Restricted funds officer jobs in belfast

When asked what they love most about working at Rainforest Trust UK our staff say it is feeling they are making a difference and taking direct action on some of the biggest issues of our time - climate change, biodiversity loss and Indigenous Peoples' rights. They also like being part of a small, friendly, and supportive team, where they feel they can have a direct input into decisions and our direction. We offer a host of other benefits too.

Rainforest Trust is a leading global organisation sponsoring the creation and expansion of protected and conserved areas, playing a central role in combating biodiversity loss and fighting climate change. Rainforest Trust UK (RTUK) is set up as a separate charity to tax-efficiently raise funds from donors here in the UK for Rainforest Trust’s conservation projects. We are currently a team of seven people, but we are affiliated to, and supported by, the Rainforest Trust team in the U.S., which has a team of 45 staff. 

In 2023 the global charity raised $46 million for conservation projects in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Last year the UK charity contributed £2.7m of this, and we are confident there is significant potential to increase our income from donors here. So, we are looking for an experienced Finance and Administrative Officer to join our small UK team to help us manage an increasing number of donations.

This is a varied role which will offer the successful candidate exposure to a wide range of tasks and responsibilities, including bank reconciliations, financial and performance reporting, some data upkeep and systems improvements. You will need to be good at juggling competing priorities, well-organised with excellent attention to detail and problem-solving skills.

Key Responsibilities (see attached job description for full list)

Finance (~80% of role)

• Carry out weekly bank reconciliations using Xero.

• Maintaining records of expenditure, processing monthly expenses, paying invoices.

• Prepare HMRC Gift Aid claims and maintain records of Gift Aid donations and payments.

• Assist with annual external financial audits.

• Import bank transactions onto CRM database and ensure donations are assigned to correct conservation projects.

• Assist in the preparation of monthly and annual management accounts and annual budgets.

Administration (~20% of role)

• Maintain all accounts on UK portals (Benevity, Charities Aid Foundation, etc) and process, track and reconcile all portal donations, soft crediting these where necessary.

• Suggest changes or improvements to both financial and administrative processes (including automations) to increase accuracy, efficiency and potential cost reductions, then implement where agreed.

• Support with HR administration - keeping personnel and Trustee files up to date, keeping records of sickness, holidays and other absences, drafting new policies.

Person Specification - see attached job description document

Working Arrangements and Travel Requirements

Rainforest Trust UK staff work remotely and the successful candidate will be expected to work primarily from home with an excellent internet connection. They may be based anywhere in the UK but will be expected to travel to work from a shared team space in London 1 day per month. We are also flexible as to when the Officer works the available hours across the week.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Rainforest Trust UK is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to developing a diverse and inclusive working environment. We recognise that promoting diversity and eliminating discrimination in our work will bring benefits for our people, our organisation and our charitable purpose. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief or any other protected characteristic.

About Cord

Cord is an international charity working to make peace a reality where people don’t have the freedom to exercise their rights. We work to build the relationship between those in power and local communities. 

We believe that people flourish when all parts of society work together. Peaceful relationships make that possible. The simple act of talking begins a journey of growth which transforms mistrust, includes the excluded and turns adversaries into allies.

Cord operates in eight countries and implements programmes in the following areas:

• Empowering Women & Girls
• Accessing Fundamental Freedoms
• Climate & the Environment
• Economic Empowerment
• Supporting Stronger Societies

Role context:

Cord’s turnover is about £2m a year. About 85% of Cord’s funding is restricted, coming from institutional donors like the EU and the US government, and 15% (about £300K) is unrestricted coming from a committed UK supporter base and other private fundraising streams. 

In 2025, Cord operates in eight countries and has offices in Burundi, Myanmar, Laos, & Cambodia. Cord has a global team of thirty people with finance staff across five country teams. 

The Finance Manager role is a newly created role which is being introduced to strengthen the organisation’s financial management and control systems. The postholder will work across the breadth of the finance function preparing internal management accounts and external annual accounts.

In 2024, Cord changed its finance system to use Business Central. The Finance Manager will become the organisation’s main ‘admin’ user of the finance system. In the near-term, there will be a particular focus on rolling out further functionality of the system and developing financial policies and procedures. 

The Finance Manager will have oversight of the UK finance function through the line management of the UK Finance Officer and will directly deliver on the international side of operations in the areas of donor compliance, programme financial management, partner financial monitoring, and reporting. The role will involve travel to international programme locations.

Key Responsibilities:

• To support the Head of Operations to provide finance team leadership, develop and deliver an annual finance workplan to ensure continual improvement, and to drive finance capacity across the organisation
• To ensure the effective financial management of the organisation create and maintain effective financial control
• To be the Business Central Finance System Lead, developing functionality, troubleshooting and capacitating system users
• To ensure financial compliance: prepare statutory accounts, partner compliance, donor compliance and financial reporting

Cord operates a hybrid structure in the UK with most team members working from home attending the admin office in Coventry for team meetings.  

We are a small, committed team who love working together to make a huge impact. If you like the sound of us, then look at the recruitment pack and come and join our team!

Are you someone who thrives on accuracy, organisation, and meaningful impact?  Join us as a Finance & Compliance Executive and help us deliver the essential work that keeps our youth-focused programmes thriving. In this role, you’ll play a vital part in managing funding contracts, supporting operations teams, and ensuring we meet the requirements of our funders—so that more young people can access the opportunities they deserve.

You’ll be at the heart of the action—tracking funding, compiling reports, monitoring contract compliance, and liaising with staff to ensure our delivery meets all necessary guidelines. Your attention to detail will help maintain accurate records, support timely claim submissions, and ensure we meet funder expectations with confidence and clarity. Being a whizz at Excel will also help immensely in this role. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is methodical, collaborative, and passionate about making a difference behind the scenes. You'll work with teams across the organisation, support compliance with vital audit requirements, and help shape action plans that drive ongoing improvements.

Whether you’ve previously worked in payroll, office administration, finance administration, or contract management—we’d love to hear from you. We value potential as much as experience, and we’re excited to welcome someone who shares our passion for helping young people succeed.

Are you passionate about making a lasting impact in the community? Belfast YMCA is seeking a motivational and driven Fundraising & Communications Manager to lead one of our key strategic priorities: diversifying and increasing income to support our vital youth, family, and community programmes. This exciting and varied role offers the opportunity to shape and implement our fundraising and communications strategy, bringing your own creativity and expertise to the table. A key focus will be securing annual and multi-year trusts and grants, with the chance to lead a major capital funding programme as we redevelop our facilities and expand our reach across Belfast over the next three years. If you're ready to make a difference and play a pivotal role in the future of Belfast YMCA, we’d love to hear from you.