Senior Advice Worker Jobs in Birmingham

About us

Foxglove is a litigation and campaigning nonprofit that exists to make the use of technology fair. When governments and major tech companies use technology to abuse their power, we investigate, litigate and campaign to make it right. 

Big Tech companies have become so large – gobbling up a huge slice of the global marketplace and an unprecedented treasure hoard of user data – that they’re now more powerful than many states. The harmful effects of this concentration of power are everywhere – threats to our democracy, to our privacy, decimated workers’ rights and platforms rife with disinformation and hate. Governments are ploughing ahead with the use of algorithms and mass data systems to cut costs and increase efficiency often resulting in digital tools that entrench unfairness and leave the most vulnerable in society in crisis. All these problems are only getting worse with generative AI.

Foxglove works to bring the rule of law to the tech and AI giants who have upended our public square, workplaces, and social lives. We fight to reduce these anti-democratic behemoths’ size and power and we challenge them for abusing their workers. We also work to ensure public bodies use data and algorithms openly, fairly, and legally. 

We have a strong track record. We’ve launched landmark cases seeking structural changes to big tech’s harmful business models, supported 180+ Facebook content moderators fired for trying to form a union to sue Facebook and their outsourcing company, Sama – winning world-first judgements. We helped launch Africa’s first content moderators' union and are urging UK and EU regulators to halt Big Tech’s maneuvers to hoover up generative AI as it has the rest of our online world. We have forced disclosure of secret contracts between tech giants and the NHS, stopped a racist Home Office visa streaming algorithm, helped make grading fair for UK A level students, forced the government to pause the NHS Data Grab and challenged the Department of Work and Pension’s use of an algorithm unfairly flagging disabled people for benefit fraud investigations.

We are a small but growing team of lawyers, communications experts, and campaigners. Our work is global, and we work in partnership with lawyers, civil society, unions, and impacted people. 

About you

You are an experienced lawyer with a strong interest in using the law to hold governments and companies to account. You understand change doesn’t only take place within the walls of the court and that movements only succeed when they’re inclusive, making as many people as possible see they have a stake in these issues. You are a self-starter with the initiative to find opportunities, but the team-spiritedness to contribute to a shared goal and celebrate others’ work. If that’s you, and the Foxglove mission excites you, we would love to hear from you.

The role

The post holder will be responsible for managing Foxglove’s legal team and legal work. You will drive forward a range of cases, including the development of case theories, investigating and collecting evidence, drafting correspondence, evidence and submissions. You will also be responsible for coordinating and managing external legal teams. UK and international travel is required. 

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Case Development and Management

• Listen to affected communities, unearth issues caused by tech injustice, and come up with innovative legal solutions.
• Build and maintain relationships with impacted community members, unions, other lawyers, experts, co-counsel, intervenors, civil society organisations and the public.
• Draft and comment on technical and legal documents and correspondence.
• Effectively work with the co-Executive Director to implement Foxglove’s legal strategy
• Manage and supervise the legal team.
• Lead evidence gathering.

Compliance and Risk Management 

• Manage court deadlines and time limits where applicable.
• Ensure regulatory compliance in all aspects of your work and our cases.
• Always maintain the strictest standards of client confidentiality. 
• Always maintain the strictest concern for and awareness of data protection and Foxglove policies.
• Keep up to date with the global litigation landscape concerning tech justice.

Other

• Help ensure communities’, workers’ and affected individual’s voices are heard in our campaigns, communications and advocacy work.
• Contribute to social media posts, blogs and op-eds. 
• Speak to the press about Foxglove’s cases as required. 
• Contribute to the development of materials for advocacy purposes including video or audio testimony, photographs etc.
• Other ad hoc tasks as required.

Person Specification

Essential 

• A strong interest in using the law to hold government and companies to account. 
• Qualified lawyer in any jurisdiction with at least senior legal experience. 
• Ability to learn new areas of law quickly and develop new areas of work.
• Demonstrable knowledge in conduct of cases from initial advice through to trial.
• Relevant experience in analysing complex factual and legal situations and helping to advise clients in accordance with their aims.
• Experience in dealing sensitively with clients and experts. 
• Experience in working on complex matters, which require analysis of large amounts of documents and data.
• Excellent communication skills, demonstrated by ability to communicate accurately, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing. 
• Excellent time management skills demonstrated by ability to organise and prioritise a complex workload and work to tight deadlines.
• Experience in working and contributing to a team environment.

Length and Salary

The role is permanent. The annual salary is £70,075 per annum less any required deductions for income tax and national insurance. 

Our team works remotely, and this role can be based anywhere. We would prefer you to work within or close to UK office hours, but this is flexible. Our team travels every two months for team days and twice a year for team retreats. This role will include significant UK and international travel.Only candidates with the right to work in their location will be considered.

How to apply

Please make your application via the link to Applied provided by 9am on April 22 (please disregard Charity Jobs' deadline), answering the application questions and uploading your CV. We will not review applications sent via a job board or to our email. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with first round interviews likely to take place in mid to late-May for selected candidates.

Foxglove does not use AI in its recruitment processes, except to detect applications for AI use. As a tech-justice organisation, we ask the same of our candidates.

Foxglove is growing and we are striving to build a team that is inclusive. We will create a diverse and adaptable environment where we support people to do their best work. We believe an effective and creative team is made up of people from different walks of life. You can read more about how we work and what we offer our staff on our website.

We're recruiting for a qualified, proactive Finance Manager to join Primary Care International, bringing enthusiasm and problem-solving skills to our dynamic team. If you thrive on taking initiative and ensuring financial sustainability in a purpose-driven organization, we’d love to hear from you!

Working flexibly from home and reporting to the Strategy and Clinical Director, you will play a core role in our small team. The role suits a proactive self-starter who is fully conversant with Xero and is confident and happy working independently on their own initiative. It is a rewarding role in a busy operating environment which calls for a quick thinking and adaptable individual with excellent attention to detail.

Bookkeeping, invoicing, expenses and treasury (approx. 35% of role)

• Manage the working relationship with an outsourced bookkeeping team and manage the transition to bringing the bookkeeping function in house with immediate effect, using appropriate Xero linked apps such as Dext. Once transitioned, undertake posting of all income and expenditure to Xero including recording all VAT-related costs, application of appropriate exchange rates and verifying coding and project allocations with the projects team
• Reconcile bank transactions with the accounting records from Xero.
• Raise customer invoices on Xero as requested and authorised by Programmes Team. Ensure appropriate VAT treatment applied to sales invoices.
• Oversee use of the Xero app for scanning and uploading all expense receipts.
• Ensure all relevant invoices & expenses receipts are filed appropriately.
• Process any payments or expenses through the bank account ensuring adherence to agreed levels of delegated authority.
• Make international payments via business banking or other platforms as needed.
• Check and complete VAT returns to HMRC in accordance with statutory requirements. Ensure returns are appropriately approved and submitted on time, with associated payment made to HMRC.

 Payroll (approx. 5% of role)

• Manage working relationship with outsourced payroll services team and manage the transition to bringing the payroll function in house through Xero, with immediate effect.
• Compute monthly payroll calculations for all staff including allocations for zero hours staff.
• Ensure all statutory payments are made on time i.r.o PAYE, NI, NEST pensions, childcare vouchers etc. Process salary payments through bank account.
• Post individual salary allocations to projects through Xero, based on authorised timesheets.

Cash flow and production of monthly management accounts (approx. 20% of role)

• Liaise with the project team in updating a monthly rolling cashflow for review by the Strategy and Clinical Director and Board as required.
• Produce monthly management accounts reconciling back to the balance sheet.
• Collaborate with the project team in monthly review of project expenditure against budgets.
• Prepare and present quarterly financial reports and analysis for the Board of Trustees.
• Lead on project audits as required and provide support to programmes team for financial reporting to clients and funders.

Budgeting, reforecasting, and ad hoc financial analysis and reporting (approx. 20% of role)

• Coordinate new financial year budget cycle. Consolidate team inputs and summarise for senior management and board review.
• Coordinate the quarterly budget re-forecasting exercise with input from wider team. Prepare files, perform cost allocations, and consolidate input from team. Summarise for senior management and Board review.
• Undertake financial analysis as required e.g. variations and allocation of core costs.

 Statutory accounts (approx. 15% of role)

• Manage working relationship with external accountants and coordinate requirements for them to produce the organisation’s annual accounts, working with them to resolve any findings and recommendations. This includes providing all required input, liaising with them around timelines and process, checking draft accounts prepared by audit team, ensuring adjustments and corrections are made, and presenting final accounts to board for final sign off at annual AGM.

 Liaison with banks and other operational service providers (approx. 5% of the role)

• Manage annual or longer term subscriptions and contracts ensuring appropriate cover and value for money for PCI e.g. insurances, domain name, web hosting, professional associations.
• Manage day to day contact with PCI’s banks including resolving problems with delayed, missing or stopped payments or receipts, requests for further information, making changes to banking arrangements etc.
• Conduct bi-monthly audit of debit card use to check the nature and scale of expenditure and verify the approvals given. 
• Monitor financial risks identified in the organisational Risk Register including reporting to management/the Board on mitigation measures taken.
• Compile annual CIC report and make appropriate tax payments to Companies House.

 Person Specification

Essential

1. Demonstrated finance qualification, ideally ACA/CIMA or ACCA. Undergraduate degree in Accounting with at least 5 years relevant experience will also be considered.
2. At least 3 years’ experience in all aspects of financial management, accounting and tax.
3. Highly skilled user of Xero Accounting software.
4. Previous experience working with a not-for-profit organisation or social enterprise.
5. Previous experience in managing finance across multiple projects and currencies is highly desirable.
6. Natural aptitude for financial control & ability to identify areas of process risk.
7. Strong Excel skills and proficient with PowerPoint.
8. Good communicator with ability to write clear instructions & summarise key messages for non-finance colleagues.
9. Ability to multi-task and juggle competing priorities, remaining calm under pressure.
10. Proactive and takes own initiative; comfortable making decisions & taking responsibility.
11. Access to appropriate connectivity & workspace which is conducive to productive home working.
12. Efficient, organised, accurate & thorough record-keeper, with excellent attention to detail.

Preferred

1. Previous experience and confidence in preparing reports and reporting to senior management / Board of Trustees.
2. Experience in using Xero add-ons (expenses, payroll and projects) plus Xero linked apps such as DEXT, Modulr is highly desirable.
3. Commercial acumen.
4. Familiarity with SharePoint and Teams. Good aptitude for IT and able to resolve basic issues yourself.
5. Experience working as part of a virtual/remote team.
6. Ability to work flexibly to meet deadlines, especially during peak finance cycles.

Please note that this is a UK based role, and applicants must not only have the right to live and work in the UK, but also be currently resident here. We cannot accept applications from anyone who does not meet this requirement.

Equality Statement

Equality and diversity are at the core of PCI values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected. We actively encourage applicants from under-represented groups.

The vacancy

We are seeking to appoint seven Advisory panel members for the following committees:

Companies Committee (one dispensing optician, one optometrist and one business registrant) 

Education Committee (one dispensing optician and one registered medical practitioner)

Registration Committee (one dispensing optician and one lay member)

Please note that applicants cannot be appointed to more than one committee.

About the GOC
We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Our purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance and conduct.

About the Advisory Panel
The Advisory Panel is a meeting of the four Council’s committees (Companies, Education, Registration and Standards) in plenary session. They are established by statute for the purpose of giving advice and assistance to Council (whether or not in response to a request from them) on:

· matters relating to business registrants other than matters required by the Opticians Act to be referred to the Investigation Committee, the Registration Appeals Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee;

· matters relating to optical training, education and assessment;

· matters relating to registration, other than matters required by the Opticians Act to be considered by the Registration Appeals Committee; and

· matters relating to the standards of conduct and performance expected of registrants or those seeking admission to the register.

The committees and the Advisory Panel meet about twice a year. You can read the current terms of reference for the Advisory Panel, Education Committee, Registration Committee and Standards Committee.

Remuneration and time commitment

A daily fee of £319 will be paid. This is in line with our member fees policy and member fee schedule.  This is taxable and subject to Class 1 National Insurance (NI) contributions. It is not pensionable.

Members can claim expenses for travel and subsistence costs incurred on Council business as set out in our expenses policy.

This role is part time with a commitment of approximately 2-3 days per year, including time spent preparing for meetings.  Meetings will usually take place via MS Teams but may on occasion be held at the GOC Offices in London or other suitable venues.

We would welcome applications from individuals who are disabled and from diverse ethnic backgrounds as these are currently under-represented on our council and committees.

For more information about these roles please see the attached candidate information pack.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  midnight Sunday 06 April 2025.

Online interviews will be held on either week commencing 02 June 2025 and 09 June 2025.

We strive to be as diverse as the public we protect and welcome applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity and geographical locations outside of London.

£54,285 - £60,585 (National) + £5,000 Accountancy Allowance with qualification

The Government Property Agency is the largest property holder in government, with more than £2.1 billion in property assets and over 55% of the government’s office estate. We are transforming the way the Civil Service works by creating great places to work, leading the largest commercial office programme in the UK, working towards halving carbon emissions from government offices, and achieving greater value for taxpayers.  We are looking for innovative, solutions-focused people to join our team.

Representing the best covenant in the UK – His Majesty’s Government – we are leading ground-breaking programmes such as the Government Hubs Programme, Whitehall Campus Programme and Net Zero Programme, as well as delivering modern and cost-effective real estate service solutions. 

Innovation and progress are at the heart of our behaviours.  We foster a culture of lifelong learning, where curiosity and self-improvement are encouraged, and we’re dedicated to becoming a leading, inclusive employer both in the external market and throughout the Civil Service. Our strong emphasis on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is not just about driving inclusion across our organisation, it is also about ensuring our services meet the needs of government departments and the civil servants who use our spaces. 

Join our dynamic and diverse team that leads with purpose, improving sustainability, nurturing social value, driving inclusivity and flexibility, and kickstarting economic growth.  We are driven by purpose, and you can be part of it too: where you make a meaningful impact; where you influence; where your voice really matters; where you help to shape our future direction.

The responsibilities include:

• Ownership of the GPA’s technical IFRS16 accounting calculations, performing accurate and technically correct IFRS16 calculations for all relevant lease events, undertaking verifications, validations and checks
• Monthly reporting of IFRS16 financial performance, risks and opportunities
• Produce key information to support annual budgets and monthly forecasts for IFRS16. This will form part of SR bidding and Estimates, submissions to Cabinet Office & HMT. Respond to queries arising
• Support systems improvements behind IFRS16 accounting including accounting ledgers for IFRS16 transactions. Working with GPA’s outsourced Property Partner and supporting the development of accounting systems to ensure that IFRS16 accounting is accurate
• As required, supporting the production of GPA business cases/investment appraisals and ensuring that IFRS16 calculations are accurate
• Business partnering across GPA Directorates to ensure that IFRS16 impacts are understood and incorporated into all decision making
• Providing IFRS16 advice to finance and non-finance stakeholders across GPA. Supporting IFRS16 training across GPA Finance. Working towards becoming a subject matter expert on the application and reporting of IFRS16.

Key Skills & Experience 

• A technically strong, confident qualified accountant
• It would be preferable to have experience of IFRS16 technical accounting, particularly in its application to property leases (as both landlord and tenant) - if no prior experience, then the candidate must have a technical aptitude and be prepared to work towards become an expert on IFRS16
• A commercially astute finance professional, capable of translating technical accounting requirements into language that will inform, advise, influence and inspire confidence in financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• A self-starter, comfortable with change and with the drive-to-drive continuous improvement
• Strong leadership skills to lead a team of mixed experience in a challenging and complex environment
• Good communication, networking and negotiation skills, capable of building relationships with both finance and non-finance professionals
• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment, planning, collaborating and delivering through others
• Down to earth, proactive and pragmatic

For more information, please apply using the link, or contact Emma Fuller at our retained search agent, Robertson Bell.

The GPA is committed to representing the communities we serve by making Diversity, Equality and Inclusion part of everything we do. To ensure that we are always recruiting and retaining a diverse mix of talent, we are particularly inviting applications from candidates who are disabled, ethnically or gender diverse, and people who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community.