War Child Application Pack

Position: UKFinanceOfficer

Responsible to: FinanceManager

1. Overview

1.1. Background

  • Children are not the architects of conflict. They are innocent of its causes. War Child believes, therefore, that they should not suffer its effects.
  • War Child believes that it is a gross injustice that children’s lives are therefore torn apart by war.
  • War Child works with children because they are the people who are hardest hit by conflict and its consequences.
  • For example, more than 2.6 million children under five have died as a result of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo alone (IRC, 2007).

In order to be effective War Child must focus the use of its resources. So, we work with children who, as a result of conflict, live with a combination of acute poverty, exclusion and insecurity because they suffer the consequences of conflict more than any others.

These children include street children, child headed households, children conscripted into armed groups, disabled children and children in prison. Very often, these children are dependent upon older brothers, sisters, and young parents. It is for these reasons that War Child also works with marginalised youth, up to the age of 24.

1.2. Description of the Role

This role is central to the smooth operation of War Child’s day to day UK financial management and reporting processes and systems, as well as supporting the overseas offices where required. This position is also expected to support the Finance Manager and Finance Director in the continued development and implementation of War Child’s overriding financial management and reporting framework and financial policies. This is particularly important as we manage our way through a period of sustained growth.

1.3. Key responsibilities

  • Supporting FinanceManagerin development and implementation of War Child financial policies & procedures, with particular focus on UK headquarters
  • Maintenance of War Child financial software and reporting systems, including monthly reconciliations and management reporting for UK office, and summary consolidated reporting
  • Routine financial management processes for UK office (supplier payments, daily cash management, entry of all income, payroll, tax & supplier payments into accounts software package)
  • Coordination with HMRC in regard to VAT, PAYE and Gift Aid

1.4. Responsible To

  • FinanceManager

1.5. Working With

  • Finance Director
  • Finance Manager
  • Programmes Finance Adviser
  • UK budget holders
  • Other War Child colleagues, particularly in Fundraising team
  • War Child International offices (when appropriate)
  • External suppliers and other relevant organisations

1.6. Contractual Terms

  • Position:Permanent
  • Salary range:£27,720 - £30,930, depending on experience (Grade 4 of War Child standard salary scale)
  • Working Hours:Full time, 37.5 hours per week
  • Travel:None
  • Probation:2 months
  • Leave:28 days p.a. with extra day each year worked at War Child up to 33 days p.a. maximum
  • Pension:Matching contribution to a private pension up to 5% of gross salary
  • Benefits:Contribution (financial & study leave) towards CCAB qualification

Other benefits as per War Child allowances policies

2. Job Description

2.1 UK financial management

  • Batching, coding and posting invoices to PSF financial software for all UK departments
  • Processing supplier payments and liaising with suppliers, including supplier reconciliations
  • Maintaining petty cash and expenses, including staff advances for overseas travel
  • Liaising with fundraising team to ensure all income from all sources is correctly receipted, recorded, and allocated to source and intended use; with similar allocation of relevant expenditure
  • Performing month end reconciliations for all UK balance sheets (Charity & trading subsidiary)
  • Processing VAT returns and Gift Aid claims for UK entities, and liaising with HMRC where required

2.2 Financial reporting & budgetary management

  • Producing the UK management accounts (BVA) on a monthly basis
  • Producing further analysis on income and/or expenditure where requested/required – particularly as concerns returns from fundraising activities
  • Liaising with all UK budget holders to update forecasts and report upon performance to date
  • Updating and taking responsibility for spend under Finance, HR & Admin department budget, reporting any anomalies or issues to Finance Director with options for resolution
  • Updating consolidated management accounts (including Overseas submissions) on a monthly basis – BVA, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, ensuring accuracy and reconciliation
  • Preparing for and actively supporting the group statutory financial audit
  • Supporting Finance Manager in development and maintenance of new War Child financial reporting software including liaising with external support

2.3 Financial policies & procedures

  • Working with the finance team and Security & Logistics Officer to develop the financial policies & procedures to support the growing organisation, with a particular input concerning UK specific processes (including procurement, cash management, foreign exchange, income recognition)
  • Liaising with the HR & Office Manager to develop and maintain adequate procedures where there is a cross-over between finance, HR and administration – particularly concerning (a) regular suppliers and (b) employment benefits (UK and overseas)
  • Ensuring that all personnel within the UK headquarters adhere to agreed organisational financial policies & procedures at all time
  • Performing other financial duties as delegated by the Finance Director and/or Finance Manager

3. Essential Requirements

3.1 Work Experience and Knowledge

  • At least two years’ relevant experience in financial management and/or reporting
  • Proven financial analysis and forecasting ability with high attention to detail
  • Experienced in multi-currency accounting and reporting
  • First-hand experience of internal and/or external audit practises and procedures
  • Familiar with a range of computerised accounts packages and a highly experienced and competent user of MS Excel and other MS Office packages
  • English mandatory (oral and written)
  • Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills
  • Ability to work well under pressure, meet deadlines and achieve solutions

3.2 Education

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent
  • Part qualified CCAB (working towards full qualification)

3.3 Legal

  • Eligible to work in the UK

4. Desirable

  • Knowledge and/or experience of working for an international development or humanitarian non-governmental organisation or international charity
  • Knowledge (verbal and written) of other languages

5. Qualities

  • Good interpersonal and communications skills
  • Proactive, willing and able to take the initiative on a regular basis
  • Able to work well in a team as well as under limited supervision, and show a strong desire to achieve agreed objectives
  • Good organisational skills with the ability to plan ahead and manage priorities calmly to meet deadlines in a changing and challenging environment
  • Flexible and willing to support others at times when particular organisational priorities take precedence
  • Commitment to War Child’s aims, values and mission

Application process

  • Download the Application Pack and complete the Application Form at (Please note that individual CVs will not be accepted). Please submit all applications to .
  • All completed application forms must reach War Child by 5pm 27 August 2014
  • Due to limited resources War Child, HR will contact only the shortlisted candidates
  • Any offer made will be conditional on receipt of 3 or more favourable written reference(s) (from your most recent employer, any other previous employer and a character reference). In case clarification is required post the receipt of complete reference forms, War Child reserves the right to call the referees.
  • The successful applicant will be expected to undergo a CRB check and be compliant and sign up to War Child’s Child Protection Policy prior to a final offer being made.

1 / UK Office Address:Linton House, 39-51 Highgate Road, London, NW5 1RT| Tel: +44(0)20 79169276 | Fax: +44(0)20 79169280|
War Child is an award winning charity which works with local partner organisations to support children acutely affected by conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Uganda, Central African Republicand the Democratic Republic of Congo. | | War Child is UK registered charity no. 1071659