The Partnership has created a coordinated approach to the protection and enhancement of Lough Erne’s unique heritage and have developed a strong foundation from which to develop future opportunities.

The stunning Fermanagh Lakeland landscape consists of numerous islands, long shorelines, rivers, wet meadows, grasslands and woodlands, and is home to an array of internationally important species and habitats. As Finance and Administration Officer you will work closing with the programme team and wide range of partners and stakeholders to administer the governance & financial processes and controls to ensure that the programme is successfully delivered.

Purpose of the role

To ensure the smooth and effective running of the financial management and administration, processes and procedures of the Lough Erne Landscape Partnership during the Delivery Phase. To provide efficient secretarial, administrative and coordinating support for the LELP team. To assist the Programme Manager with financial management processes and monitoring and reporting to funders on progress as against the LELP Action Plan and overall scheme budgets.

Main Duties:

1. Collation of partner claim forms and other supporting documents to ensure timely submission of financial claims to National Lottery Heritage Fund and other funders;
2. Preparation of claims to National Lottery Heritage Fund including all supporting documentation, spreadsheets and analyses;
3. Provide advice and guidance to programme and project partners in the claims to ensure timely reporting and drawdown in compliance with terms of letter of offer.
4. Produce financial projections to ensure accurate forecasting of programme and grant payments and expenditure and cashflow forecasts for RSPB Head Office
5. To develop and manage financial procedures for the LELP Programme to include raising purchase orders, processing invoices, monitoring transaction reports and raising income notifications;
6. To support the Programme Manager by collating and filing the key reporting documents needed to monitor the programme (highlight reports, output data sheets, budget trackers);
7. To develop and monitor financial procedures for project management and ensure consistency and accuracy in the recording of financial information in a project financial tracker; and to support the projects in accurate financial forecasting and reporting through provision of guidance and templates.
8. To provide administration support to the LELP Delivery Team including maintaining the LELP paper and electronic filing systems in line with GDPR and Data Protection requirements and relevant RSPB and LELP policies and procedures;
9. To assist with arrangements for Partnership governance meetings, including arranging online and physical meetings , attending meetings and recording professional minutes;
10. To be responsible for the maintenance and acquisition of all office/IT equipment/ stationary and other office supplies and to manage telephone calls, routine correspondence and enquiries;
11. To support the LELP team in the development and delivery of specific LELP-led projects.

Other duties:

1. As needed, ensure the smooth and efficient running of the office.
2. Attend meetings and events designed to promote the project.
3. Deal with any media & general enquiries regarding the project.
4. Work with colleagues to source funding for the LELP scheme.
5. Liaise with other similar projects and implement financial and administrative best practice.

We expect you to carry out your job responsibilities in an environmentally aware manner, ensuring as little damage to the environment as possible. Our aim is to ensure all resources are utilised effectively and efficiently. You will be expected to apply ‘sound value for money’ principles in undertaking purchasing or supply of goods and services.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of budget and financial terminology and processes, and experience of managing and reporting financial information and complex project finances
• Advanced spreadsheet skills. Excellent numeric and analytic skills and proficient in the use of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• A proactive approach to problem solving, identifying and acting on opportunities to continually improve ways of working
• Able to prioritise and delegating tasks effectively, particularly when managing competing priorities
• Experience working with external funding sources.
• Experience of governance and professional meeting administration e.g. logistics and recording professional minutes.
• Has a demonstrable passion for the preservation and enhancement of heritage.

This is a Full-Time role, contracted until March 2023. We are open to applications from candidates looking to fulfil this contract on a part-time, pro-rata basis. The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term. The successful candidate will be home-based and can be located anywhere within the UK.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from Mid-January 2022. For further information please contact Elmarie.swanepoel@rspb.org.uk.

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.