Project support administrator jobs in melrose, scottish borders

Summary

EduSpots is an innovative, dynamic, and community-orientated UK and Ghanaian registered charity which connects, trains, and equips grassroots voluntary educators (named ‘Catalysts’) to drive community-led change through education spaces named ‘Spots’. Our vision is of a world in which communities unite to create the futures they want to see, through education.

Since 2016, through collaborating with over 400 local voluntary community educators and actors – named ‘Catalysts’ – who take a central leadership role in the development of the network, we have supported 50 communities in creating and running community-led and owned education spaces named ‘Spots’’. Together, we are developing a model for a community-led education space with accompanying network engagement that could have global relevance. 

Our Ghana-based team creates collaborative learning opportunities through three leadership programmes for Catalysts which are increasingly facilitated by the EduSpots app: the Ignite, Catalyse and Inspire Mentoring Programmes. These enable the Catalysts to lead EduKidz (early years education), DigLit (digital literacy), EcoSTEM (STEM and environmental education) and Ignite Equity (gender equity) clubs for learners typically aged 3-16, alongside locally designed education projects, reaching over 10,000 learners of all ages annually. 

We are in an exciting period of our development, having more than doubled our income, programme breadth and reach in the last two years, with a recent independent evaluation by Expectation State offering further evidence in support of our model’s outcomes. We have been recently selected for two accelerator programmes, who are supporting us as we consider the scaling potential of our model. In the period, we are aiming to double our network reach, bringing an additional 50 Spots into the network.

We won the Tes International Award in 2018 and the Big Give Supporters’ Choice Award in 2022, and we were recently selected as a finalist for the 2023 Their World Scale-Up Innovation Prize. In 2021, our Founder was a Finalist in the UNESCO-backed $1 million Global Teacher Prize.

We are excited by our future. 

About this role 

The Global Head of Operations is a new role being introduced in 2026 with the core purpose of strengthening systems, processes and strategic delivery across both EduSpots Global and EduSpots Ghana, offering hands-on support to the CEO and wider staff across a range of areas.

In this senior role, you will work closely alongside the CEO, offering her the advice and skills needed to move EduSpots successfully through a complex period of growth in a challenging fundraising context, enabling more learners and Catalysts to participate in a unique community-led model of education, whilst sharing our practice more widely.

We are looking for an organised and empathetic strategic leader, ideally with strong or developing skills across project management, finance, HR and MEL skills and an ability to work independently in a fast moving work environment.

This role has the potential to grow into a Director of Global Operations or Deputy CEO role in time for outstanding candidates, and carries significant organisation-wide responsibility.

Candidates should hold a genuine passion for educational equity, a strong belief in the power of community-led models to transform lives at scale and a high level of flexibility in a fast-changing yet friendly and playful work environment.

Whilst this role is remote, and open to all global candidates, you will need to have understanding and experience of UK law, accounting and policy development, or a strong appetite to build experience in this area quickly.

Main duties and responsibilities 

Systems

• Work with the CEO and staff to proactively strengthen systems and processes across the organisation, including monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks and operations. 
• Support the wider team with IT, including general skill development, leading the Google Space system. 
• Monitor compliance to organisational policies and lead the quarterly review of the organisational risk register, working with the Ghana Head of Operations. 

Finance 

• Work with the Finance and Admin Officer to produce monthly and quarterly global management accounts, cash flow analysis and to complete the annual audit. 
• Lead the financial planning of the organisation, working with the CEO and the Ghana Head of Operations to create the annual budget. 
• Work with the Ghana Head of Operations to strengthen financial systems, processes, and training across the organisation. 
• Work with the Ghana Head of Operations to prepare budgets for funding bids as needed.
• Work with the grants team to track grant spending and produce consolidated financial reports (including expenditure from the UK and Ghana) for donors. 
• Ensure EduSpots’ new accounting software (QuickBooks) is fully embedded and utilised.
• Oversee bank account management, including payments, checking bank statements, and reviewing bank reconciliations for UK and Ghana.
• Ensure staff payroll (likely to be outsourced) and payments to freelancers / consultants are done accurately and in a timely manner.

HR

• Work alongside the CEO, Head of Operations, Safeguarding and Inclusion Managers  and wider staff to develop strategies to sustain and strengthen a high performing and friendly work culture. 
• Work across the team to strengthen HR and performance management structures, informed by best practice and legal frameworks. 
• Lead the recruitment of staff, consultants and volunteers in the UK (advertising roles, drafting contracts, contacting referees and completing all filing and administration relating to recruitment).
• Onboard new staff, provide training on policies and procedures, and track key information (leave, appraisals, etc) for UK staff. 
• Regularly review and keep the Staff Handbook up to date.
• Depending on skill-set, work with the CEO to lead professional development for staff across the organisation, liaising with trustees and advisory group members.

Administration & Governance

• Manage and maintain databases and our Google Drive system. 
• Ensure compliance with GDPR and adherence to our child safeguarding and protection policy. 
• Maintain insurance renewals, tracking and filing.
• Review and keep up to date all organisational policies in line with current legislation, working with the Trustees and Directors. 
• Assist the CEO in the administration relating to EduSpots’ governance, including board meeting arrangements and minute taking.
• Support the CEO in all ad-hoc tasks that arise, working closely alongside her to ensure the smooth running of the organisation. 

Strategic insight 

• Work closely with the CEO and staff/Catalysts across the organisation to ensure all EduSpots’ decision-making is strategic and in the best interests of the Catalysts, Sparks and Communities we partner with. 

Other areas 

• Depending on experience, you may in time take on management responsibilities for some staff, but this role is principally a systems strengthening and quality improvement role, working closely with the CEO to offer advice and additional capacity. 
• Depending on experience, you may support with grants writing / management and/or community fundraising. Experience of fundraising would be of significant benefit to the organisation in this key leadership role. 

Personal Specification 

Essential 

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience of operations in a small/medium charity context. 
• Self-starter with the ability to hit the ground running and work with minimal supervision with high levels of flexibility.
• Self-motivated, with an ability to motivate and energise others.
• High level strategic understanding, critical thinking and the ability to strengthen systems in a fast-paced high performance environment.
• Excellent communication, both oral and written.
• The ability to thrive and adapt in a fast-paced, creative and impact-driven culture. 
• Strong administrative skills with a high level of attention to detail. 
• Experience in creating user-friendly tools and processes to support project and quality management.
• Experience using Google Suite, with strong Excel skills.
• Tech savvy – ability to learn new tech tools efficiently.
• Experience coordinating others. 
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills with strong empathy and cultural sensitivity 
• Strong personal alignment with the mission, vision and values of EduSpots. 

Highly desirable 

• Experience supporting charity Boards, and working with external bodies including auditors, tax authorities, and other official bodies is highly desirable.
• Experience complying and strong familiarity with UK charity regulations and requirements.
• Experience preparing budgets and financial reports for donors/grants. 
• Experience of working in a cross-cultural team.
• Experience of working with an international charity would be advantageous. 

Please send a tailored covering letter and CV addressed to the CEO Miss Cat Davison by Wednesday 31st December with a hope to meet shortlisted candidates for a first-round interview in the week starting Monday 12th January. 

International Finance Manager  

Reports to: Finance Director 
Contract: Part-time 

Interview process: Will be in the New Year 

Role Purpose 

As International Finance Manager, you will work alongside the UK Finance Manager overseeing the full lifecycle of all financial transactions with particular focus on funder grants managed through HOST — across both Project Hosting and Hosted Grantmaking services. You’ll ensure every grant is managed with accuracy, compliance, and care so that funds reach the world’s change-makers safely, transparently, and on time. 

You will be responsible for ensuring that funder requirements, hosted partner needs, and HOST’s financial integrity align seamlessly. This means managing due diligence, contracting, reporting, and financial monitoring for all funder grants — whether they are received on behalf of a single hosted partner or distributed through multi-grant programmes. 

Working at the heart of the Delivery Circle, you’ll collaborate with the Partnerships, Legal, and Finance teams to ensure HOST’s grant management systems are reliable, scalable, and trusted — enabling funders and movements alike to focus on what matters most: delivering impact. 

Core Responsibilities 

1. Grant Lifecycle Management (Project Hosting & Hosted Grantmaking) 

• Manage the end-to-end administration of all funder grants, from due diligence and contracting to financial tracking, reporting, and closure. 

• Ensure every grant is correctly recorded in HOST’s financial and project management systems (Xero, ClickUp, HOSTHub). 

• Liaise with hosted partners and funders to clarify grant conditions, budgets, and deliverables. 

• Track grant progress, disbursements, and reporting deadlines to ensure compliance with funder terms and HOST policies. 

• Lead on the preparation and review of all grant agreements, amendments, and financial schedules in collaboration with the Legal Lead and Partnerships Manager: Funders. 
  Reporting cadence: Monthly grant activity summary to Finance Manager and Partnerships Director. 

2. Financial Oversight and Reporting 

• Monitor the flow of all grant income and expenditure, including restricted and unrestricted funds, ensuring timely reconciliation with Finance. 

• Prepare detailed financial reports and proposal budgets for funders, hosted partners, and internal stakeholders, ensuring accuracy and compliance with agreed budgets. 

• Support income deferrals, accruals, and revenue recognition processes as part of monthly and annual financial cycles. 

• Maintain audit-ready records for all grants and subgrants, ensuring transparency and accountability. 

• Work with the Data Analyst to integrate grant data into HOST’s KPI and impact dashboards. 
  Reporting cadence: Monthly reconciliation and quarterly financial performance report. 

3. Due Diligence and Compliance 

• Lead due diligence processes for all incoming funder funds and outgoing subgrants, ensuring alignment with HOST’s AML, CTF, and sanctions compliance frameworks. 

• Review and verify partner documentation, including governance, financial statements, and risk assessments. 

• Collaborate with the Legal Circle to ensure all grant agreements meet compliance requirements across relevant jurisdictions. 

• Maintain a live due diligence tracker for all funders, hosted partners, and hosted grantmaking recipients. 
  Reporting cadence: Monthly compliance report; real-time escalation of risks. 

4. Project Hosting Grant Management 

• Manage funder grants received on behalf of Hosted Partners (HPs), ensuring restricted fund management, compliance, and accurate reporting. 

• Support hosted partners in interpreting funder terms, building compliant budgets, and submitting financial reports. 

• Coordinate with Community Support Leads to provide responsive guidance on grant use and expenditure tracking. 

• Ensure that all HP grant income and expenses are recorded accurately and reconciled with funder agreements. 
  Reporting cadence: Monthly hosted partner grant activity and variance report. 

5. Hosted Grantmaking Grant Management 

• Work with the Partnerships Manager: Funders to manage multi-grant programmes, including collective and participatory funds. 

• Administer hosted grant cycles — including application reviews, disbursements, and financial reporting from grantees. 

• Ensure accurate funder reporting and financial documentation for each hosted grantmaking initiative. 

• Support the development of grantmaking templates, workflows, and SOPs for scale-up through HOSTHub. 
  Reporting cadence: Monthly hosted grantmaking fund performance review. 

6. Collaboration with Partnerships and Delivery Teams 

• Work with the Partnerships Circle to ensure clear communication between funders, hosted partners, and internal teams. 

• Support the Finance Team in cash flow forecasting, funder fund management, and budget reforecasting. 

• Coordinate with the Legal and Operations teams to ensure integrated service delivery across all funding streams. 

• Collaborate with the Training Lead to deliver guidance or workshops on grant compliance and reporting for hosted partners. 
  Reporting cadence: Monthly Delivery Circle coordination meeting. 

7. Process, Systems, and Continuous Improvement 

• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all grant-related workflows, including contracting, reporting, and closure. 

• Support the automation of grant management systems through HOSTHub to increase efficiency and reduce administrative burden. 

• Identify bottlenecks, recommend process improvements, and support implementation across teams. 
  Reporting cadence: Quarterly systems and improvement review. 

8. Risk Management and Audit Support 

• Identify and mitigate risks across the grant portfolio, ensuring early escalation of financial or operational concerns. 

• Support external and internal audits, providing complete and accurate grant documentation. 

• Maintain a continuous improvement mindset toward compliance, ensuring HOST remains audit-ready at all times. 
  Reporting cadence: Real-time escalation of risks; quarterly risk review with Finance and Legal. 

Key Relationships 

Internal: Finance Manager, Finance Officer, Partnerships Manager: Funders, Partnerships Director, Legal Lead, Finance & Operations Director, Data Analyst, and Training Lead. 
External: Funders, hosted partners, hosted grantees, and auditors. 

Performance Indicators 

• 100% compliance with funder and grant reporting deadlines. 

• 100% of grants processed with complete due diligence and documentation. 

• Zero unresolved financial discrepancies in grant records at month-end. 

• All funder and hosted partner reporting delivered on time and to standard. 

• Continuous improvement in efficiency and accuracy of grant management workflows. 

• Positive feedback from funders and hosted partners on financial clarity and service quality. 

Qualifications/Experience 

• Internationally recognised finance qualification. 

• Ideally use of Sage but not essential. 

• Experience of the not for profit sector. 

• Experience managing Grants advantageous. 

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: 4th January 2026 (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