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Peatland Action Programme Finance Coordinator

Reference: JUN20211970
Expiry date: 2021-06-27 23:59:00.000
Location: RSPB Scotland - HQ
Salary: £22,986.00 - £25,500.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension, Life Assurance, Annual Leave
Duration:8 month fixed term contract
Attachments: CandidateGuidanceNotes.pdf

Peatland landscapes are vast carbon stores and as such have enormous potential as a natural solution to limiting carbon dioxide emissions which detrimentally affect climate change.  They also play host to a rich array of wetland habitat types and associated wildlife, ensure we have clean drinking water and mitigate against the risk of flooding.  They can only perform these functions however if they are in a healthy condition.  Unfortunately, whilst peatlands cover approximately 20% of Scotland, it is estimated that over 80% of our peatlands are degraded due to historic land management practices and are having a detrimental effect on climate change and the natural environment. 

Following the Scottish Government’s recent ten-year funding commitment through its Peatland ACTION Fund, RSPB Scotland is looking to increase the scope and scale of its peatland restoration operations across Scotland.  This position provides an excellent opportunity to play a pivotal role in driving this exciting programme of work forwards. 

What’s the role about 

This new post is a coordinating role, ensuring that monthly and end-of-project data and financial information pertaining to RSPB peatland restoration projects across Scotland is accurately collated, submitted and recorded as part of our Peatland ACTION grant funding obligations.  Reporting to the Peatland Action Programme Manager, the postholder will act as the interface between RSPB Scotland site staff, ecologists, fundraisers, and finance department, and will play a linchpin role in ensuring that the standards and stipulations of the grant conditions are adhered to throughout the duration of the projects. 

As the main point of contact with the Peatland ACTION Funding Officers assigned to each project, the postholder will be required to clearly communicate the needs of the funder to the site delivery teams.  Should any issues arise, the postholder will also need to work with the project teams to troubleshoot and negotiate any changes such as to expenditure or delivery timescales.  In addition, the postholder will ensure that all relevant documents relating to the various Peatland ACTION projects are accurately filed on the RSPB SharePoint document management system.  

Once Covid-19 restrictions lift the post will be dual located, with the opportunity to work some or all of the week from home, but with a requirement to work from the RSPB’s Scottish Headquarters in Edinburgh when necessary.  The postholder will therefore ideally be based in, or within commuting distance to, Edinburgh.  Although mainly desk-based, there will be some requirement to travel to project sites across Scotland (current Covid restrictions allowing) for training and familiarisation purposes. 

Key activities will include:

  • Acting as the single point of contact with the funder regarding delivery aspects of project.
  • Coordinating/collating/submitting monthly and end-of-project reports for all live projects: liaising closely with on-site Project Officers (POs) and site teams to ensure information provided is timely, complete, accurate, comprehensible, and in a suitable format in accordance with funder requirements as stated in funding contracts.
  • Coordinating/collating/submitting five-year project reports as required for past projects.
  • Coordinating/collating/submitting bi-monthly and end-of-year financial claims for all live projects: liaising closely with POs and site teams to ensure all spend evidence provided is timely, complete, comprehensible, accurate and in accordance with the funding contract.
  • Liaising closely with the fundraising team to ensure financial information is accurately recorded on RSPB finance systems including Ebis, Salesforce and the Fundraising Team Income Sheet.
  • Liaising closely with and acting as conduit between POs/site staff and the funder to resolve issues arising during project delivery to the satisfaction of the funder.
  • Keeping accurate records of all files and documents relating to Peatland ACTION projects within the RSPB’s SharePoint document management system.
  • Liaising with RSPB Scotland’s comms team to maximise publicity of projects and acknowledgement of Peatland ACTION as the funder.
  • Supporting the development of future Peatland ACTION projects and assisting with potential transition arrangements towards Direct Delivery Partner status.
  • Supporting the RSPB Peatland Action Programme Manager with administration relating to meetings, travel etc…

What we need from you 

  • An understanding of, and a passion to protect and enhance the natural environment
  • Excellent written and spoken English
  • A confident character with a proven track record of strong people management and diplomacy
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Highly proficient in the use of Microsoft Office/Office 365, databases, and data management systems (experience of SharePoint would be an advantage)
  • Proven financial management skills and experience handling financial data
  • Ability to work unsupervised and act on own initiative

This is a fixed term contract for 8 month working 37.5 hours per week with the potential to extend if further funding is agreed. 

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on funding and business needs at the end of the contract term

For further information please contact  Gregg Wilkie at gregg.wilkie@rspb.org.uk 

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

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.