and are compliant with legislation and external standards.
• Lead the provision of commercial advice to directors, managers and staff to ensure best practice on procurement and contract management.

What you’ll need:

• Experience of operating successfully at a Finance Manager or Head of Finance role in a comparable organisation.
• A strategic and critical thinker with the ability to develop a team to deliver on long term goals.
• Understanding of risk, risk management processes and the use of risk analysis to help plan and develop organisations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with non-technical/non-professional audiences.
• Skilled manager of people, able to bring together, motivate, coordinate and develop a team.
• Excellent commercial skills, including the capacity to lead or support negotiations and to influence and motivate others.

If this sounds like the opportunity for you then please find out more about the Head of Finance role, the RCR and instructions on how to apply in the candidate pack.

Why join us?

• Make a difference to the lives of Doctors and the specialities they work in every day!
• Hybrid working (40% working week can be done remotely)
• Modern working environment
• Equipment provided to work from home
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Excellent pension scheme
• Interest free season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

This is a newly created role and there is a great deal of untapped potential here for a proactive leader to support the CEO and SLT to create efficiencies in how we manage our internal infrastructure (IT Systems and processes), Finance and charity Governance, and HR/people to ensure we maintain and develop a thriving and nurturing working environment. The individual will have significant involvement in the strategic vision of the organisation as a whole. With a broad portfolio, the role combines both operational and strategic elements and must be able to flex up and down accordingly. 

About the post of CEO

You will report directly to the Board of Trustees, ensuring excellent governance of the Charity, regulatory compliance with the Charity Commission and Companies House, and will collaborate with Trustees on designing and executing the 2024-2027 strategy. You will lead and support a team of seven staff, supporting 500+ older and disabled Neighbours annually with a large team of volunteers. You will ensure excellent management of charity’s finances and that adequate funding is in place to maintain all charitable activity, monitoring and evaluation. You will ensure that the charity maintains its reputation and develops its exposure and standing. 

About you

You will have strategic leadership experience and have previously led teams. You will have a strong understanding of charity governance and will have demonstrable fundraising knowledge and/or experience. You will be passionate about supporting older and disabled people and will have a strong understanding of their needs. You will be equipped to represent the Charity both internally and externally.  

JOB DESCRIPTION

Strategy and Operations

1. Develop, implement, and lead execution of the charity's annual operational plan and 3-year strategic plan.

2. Identify appropriate level of staffing, volunteering, ensuring that all staff and volunteers are appropriately interviewed, vetted, inducted, trained, developed, and supported to deliver against their objectives.

3. Ensure appropriate upkeep, security, and management of the charity’s premises, including all relevant contracts and payments.

4. Ensure that the charity’s IT systems are fit for purpose and compliant with relevant law.

People

5. Line management of seven staff members, and responsibility for staff and team development, cohesion and appraisals.

6. Recruit and support social club facilitators and appropriate consultants to provide additional resource to the charity as required.

7. Lead staff member for safeguarding, liaising directly with Hammersmith and Fulham Adult Social Care.

8. Ensure appropriate mechanisms and safeguards are in place to support up to 100 regular volunteers, and up to 100 additional corporate/student volunteers.

9. Ensure appropriate mechanisms and safeguards are in place to support up to 500 beneficiaries and additional attendees at FGN events.

Finance and Fundraising

10. Develop, implement, and lead charity’s financial and fundraising planning and management, ensuring that the charity operates at least at break-even, ideally with a small surplus.

11. Ensure that the charity has a diverse range of income across various streams, inclusive of (but not limited to) public sector, trusts and foundations, corporate income, events, and online giving.

12. Ensure that the charity is receiving value for money with all expenditure, ensuring contract review on a timely basis as appropriate.

13. Ensure appropriate cashflow projections so that expenditure does not exceed income in any one year unless pre-agreed with trustees.

14. Ensure that appropriate financial controls are in place so to protect charity and anyone handling money on behalf of the charity.

15. In conjunction with the finance administrator and hon. treasurer monitor all income, expenditure, accounts, funding investments and budgets.

Governance

16 Ensure compliance with charity and company law, inclusive of writing, presentation and filing of annual report and accounts and other Company Secretary duties.

17 Organise, attend, record and report at board meetings every two months, inclusive of finance and operations reporting and the regular cycle of governance reviews.

18 Plan, organise and attend AGM and annual strategy session.

19 Ensure appropriate level of risk management and insurance are in place for the charity.

20 Ensure all relevant policies, procedures and financial controls are in place, inclusive of annual review.

Communications and Impact

21. Represent and promote the charity in public, sourcing media opportunities as appropriate so to increase visibility.

22. Represent the charity on appropriate networks and forums so to develop stakeholder relationships and source opportunities for cross-partner collaboration.

23. Ensure positive, fit-for-purpose, internal and external communications, inclusive of monthly newsletters, social media presence and other marketing materials.

24. Ensure appropriate monitoring and evaluation of projects and develop relationships with academic institutions and/or research consultancies where possible so to elicit external perspectives and scrutiny of the charity’s work.

25. Build relationships with local stakeholders and businesses.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential requirements

1. Senior management experience within the charity sector or similar

2. Experience of working at a senior level with and under the direction of a board of trustees

3. Experience of successfully applying for grant funding, and/or other income generation  

4. Financial acumen including financial reporting

5. Experience of successfully delivering strategic plans

6. Experience in publicity and marketing

7. Experience in management of staff and volunteers

The post is subject to:

· right to work in the UK check

· satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service

· two satisfactory references

Salary will be c. £54,000 and is set in line with NJC pay scales 2024/25.

Working hours are 35 hours over 5 days per week. The postholder will be based primarily on site but with the possibility of up to one day per week remote working by agreement.

Pension: there is a 5% employer’s pension contribution

You will receive 28 days of annual leave, and option to buy/sell three days annually. We have additional benefits, which include eye vouchers and cycle to work scheme.

Interviews will be held at Rosaline Hall, Fulham, London SW6 on 13 and 14 May. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No recruitment agencies to apply.

An exciting opportunity to help lead The Maypole Project into our next exciting phase of growth and development; an opportunity not only to help shape the future of the charity, but in turn transform the lives of hundreds of children and young people with complex medical needs. 

The Maypole Project has, for over 20 years, been supporting families through the toughest and most stressful periods of their lives following a child’s diagnosis with complex medical needs.  The diagnosis of a complex need in childhood can affect people from all walks of life, can impact all aspects of their lives, and brings with it a lifetime rollercoaster of events and emotions.  The Maypole Project promises to be alongside every family member, every step of their way to help them live their lives to the fullest.

To fulfil our five-year strategic development plan, we are seeking key skills in our new CEO which will be increasing our ability to reach out to as many people in need of The Maypole Project expertise in psychological and social support by creating new partnerships, new support networks and reaching into new geographical areas, 

Reporting directly to the Chair of the Board of Trustees and with the support of Head of Developments, the CEO will lead the management of the organisation, drive its strategic development and, together with the Board, secure the future success of the organisation.

The post holder will promote The Maypole Project, its ambitions, values and objectives through every aspect of their work. 

We are a forward-thinking social enterprise committed to fostering equity and resilience in our community. Our mission is to empower Black and racially minoritised led initiatives that promote sustainable food systems, economic growth, and social well-being. As we cultivate fresh produce, we also cultivate hope, unity, and pride.

ABOUT BLACK ROOTZ

Black Rootz is a multigenerational growing project providing opportunities for Black and racially minoritised people to grow food for themselves, their families and their communities. Black Rootz was established in 2019 by a collective of Black growers in Haringey who recognised the need to organise to challenge the deep inequalities in the growing and food systems. Over the past 5 years, Black Rootz has developed a holistic practice for Black and racially minoritised communities incorporating intergenerational knowledge transfer, increased access to land and food sovereignty, regenerative environmental practices and reduced food inequality.

Black Rootz has been incubated as a project within The Ubele Initiative since 2019. As an established name in the growing community, it is now building towards an independent future.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Project Manager is a new role that will provide hands on management capacity to Black Rootz. The role will bring experience and energy to support the delivery and continued development of the project’s core activities; the Community Growing Programme and a new workshop series. The Project Manager will take on a management position and, with support from Ubele, help the project to navigate decisions that will enable Black Rootz to achieve its overall social, environmental, and operational ambitions. 

The successful candidate will be central in Black Rootz’ journey towards a more independent and sustainable future. The ideal candidate will be comfortable with the complexity andholistic nature of Black Rootz and will be committed to its values. As a small team, the Project Manager will be as comfortable making plans and big decisions as they are rolling their sleeves up and being hands on to support the team. While this is a fixed-term contract, we expect the role to be extended and grow over time.

For further information please download the Recruitment Pack.

For more than 30 years, War Child has been driven by a single goal – ensuring a safe future for every child affected by war. We aim to reach children as quickly as possible when conflict breaks out and stay long after the cameras have gone to support them through their recovery. We work with local communities and governments to help protect and educate children, and support them to heal and learn, for a safer, brighter future.

Last year, War Child UK agreed to come together with War Child Holland, War Child Germany, War Child Sweden and Children in Conflict in the USA, each of whom previously operated as independent NGOs, to form the War Child Alliance, which went live in January 2024. The new Alliance now runs our overseas projects, our research, scaling and advocacy programmes on behalf of us all, utilising our collective power and influence to have the greatest possible impact for children affected by war. As a member of the new Alliance, War Child UK is now a highly effective and innovative fundraising entity, raising crucial funds and awareness of our work globally.

Join us as our Director of Finance and IT at War Child UK, a pivotal role within our Leadership Group reporting directly to Helen Pattinson, CEO. Your role is to lead our finance and IT, but as a member of our leadership group to take joint responsibility with other Directors for leading the organisation.

As Finance and IT Director, you'll lead the optimisation of our finance and IT systems to streamline recording and reporting of financial transactions. Your analytical skills will be essential as you explore cost and income centres, supplying vital data necessary to significantly enhance our fundraising efforts.

Beyond day-to-day operations, you'll play a strategic role in long-term financial planning, fostering collaboration across the War Child Alliance. Together with fellow leaders, you'll steward the wider organisation, ensuring War Child UK is ready for success and equipped with ambitious financial investment frameworks.

Success in this role also entails ensuring our IT systems maintain the highest standards of excellence, delivering accurate and timely financial performance insights. You'll contribute to a vision where War Child UK achieves extraordinary results within a financially sound Alliance, empowering members to maximise their impact while being accountable for every penny raised.

You will be a qualified accountant with exceptional strategic and operational experience. You do not necessarily need to have prior international development experience, although you will need to demonstrate that you can build effective working relationships with overseas counterparts. Experience of working within a complex fundraising environment would be highly advantageous though.  For this role, we are also as keen to hear from experienced directors who are excited by what we do as we are from those for whom this would be their first senior leadership role.

Tall Roots is acting as an employment agency partner to War Child UK. If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please email Mark Crowley at Tall Roots.

Join us at Mayor's Fund for London as we revolutionise the city's food landscape, delivering on vital commitments to support young Londoners and families in partnership with GLA and The Felix Project.

Your role isn't just about managing projects; it's about supporting communities and empowering young people to love food. From securing orders to innovating new recipes, you'll be at the forefront of change, ensuring every recipe kit served reflects our commitment to excellence and inclusivity. With a dynamic blend of strategic thinking, resource management, and passion for food equity, you'll be making a tangible difference in the lives of young Londoners. 

If you're interested in learning more about this role before applying or require reasonable adjustments during the application process or at any stage, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our details are included in the Job Pack

SELECTION PROCESS

Deadline for applications: 9.00am on Thursday 2nd May 2024

First round interview (online): Wednesday 15th May 2024

Second round interview (in person, including a task): Tuesday 21st May 2024

How to apply:

Please follow the instructions included in our application pack. 

If you're interested in learning more about this role before applying or require reasonable adjustments during the application process or at any stage, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our details are included in the Job Pack

Are you passionate about using your professional financial skills and experience to create meaningful impact with marginalised communities? Are you ready to bring your initiative to contribute to the growth of a small, dynamic charity, whilst also learning and growing professionally too?

We are looking for an experienced Finance manager to join our passionate and dynamic team at an exciting time for the organisation.

We strongly encourage applications from Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller people. 

Who we are

London Gypsies and Travellers (LGT) is an organisation which challenges social exclusion and discrimination, working for change in partnership with Gypsies and Travellers. We work with families across London Boroughs, living on council caravan sites, roadside camps, with those living in bricks and mortar housing, and those experiencing homelessness. We work together with Gypsies and Travellers to build the capacity of individuals and their communities to influence the decisions that affect their lives through our front-line support services, growing youth mentoring programme, community development projects, campaigns and policy work. We are a small, committed and collaborative team (currently 10 staff members), embarking on an exciting period of growth and innovation in our work.

Our organisational values are important to us in the way we deliver our mission: Collaborative, Supportive, Passionate, Campaigning, Representative, and Rooted in the Community.

For more information please visit our website. 

Job purpose

This role is pivotal in ensuring the financial sustainability and integrity of LGT, developing resilient foundations for our front-line services, community development, policy and campaigns work to grow in scale and impact.

Working closely with the CEO, Project and Team Leads, you’ll lead all aspects of financial management from budgeting, accounting and compliance, financial management of grants, to reporting to the Finance Committee to support the Board of Trustees and leadership with financial planning and decision making. Finance is the core of the role, however you’ll also use your data management and organisation skills to help us maintain and develop our workflow and data management systems and processes, and oversee other core operational functions delivered by our Business Operations Administrator.

We are a small, collaborative and committed team, with ambitious plans to grow the impact of our work and to diversify and grow our income in the coming years. As a newly created role, sitting within our senior leadership team and reporting to the CEO, there’s huge scope to contribute your experience and ideas to the strategic and operational development of the organisation - and invest in your own professional development too. There is some flexibility in both how the role is fulfilled, and the level of essential and desirable skills, knowledge and experience set out in the role description so please do get in touch if you are wondering if this is the role for you.

How to apply

Please submit a CV and a cover letter with concise answers to these questions:

1. Please outline the skills, knowledge and experience you will bring to the role as described in the role description?

2. Why would you like to work with London Gypsies and Travellers?

Applications without a cover letter may not be considered.

Closing Date for Job applications: Sunday 21 April 2024

Date for interviews: Thursday 2 May

Are you interested, or wondering if this is the role for you? If you would like to talk to us about our organisation’s work or chat informally about the role, please get in touch using the info email address on our website. 

Role responsibilities

1. Financial leadership: Strategic finance leadership including financial modelling, meeting reserves targets, contributing to long term funding strategy, income diversification and risk management.

2. Budget management: Lead timely and detailed budget setting, monitoring and reporting across the organisation including management accounts.

3. Finance systems: Manage and develop the end-to-end finance system including day to day bookkeeping processes for the organisation, keeping track of income and outgoings, reconciliations and maintaining efficient systems and processes.

4. Banking and payments: Supervise outsourced payroll and pensions provider, administer internal payments processing and maintain all relevant banking administration and other relevant online accounts.

5. Grant management: Lead financial reporting for multiple grants, keeping track of deadlines, delegating tasks and preparing budgets for new grant and commissioning opportunities.

6. Compliance: Ensure appropriately robust financial controls, including compliance with Companies House, Charity Commission requirements, preparation and liaison for annual audits with our accountant.

7. Governance: Prepare budget and finance information for the Board of Trustees, also liaising with and servicing the Board Finance Committee.

8. Operations: Oversee a Business Operations Administrator fulfilling core operational functions including payroll, procurement, contracts with service providers and outsourced functions including IT.

9. Data and organisational systems: Play a leadership role championing efficient workflow management, reporting systems, and the continuous improvement of data capture, storage and analysis across the organisation.

10. Supervision and teamwork: Collaborate effectively with all colleagues, with frequent delegation, potential for supervision of line-reports, and support with occasional coaching on financial systems and requirements.

11. Learning and personal growth: Contribute to a supportive and courageous learning environment organisationally and commit to personal professional growth.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Essential

1. Experience of working in a finance management role in a charity or social impact-driven context.

2. Ability to operate strategically, proactively flagging and acting on opportunities and risks for the organisation.

3. Experience of delivering and managing all core finance and accounting processes to support budgeting, reporting which supports sound financial management and decision making.

4. Experience of financial management for grants and restricted funds, including drafting project budgets and financial reporting.

5. Experience of identifying and implementing improvements to financial controls, processes and operational systems.

6. Experience of short and longer-term financial planning to support financial resilience building.

7. Good Excel skills to support full cost recovery and income diversification strategies.

8. Experience using database/CRM technologies to store and analyse data.

9. Excellent organisational skills with a demonstrable track record of managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

10. Good written and oral communication skills with ability to communicate and present complex finance information in a clear and simple way to a range of stakeholders including funders, Trustees, to auditors and colleagues.

11. High levels of personal integrity and a commitment to equality and challenging discrimination.

12. Strong IT skills including advanced Excel knowledge and experience using Xero or similar accounting software.

13. A resilient attitude to work, embracing change and approaching challenges with positivity, creativity and perseverance.

14. Effective delegation skills to colleagues at all levels and external consultants.

15. Ability to work flexibly to respond to changing needs of Gypsy and Traveller communities and the organisation.

Desirable

16. A professional finance/accounting qualification e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA, AAT or qualified by experience.

17. Experience of lead responsibility for management accounting.

18. Familiarity with the requirements and processes for statutory bodies e.g. Companies House, Charity Commission and annual independent audit.

19. Knowledge of GDPR requirements and best practices in data management and protection.

20. Knowledge of VAT considerations and requirements for charities or small companies.

21. Line-management experience.

22. Knowledge of workflow management tools and processes.

NB: The role responsibilities and tasks are subject to review as the requirements of the organisation evolve and to support ongoing personal professional development of the post-holder. 

Temple Church is located in the Temple, City of London. The Church serves the legal colleges (Inns of Court) of Inner and Middle Temple, and serves members of the Inns and their families, London’s residents, visiting jurists and travellers from all over the world through the provision of some of the most uplifting services, music and discussions in London. Inner and Middle Temple have established a new registered charity, Temple Church Trust (Reg no 1205712), to maintain the Church, support its choristers and professional musical team, and develop its charitable activities. In advance of the Trust becoming operational in the summer, the Temple Church Committee wishes to appoint the first Chief Executive Officer of the Trust.

The role:

The CEO will be expected to lead and coordinate an established team of full-time and part-time staff; manage the Church’s multifaceted stakeholder network; ensure close control and management of the Church’s resources; and represent the Church and its work to the two Inns and externally so that the Church can function effectively and plan confidently for the future. The CEO will also be responsible for the Church's sensitive commercial development through the Trust’s wholly-owned commercial subsidiary company.

What we need:

You will be an excellent leader with effective interpersonal skills. Your recent experience will be at the director level or equivalent in the third sector, public sector, military or commerce. You will have a proven track record of leading or significantly contributing to the leadership of an organisation similar in size and complexity to the Temple Church. Proven experience in managing and delivering projects and income generation is essential. You should demonstrate a commitment to learning and development and sympathy for the mission and values of the Church of England.

What we offer:

This is a full-time position with an annual salary of £75,000. Benefits include a generous non-contributory defined contribution pension scheme, private health care, and 25 days’ annual leave (plus public holidays).

In this role you will lead and empower the Executive Team and organisation to deliver high quality services to ensure that patient voices are heard. Working with the Board of Trustees you will develop the organisation’s long term strategy and ensure good governance. You will be the public face in building relationships with strategic partners and stakeholders to deliver impact and improvement and will represent the organisation at strategic meetings to hold services to account.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Monday 29th April 2024. 

The selection process will include:

• Interviews including a presentation element which will be held face to face on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th May 2024.
• Online sessions where the candidate will meet with stakeholders, the Board of Trustees and the Executive Team later in the week commencing Monday 13th May 2024.

If this sounds like the job for you, please follow the link to our website to access our application form and further details!

Job Description: Fellowship Programme Officer

Line Manager: Team Leader (New Fellows)

Objective: The Programme Officer provides individualised support to Fellows, facilitates placements and secures funding. The Programme Officer also contributes to project management activities.

Duration: For an initial period of 12 months, subject to review.

Start date: 1 May 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Hours: Full-time. Eight hours each day Monday – Friday, with flexible working by arrangement around core hours of 10am – 4pm.

Salary: £30,240 per annum

Number of posts: 2.

___________________________________________________________________________

Organisational Background

The Council for At-Risk Academics is a UK-registered charity founded in 1933 under the leadership of William Beveridge, to rescue academics suffering persecution under the rise of Nazism and facilitate their continued work in safety. Sixteen Cara Fellows from the 1930s and 1940s became Nobel Laureates, and many more innovators in their fields, including, Nikolaus Pevsner, Lise Meitner and Karl Popper. A number of Cara’s founders and Council members also personally provided places and/or funds to help individual academics; and Cara, known in the 1930s as the AAC, later the SPSL, was closely involved in the successful effort in 1933 to bring to London the Warburg Institute art library, which had been prohibited by the Nazis, and six of its staff. The Fellowship Programme is the continuation of the rescue mission operation started in 1933.

Cara has been a lifeline to academics at risk for just over 90 years, as and when world events have placed them in the line of fire: Hungarian Uprising, Cold War, Apartheid South Africa, Iran, Latin American Juntas, Vietnam, Kosovo, DRC, Rwanda, Sudan, Zimbabwe etc. and, more recently Iraq, Turkey, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Cara support is typically framed as temporary sanctuary offered at times of heightened risk.

Cara Objectives ‘To assist academics who have been, or are, or are at risk of being, subject to discrimination, persecution, suffering or violence on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, to relieve needs among them and their dependants and ensure that their specialist knowledge and abilities can continue to be used for the benefit of the public.’

‘To advance education by supporting academics and their educational institutions in countries where their continuing work is at risk or compromised, to ensure that such academics and institutions can continue to fulfil their critical role as educators for the public benefit.’

This is a critical time to join our dedicated and friendly Fellowship Programme team as we expand our capacity to support at-risk academics from the Middle East, Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Russia and many other countries.

 Fellowship Programme Officer Role & Responsibilities

Fellowships

• Lead on New Fellows Team cases and provide comprehensive support to Cara Fellows using trauma-informed practice.
• Secure fee waivers, bursaries & in-kind support from universities, research institutes and other funding bodies.
• Provide logistical support to Fellows prior to and after their arrival in the UK.
• Coordinate with regional exam centres to facilitate IELTS or equivalent fee waivers for Fellows.
• Collect and interpret regional intelligence to inform Fellowship Programme advice and guidance.
• Write and send official documents to Fellows.
• Develop relationships with universities and other partner organisations.
• Conduct due diligence on Fellows’ documents and risk.
• Assess Fellows’ suitability for academic placements and liaise with experts for their professional opinion.
• Assess Fellows’ English language abilities.
• Attend weekly meetings with the team.
• Support Fellowship Programme with ad hoc responsibilities.

Visa Advice & Guidance

• Liaise closely with Fellows and hosting universities on visa related issues (Student and Temporary Worker (GAE) visas).
• Liaise with independent legal advisors where necessary.
• Research and update visa guidance to reflect changes in complex immigration regulation.

Managerial Support

• Provide advice and guidance to Fellowship Programme Assistants
• Contribute to Fellowship Programme policy changes and decision-making.

Finance

• Make payments to Cara Fellows and non-Fellowship related payments.
• Document financial transaction records.
• Record all financial and in-kind support from universities and other partner institutions.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Assist new arrivals with handover to the Active Fellows’ Team.
• Record and report on the efficacy of IELTS or equivalent fee waivers to relevant bodies.
• Assist with compilation of reports to funders.

Administration

• Provide support for general enquiries.
• Present and collect data
• Ensure safekeeping of confidential information
• Maintain detailed records of correspondence, documents, and activities.

Project Management

• The Programme Officer will have the opportunity to contribute to the management of internal projects within the Programme.

Responsibilities also include related activities that might arise in relation to the Fellowship Programme as required by the Executive Director or Deputy Director/Fellowship Programme Manager.

Benefits of Role

· Challenging but rewarding work, always life-changing, sometimes life-saving

· Competitive salary

· Team and individual training opportunities

· Weekly case review meetings with line manager, plus quarterly 1-1 sessions with manager to discuss role and to plan individual professional development

· Hybrid working, home and office (usually 2 days each week in the office)

· Eight hours each day Monday – Friday, with flexible working by arrangement around core hours of 10am – 4pm

· 25 days plus Bank Holidays annual leave entitlement

· 8% employer pension contribution

· Convenient office location at Elephant and Castle, close to Tube (Bakerloo and Northern lines) and bus routes 

Person Specification

Essential

· Bachelor's degree

• Fluent English (spoken and written).

· Proactive with a willingness to learn

• Confident and empathetic with strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment

· Keen team player who is ready to support and help colleagues

• Excellent record keeping and attention to detail. 
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• Good time management with ability to prioritise and independently work to deadlines.
• Understanding of issues of confidentiality.
• Interest in and commitment to the work of Cara
• Confident use of Microsoft package
• Good knowledge of current global issues.

· Ability to have difficult conversations

Desirable

• Masters or equivalent experience
• Casework experience
• Arabic language skills are desirable. Other foreign languages (such as Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian and Russian) will also be considered.
• Salesforce/CRM software experience
• Project Management experience.
• Experience in a supporting role with people with lived experience of forced migration

Turquoise Mountain is a British charity that was founded in 2006. We believe artisanal heritage matters and has the power to transform lives. We support artisans to thrive and to revitalise traditions in regions of the world where artisanal heritage is endangered, and to connect people through heritage.

Turquoise Mountain is a fast-growing organisation with offices in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, and the Levant, and with over 400 international and local staff members worldwide. We combine a cultural heritage focus with a wide scope of activities; we support artisans to thrive and to revitalize their traditions by any means necessary, and to connect people across the world through heritage. The places where we work are complex and sometimes affected by conflict.

Sound financial records and prudent management of our finances is core to everything we undertake. We have a small central Finance team that closely works with in-country Finance Teams. Because we, as part of our charitable mission, promote the sale of artisan goods to international markets, Turquoise Mountain has a trading subsidiary and also engages independent trading entities in the countries in which it is active. This means our Finance focus covers both charity and commercial, across different jurisdictions, and with culturally diverse teams. This makes the Head of Global Finance role a diverse one, that requires the ability to switch quickly, to build strong relationships, to lead and guide, whilst maintaining spotless financial records and financial compliance and providing senior management with the information and transparency it needs to make strategic decisions.

This is an exciting time to join TM, as we expand our operations and implement best-practices, the opportunity is there for someone who is committed to capacity building and leading a team through positive change.

Please read through the provided Job Description and Person Profile for more information on the role and how to apply.

Who we are:

The National Autistic Society is here to transform lives, change attitudes and create a society that works for autistic people.

We transform lives by providing support, information and practical advice for the 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK, as well as their three million family members and carers. Since 1962, autistic people have turned to us at key moments or challenging times in their lives, be it getting a diagnosis, going to school or finding work.

The Autism Know How department, which this role sits within, supports organisations across sectors to improve both understanding and practice for professionals and employees in order to help to transform the lives of autistic people and families. We do this through diagnostic services, training, accreditation, consultancy and conferences.

What we can offer you:

• Auto-enrolled Pension Scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Excellent induction, training and development programme including training about autism and opportunities to attend our conferences
• Online staff discount scheme for a range of benefits such as cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan & shopping discounts for places such as Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys, Halfords, Nike, Apple and loads more!
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Life Assurance at 2 x base salary
• A portfolio of fantastic new salary sacrifices benefits and other flexible benefits private health, dental insurance, car salary sacrifice scheme, activity pass, holiday trading, enhanced pension & salary deduct loans (eligibility criteria may apply)
• Access to a 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme & counselling programme
• Free access to the Headspace App – a global leader in mindfulness and you can enrol up to three friends or family members for free!

Who we are looking for:

A Permanent Customer Relations and Sales Officer to work as part of a centralised sales team, which leads all Autism Know How sales, logistic and customer support enquiries.

Managing all aspects of the customer sales journey, this role will lead and deliver an effective, timely and professional customer journey and experience, maximising income potential and repeat business to ensure performance against team sales targets and to enable the society to continue to improve its offering for autistic people.

This role will work closely with colleagues across Autism Know How, Marketing, CRM and Business Development departments, and other relevant NAS teams where required. 

This role will also deliver general administration and data processing as required. 

To view the job description, please click here.

Where you will be working:

Home based, with occasional travel when required.

How to apply:

• To apply for this role please click the Apply button below
• When providing a supporting statement, please refer to the job description and person specification and include any information that shows your suitability for the role.

We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

For some roles, successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant safeguarding checks which will include additional references and criminal background checks.

Applications for this job are sought from anyone who is suitably qualified and experienced for the role but particularly welcome from those with a diagnosis of autism.

The National Autistic Society is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and adults who use our services and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant safeguarding checks.

We are an equal opportunities employer.