Work experience development officer jobs in cockermouth, cumbria

Reports to: Operations Director (Head of Delivery) 
Contract: Part-time (0.5 FTE) 

Interview process: Will be in the New Year 

Role Purpose 

As Payroll Lead, you will manage HOST’s global payroll operations — ensuring that all staff, contractors, and hosted partners are paid accurately, compliantly, and on time. 

You will bring structure, care, and precision to one of HOST’s most essential services: ensuring the people driving climate and social action receive the financial stability they need to do their best work. 

This role supports both internal HOST staff and hosted partners, liaising across HR, Finance, and Community Support to deliver secure, compliant, and efficient payroll management. You will also help develop new systems and processes as HOST expands internationally, ensuring our operations remain smooth, transparent, and aligned with local legislation. 

Core Responsibilities 

1. Payroll Management 

• Manage all aspects of monthly payroll for UK and international employees, contractors, and hosted partner staff. 

• Prepare and process payroll changes (new hires, terminations, pay adjustments) in line with internal procedures. 

• Ensure timely submission of payroll information to Finance and external providers. 

• Reconcile payroll each month, identifying and resolving any discrepancies. 
   

• Reporting cadence: Monthly payroll cycle; quarterly summary to Operations Director. 

2. Compliance and Record-Keeping 

• Ensure full compliance with UK employment law, tax regulations, and international payroll requirements in collaboration with external providers. 

• Maintain accurate and confidential employee and contractor records. 

• Support statutory reporting, including PAYE, HMRC, and pension submissions. 

• Liaise with HOST’s Finance Team on audits and compliance reviews. 
  Reporting cadence: Monthly compliance report; annual payroll compliance review. 

3. System Management and Improvement 

• Maintain and improve digital payroll systems, ensuring data accuracy and secure integration with Finance and HR tools. 

• Support the development of HOSTHub payroll features and automation processes with the Tech Team. 

• Identify opportunities to simplify workflows and strengthen reporting. 
  Reporting cadence: Quarterly system and process improvement review. 

4. Contractor and International Payroll Support 

• Coordinate with the Community Support and Finance Teams to process international contractor payments, ensuring correct deductions and documentation. 

• Liaise with local payroll providers and Employer of Record (EoR) partners to ensure compliance in each jurisdiction. 

• Track and report on cross-border payroll performance and issue resolution. 
  Reporting cadence: Monthly report; immediate escalation of compliance concerns. 

5. HR and Staff Support 

• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll queries from staff and contractors, providing clear and timely responses. 

• Collaborate with the HR & Operations teams to ensure policies and processes reflect payroll updates and legislation. 

• Support onboarding and offboarding processes for staff and contractors. 
  Reporting cadence: Ongoing; monthly summary of staff queries and resolutions. 

6. Risk and Confidentiality 

• Identify potential payroll or compliance risks, escalating concerns to the Operations Director and Finance Manager. 

• Ensure all payroll data and personal information are handled securely, in line with GDPR and HOST’s data protection policies. 
  Reporting cadence: Ongoing; quarterly inclusion in organisational risk report. 

Key Relationships 

Internal: Operations Director, Finance Manager, Accountant, Community Support Leads, HR & Payroll External Specialist, and Legal Lead. 
External: Payroll providers, Employer of Record partners, and hosted partner representatives. 

Performance Indicators 

• 100% accuracy in payroll delivery and documentation. 

• 100% on-time monthly payroll completion. 

• All compliance and statutory submissions completed by deadline. 

• 100% confidentiality maintained in payroll data handling. 

• Measurable improvements in payroll efficiency and staff satisfaction. 

Qualifications/Experience:  Member of recognised payroll body e.g. CIPP/GPA 

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.