Trainee jobs in manchester

The Association for Cultural Enterprises (AfCE) supports over 500 member organisations across the UK and internationally, helping the cultural sector generate earned income through commercial activity. As an Arts Council England-funded organisation, AfCE delivers sector-leading training, benchmarking, data-led insights, events, and advocacy to drive financial resilience in arts, heritage, and culture.

AfCE runs a year-round programme of live training events around the UK and Europe, as well as its signature annual Cultural Enterprises Conference and Trade Show. We have ambitions to grow attendance at these events, as well as growing our membership.

The Association is a charitable organisation, which also has a trading company, Cultural Enterprises (Trading) Limited (CET).

We are looking for a new Finance Manager to join a small, friendly, and ambitious team, to review the day-to-day processes and policies and identify opportunities to improve reporting  and make operational efficiencies. The Association is growing, so now is an exciting time to join our team and work with our members across the cultural sector.

Job Summary

The purpose of this role is to provide sound financial management for the Association and CET through:

• Statutory financial reporting in line with Charity SORP/UK GAAP, including annual returns to Companies House and the Charity Commission

• Management accounting, reporting and analysis to funders, management, staff, and Trustees/Directors

• Preparation and maintenance of budgets, forecasts and plans, including cashflows and project budgets

• Supervision and control of day-to-day accounting transactions, including oversight of the finance aspects of the Apprentice role

• Oversight and implementation of robust financial systems, policies, and procedures

• Responsible for financial queries, working with the Apprentice as first point of contact for external contacts
   

Main Duties

• Supervise day-to-day accounting operations and ensure accurate financial record keeping, including coding, allocations, reconciliations, and tax accounting

• Oversee invoice generation and debt recovery processes

• Process payments and staff expenses for authorisation

• Produce regular management accounts on an accruals basis, providing interpretation and advice to the Executive Team, Finance & Risk Committee, Trustees/Directors, and funders

• Lead on budget preparation and forecasting, including project-specific budgets; monitor and reforecast as needed

• Prepare statutory accounts in compliance with charity SORP and liaise with external auditors and the Treasurer

• Manage contracts with financial services providers, including bookkeepers, auditors, banks, and investment managers

• Attend AfCE and CET Board meetings

• Fulfil company secretarial duties, including:

  • Filing confirmation statements and annual accounts for ACE and CET with Companies House and Charity Commission

  • Filing changes in Trustees/Directors

• Complete Arts Council England (ACE) returns, including provision of financial information for quarterly payment processes when required

• Negotiate and implement insurance policies including:

  • General insurance

  • Cyber security

  • Life assurance

  • Staff sickness policy

  • Trustees’ liability

  • Conference insurance

• Oversee monthly payroll, including statutory payments to HMRC and pension providers, and liaise with bookkeepers for payroll updates or changes

• Review VAT returns for accuracy before submission to HMRC
   

Note on External Bookkeepers
External bookkeepers currently provide support limited to payroll and VAT processing.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities

• Self-disciplined, organised, proactive and self-motivating

• Logical and methodical approach to finance and administration

• Trustworthy, honest, reliable and conscientious

• Confident, professional, and personable, able to communicate easily within a small team and with external stakeholders
   

Professional Competencies

Essential

• Professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, or CIMA

• Strong knowledge of charity SORP and charity finance regulations, including VAT and Gift Aid

• Experience with Xero or equivalent cloud-based accounting systems

• Strong reporting skills

• Team player with excellent interpersonal skills

• High level of accuracy and attention to detail

• Experience producing management accounts and supporting senior leadership and boards

• Ability to interpret financial data for non-financial colleagues
   

Desirable

• Experience working in a small charity or business

• Understanding of the cultural or charitable sector

• Experience of remote working
   

Benefits

• Unlimited holiday policy

• 5% employer pension contribution

• Life insurance

• Flexible working arrangements by agreement with the CEO

We are an inclusive, equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of experience, merit and organisational need.

Schools Coordinator

We have an exciting and rewarding opportunity for a Schools Coordinator (Impact Officer) to work as the primary link between partner schools and the CYUK programme.

Join a youth social action charity challenges 18 to 25-year-olds to tackle educational inequality through a year of full-time social action. As mentors, tutors and role models in schools, they support pupils growing up in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the UK.

Position: Schools Coordinator (internal title School Impact Officer)

School locations: M32 0XA and M20 5PG - 4 days school based

Training location: M12 6FZ - 1 day per week (with some working from home)

Working schedule: Term-time working (except for the second half of August)

Hours: Working hours are 8:00-4:30, Monday to Friday.

Salary: £25,432 per annum

Duration: Permanent

Start Date: August 2025

Closing Date: 2nd July 2025

Interview Date: From 7th July 2025

The Role

We have a rewarding opportunity for a School Impact Officer to train, support and develop volunteers and monitor the programme through effective administration, data management and to build a deep partnership between the school and the charity.

The Impact Officer is based predominantly in a school and is the primary link between the partner schools and the programme and is the enabler of the programme delivery.  You will support a team of volunteer mentors, who support school activities by coordinating, managing and evaluating the programme.

The Volunteer Mentors also complete a Leadership and Development programme and you will work with them on a professional development plan to chart their continuous professional development and ready them for employment.

The role is primarily a school-based post from Monday to Thursday and is based in a regional venue on most Fridays. See locations above.

About You

To be successful in this role you will need to be passionate about social change and serving a great cause. As the School Impact Officer, you will strive for excellence and support the core vision and values of the charity.

You will have:

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

· Strong supervision skills, able to connect and communicate effectively with a broad range of stakeholders

· The ability to understand school leadership priorities

· Flexibility in your approach to meet volunteers and pupils developmental needs

· The ability to cope well with multiple demands and to ask for support in ambiguous situations

· Ability to prioritise work to meet tight deadlines delegate appropriately and apply problem-solving skills effectively

· Good IT knowledge

· A proactive attitude, with the ability to use initiative and a professional manner and approach

Whilst not essential experience of working in a school or with schools would be an advantage in this role.

If you want to make a real difference and believe that young people can change the world, we want to hear from you!

Please apply by uploading your CV and cover letter (two pages preferred) demonstrating your suitable experience, knowledge, skills and abilities. Due to the high volume of CVs received, the charity can only respond back to the successful candidates.

Employee Benefits

As an organisation, particular emphasis is placed on fairness, well-being, and inclusion and offer a range of benefits for staff, including:

· Great holiday entitlement

· Training including degree-level qualifications

· Pension scheme enrolment starts at 4% as standard, and employee contributions are matched up to 5%

· Free eye tests and £20 off glasses

· Interest-free travel season ticket loans

· Interest-free bike loans under the “Cycle to Work Scheme”

· Interest-free Loans to assist employees with welfare or financial hardship

· 2 days per year to pursue volunteering opportunities and 2 days per year to support wellbeing

· Regular all staff wellbeing sessions with external wellbeing experts

· Reservist friendly employer - Bronze award

· Laptop and mobile phone

Impact Officers are expected to foster an inclusive and fair culture across regional teams, ensuring diverse perspectives are valued and that the regional programme is accessible to volunteers from all backgrounds. The charity is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all learners including young people.

Other areas of experience may include School Partnerships, School Partnerships Officer, School Partnerships Lead, School Impact Officer, School Impact, School, Primary School, Senior School, Early Years, EYF, Volunteer Recruitment, Teacher, Education, School Engagement, School Leadership, Volunteer Management, Volunteer, Volunteer Coordinator, Volunteer Engagement, Lead, Teaching Assistant, Teaching, Youth, Secondary School Teacher, Trainee Teacher, Teacher, Youth Support, Family Support, Children’s Support, Support Officer, EYF, Mentor, Youth Mentor, Volunteer Management, School Partnerships, School Liaison, Programme Officer, Programme Lead, Programme Support, Coordinator, Administrator.

Please note this role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of our client.

Who are we?

NUS is a confederation of over 440 students’ unions representing just under 4m students and apprentices across Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. In Scotland, there are over 40 students’ associations representing 460,000 students.   
 
NUS Charity is an exciting organisation developing and championing strong students’ unions. We connect our members and curate services to deliver advice, guidance and crisis support to students’ unions. 
 
We do professional differently. We are a progressive charity representing students’ unions across the UK. The sector is inclusive, fun, dynamic and representative and we put students and students’ unions at the heart of everything we do. We are challenging but are committed to creating a supportive and flexible environment which pushes your personal development in your everyday activity. 
 
What we do

Students’ unions can be transformational hubs for students, staff, and wider society. NUS Charity support our member’s development to enhance their capacity and harness opportunities to maximise their positive impact. We do this in many ways, from managing a purchasing consortium to drive great value for our members, to our development activity, supporting the best potential in students’ unions - we strive to make a difference to our members. 
 
The student movement is fast-paced and sometimes challenging, but we’re also a big family who support each other.   
 
We’re see anti-oppression as central to our mission. Education isn’t working unless it’s working for everyone in our society. We’re trans inclusive without exception. And we welcome individuals who are up for taking active responsibility for their own ongoing learning on liberation, equity, diversity and inclusion.  
 
What’s the job?

In this exciting and varied role, you will take the lead in delivering commercial marketing initiatives that add real value to both students’ unions and our supplier partners. Working within the Trading Support team, you’ll be responsible for planning and executing the activity against brand development programmes across key sectors including retail, catering, and licensed trade. These initiatives are designed not only to drive commercial returns, but also to deliver on the values and mission of NUS – putting ethical, sustainable, and student-focused outcomes at the heart of everything we do.
 
Your role will include negotiating marketing activity with NUS-approved suppliers, ensuring that all initiatives are aligned with agreed budgets and the broader annual trading plan. You’ll be the key point of contact between suppliers and students’ unions, maintaining strong working relationships, identifying mutual opportunities, and ensuring each marketing activity is underpinned by a clear business case and measurable outcomes.
 
A core part of your responsibilities will be leading on the implementation of the NUS Ethical and Environmental Charter, a flagship programme developed in partnership with SOS-UK. This work will involve collaborating with unions to ensure they are delivering against key ethical commitments, and working with suppliers to align their activity with sustainable and socially responsible practices.
 
You will also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our commercial partnerships. You’ll develop marketing plans for new and existing suppliers, and work closely with the Trading Manager and buyers to ensure continued investment in marketing activity that benefits students, unions, and brands alike.
 
Who you are

To succeed in this role, you’ll need significant experience in a business-to-business (B2B) sales or account management environment, as well as a strong track record of project delivery. You should be confident in negotiating and managing budgets, using data and insight to inform decisions, and pitching marketing ideas to external stakeholders.
 
We’re looking for someone who is commercially astute but also deeply values-led – someone who understands how ethical and sustainable business can thrive in a student-led environment. Strong interpersonal skills are essential, as you’ll be working with a diverse range of stakeholders from student officers to senior brand managers.
 
This is a unique opportunity to combine commercial acumen with social impact, contributing to a team that is passionate about empowering students, supporting unions, and driving positive change across the UK’s education sector.
 
Why apply?

As well as a great place to work, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement (starting at 27 days per year rising with service to 30 days, pro rata for part time)
• Enhanced sick, maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay
• Paid volunteer days
• Health Cash Plan
• Pension scheme with employer matched contributions up to 6%
• Employee Assistance Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Childcare Allowance
• Paid volunteering days- three days per year for full time staff

We’re committed to equality of opportunity for all. We welcome applications from individuals regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, age, gender, or disability. You can be yourself here whoever you are, be proud of the work you do and build a career in a place that knows different is good.
 
We recognise that candidates from Black, Asian and Minoritised-Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are under-represented in our organisation, and that there are often additional barriers present for people from these groups when applying for roles in the charity sector and beyond. We are committed to taking positive action to expand the diversity of our staff team, and if you meet the essential criteria for a role and are from a BAME background, you'll be guaranteed a first stage interview. It is important to note that this scheme guarantees an interview for candidates who meet the minimum criteria and tell us that they'd like to be considered under the scheme. The selection decision at interview will be based on the most suitable candidate, regardless of any protected characteristic.
 
Please apply via our online application form, we are unable to accept CVs. If you are unable to complete or application due to accessibility needs please contact us.
 
Closing date for applications is 21st July 2025.

If you’re successfully shortlisted we’ll see you at an interview on 7th August 2025.
 
REF-222 317

Managing Director

UK Association for Transactional Analysis (UKATA)

Location: Remote/Home-based
Salary: Circa £65,000 FTE plus benefits
Contract: Permanent, Part Time – Flexible 21- 28 hours per week 3-5 days

Closing Date: 11th July 2025

Interview Dates: First interviews w/c 21st July 2025, Second interviews w/c 28th July 2025

About Us

UKATA is a charity and company limited by guarantee dedicated to advancing Transactional Analysis (TA) training, qualifications, and practice across the UK. We support our members through professional development, accreditation, and promoting TA as a valuable approach in therapy, counselling, education, and organisational contexts.

The Opportunity

We're seeking a dynamic and hands-on Managing Director to lead our small but dedicated team. This is an exceptional opportunity for a strategic leader who thrives in an environment where you can make a direct impact and see the tangible results of your work.

As our MD, you'll work closely with the Trustee Board to shape our future direction while taking personal responsibility for the day-to-day operations. You'll lead a small team of employees, contractors, and volunteers, translating our strategic aims into practical outcomes that deliver real value to our members.

What You'll Do

• Work with Trustees to develop and execute strategic plans that align with our mission
• Take direct responsibility for financial management, including budgeting, investment strategy, and fundraising
• Oversee and personally contribute to the development of membership systems and website improvements
• Build relationships with key stakeholders including members, committees, and international TA organisations
• Lead the delivery of our annual National Conference and quarterly magazine
• Recruit, develop, and manage our small team, fostering a positive work culture
• Ensure compliance with charity regulations and governing organisational policies and procedures
• Function as Company Secretary, handling legal requirements and annual reporting

About You

We're looking for someone who combines strategic vision with a willingness to roll up their sleeves and get involved in practical delivery. You'll be:

• An experienced senior leader with understanding of the non-profit sector
• A strategic thinker who also excels at practical implementation
• Financially astute with proven budget management experience
• An excellent communicator with the ability to build effective relationships
• Self-motivated and comfortable working from home
• Knowledgeable about the mental health sector (desirable)
• Familiar with Transactional Analysis or willing to undertake training (desirable)
• Educated to degree level (desirable)

Why Join Us?

This role offers the chance to lead a respected organisation while making a genuine difference to our members and the wider TA community. You'll have:

• The autonomy to shape both strategy and operations
• The satisfaction of seeing your ideas implemented directly
• The opportunity to work with dedicated professionals passionate about TA
• Flexible remote working arrangements
• Employer Sick Pay Scheme
• 33 days annual leave per annum FTE
• Access to private healthcare benefits

UKATA is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background.

We look forward to hearing from you.