***THIS JOB VACANCY HAS NOW CLOSED***
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is a new grant making charity which from 1 April 2018 will have £10 million each year to support the Armed Forces Covenant by funding projects which address specific priorities.
The Armed Forces Covenant sets out the relationship between the nation, the government and the armed forces. It recognises that the whole nation has a moral obligation to current and former members of the armed forces and their families, and it sets out how they should expect to be treated.
The Covenant Fund has 4 broad funding themes now and in future years. They are: removing barriers to family life; extra support after service for those that need help; measures to integrate military and civilian communities and allow the armed forces community to participate as citizens; and non-core healthcare services for veterans.
The Covenant Fund has been managed within the Ministry of Defence but from April 2018 it will become an independent Trust with some of the current team transferring to the new arrangements. We are now recruiting additional staff and we would like to appoint a Business Manager to start as soon as possible. This post will be initially for three days per week on a fixed term contract for one year.
The Business Manager will be responsible for the day to day financial operations of the Trust and the smooth running of the Trust’s office, providing a secretariat function to the board of trustees and organising events and travel as required. They will not initially be responsible for any staff, but may be required to manage temporary administrative support and the role of Administrative Assistant if this need arises in the future. The Business Manager will work as part of a small team in the Trust’s new offices not far from Victoria Station in London. The Trust is committed to being an equal opportunities employer and to providing development and training opportunities.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a new charity as it establishes its position as a major funder of the armed forces sector which is committed to learning from and sharing the achievements of its grant holders and impact of its funding programme. No previous knowledge of grant making or the armed forces charity sector is required but the successful candidate is likely to have an interest in, and commitment to, welfare issues and the difference that charities can make.
Salary £33-42,000 pro rata dependent on experience
Part-time role – equivalent of 3 days per week (21 hours) to be split across the working week by mutual agreement to suit the successful candidate and the Trust’s requirements. Office based. Initial fixed term contract of 12 months.
How to apply: applications should take the form of a letter (no more than two pages of A4) providing evidence of how you meet the person specification, and your CV – both attached to an email addressed to Melloney Poole, Chief Executive, at melloneypoole@btinternet.com giving the contact details for two professional referees, and how you know them. Please indicate if you would not wish us to contact them until the final stage of the selection process. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview and informally meet the Trust’s team and visit the office before final offers are made.
Timetable:
Closing date – 06 March
Interview date – 13 March
Business Manager
Role Description
Responsible for: Admin support
Reporting to: Director of Grants
Summary of role: Responsible for the day to day financial management of the Trust and the smooth running of the Trust’s office, providing a secretariat function to the board of trustees and organising events and travel for the Trust’s staff and trustees as required.
Salary £33-42,000 pro rata dependent on experience
Part-time role – equivalent of 3 days per week (21 hours). Office based in central London. Initial fixed term contract of 12 months.
Main duties
- Manage internal financial processes in respect of both the grant making and organisational operations
- Responsible for recording, interpreting, classifying, analysing, and reporting all financial transactions
- Liaise with colleagues to process grant payment claims, invoices and expenses in accounting system and administer the payment process to ensure accounts and grants are paid on time
- With the Director of Grants, prepare financial reports for the trustees and work with the Trust’s external accountants as required for annual audit
- Ensure all financial documents are filed and available for the auditors
- Establish and manage efficient financial systems and processes; ad-hoc financial analysis.
- Establish the Trust’s timetabling, diary management and work planning methodology
- Set up and manage the Trust’s systems for managing electronic and physical files
- Ensure day to day smooth running of the organisation in respect of the office and external contractors including IT providers
- With the joint COOs, develop and operate customer service and complaints policies.
- Provide full secretariat services to the trustees including organising meetings, preparing papers and minuting
- Organise events and travel as required
- Any other duties as reasonably required
Person specification
Essential
- At least two years working in a similar role
- Experience in various aspects of financial management for a small/medium sized organisation such as book-keeping/purchase ledger/bank reconciliations as well as producing management accounts, budgets and preparing for audit
- Experience of preparing and presenting financial and written reports to colleagues and seniors
- Good working knowledge of at least one accounting software package
- Office management experience, including liaison with contractors and suppliers
- Excellent MS Office skills (Word, Excel, Powerpoint).
- Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
- Ability to multitask, work in a dynamic environment, and to remain calm under pressure.
- Ability to deal with sensitive and/or confidential information.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently, as well as in a team.
- Experience of managing staff
Desirable
- Experience of working in a charity, or other not for profit or small organisation
- Experience of having set up new office and finance systems
- Relevant financial/accountancy qualifications
- Experience/knowledge of preparing annual accounts for audit
- Evidence of interest in and commitment to the work of the Trust
- Experience in working with confidential records/ files
