Do you have experience working with computerised finance system, finance ledgers, record keeping and ensuring financial controls are followed? Have you completed invoicing and credit control processes and procedures? Do you enjoy providing excellent customer service? If so we would love to hear from you.

About Aberlour

We are a values driven organisation delivering around 40 services across Scotland supporting children, young people and families.

Our central support functions are critical in ensuring our services can provide the best care possible.

What we are looking for....

We are looking for someone to join our finance department working 37.5 hours per week. Most of our head office staff are currently working from home. There will be desk space available in our Stirling office however individuals are able to work a mix of home and office work.

Using your knowledge of financial systems and proficient IT skills you will support a portfolio of services and act as their main contact within the finance department. You will raise, send and organise the payment of invoices, reconcile company accounts and chase late payments.

You will ideally have a relevant professional qualification or significant equivalent experience.

Find out more information on what we are looking for in candidates on our website

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

About Aberlour …

We are a values driven organisation delivering over 40 services across Scotland supporting children, young people and families.

We continue to grow year on year and central support functions such as our finance team, are critical in ensuring our services can provide the best care possible.

The post holder can work from home but will be expected to attend team meetings in Stirling and may require some travel to services.

What we are looking for...

You will support, guide and provide financial expertise across a portfolio of services. You will prepare and monitor budgets giving guidance around budget management. You will prepare forecasts, projections and costings in conjunction with budget managers. You will conduct internal financial reviews, while working collaboratively with managers to ensure that any significant budget variances are identified.

You will have experience of working in a similar financial environment and be able to demonstrate a broad knowledge of financial systems. Advanced excel skills are essential. You will ideally be AAT qualified or have equivalent knowledge acquired through previous extensive work experience.

Here is what a current member of our finance team has to say about working for Aberlour:

“In Aberlour no two days are the same – but that’s what makes it an exciting place to work. There’s genuine care and passion in the work we are doing and as a Finance Business Partner you are there to help guide and advise your colleagues on many aspects of the organisation and finance. You’re able to use your skill with numbers and systems to really make a difference in the decision making across various departments and services, which ultimately help young people & families. There is a shared sense of achievement, and when a service or project wins funding or gains accreditation/good grading, it’s a success that’s celebrated by all in the organisation.”

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme, life assurance worth 3x salary and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

BACKGROUND

The Association for Fostering, Kinship and Adoption Scotland (AFKA) is an independent charity that promotes and facilitates evidence-informed best practice in fostering, kinship care and adoption, through advising, training, and influencing practitioners and policymakers, and supporting them to improve outcomes for children and families.

Our Vision is a future where every practitioner working with children, young people and their families is knowledgeable, skilled, confident, and empowered to support the safe, secure, and loving care to which every child has a right.

Our services support agencies and professionals to implement child centred, evidenced informed practice that involves children and their families in decisions about their lives, protect their rights and promotes inclusion. Through our multi-disciplinary communities of practice, we enable social workers, lawyers, and health professionals to work effectively across professional boundaries to meet the needs of children, their families, and their Carers. As a membership organisation, AFKA Scotland uses its links with professional bodies and agencies across the country to contribute to the development of policy and practice at a local and national level. We have a collaborative agreement with CoramBAAF.

AFKA Scotland’s multi-disciplinary team has a wealth of experience and up-to-date expertise in practice relating to kinship care, fostering and adoption and delivers a wide range of workshops, training and consultancy, post qualifying courses, and conferences to assist professionals to develop the knowledge and skills they require when working in this specialist area.

We work closely with our research colleagues in AFKA Scotland, and our research underpins our evidence informed approach. We are committed to #keepthepromise, have been instrumental in promise funded work and have been on a journey to adapt to the changing landscape of care in Scotland.

We are seeking to recruit a highly experienced and motivated individual to the role of Administrative Assistant. This role is key in supporting the Business Support and Finance Manager in the day-to-day operational activities of the organisation and to the smooth delivery of our Forums, training and workshop activities.

JOB SPECIFICATION

PURPOSE

To provide administrative support to the Business Support & Finance Manager on a day-to-day basis and to support the overall work of the organisation.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

National Practitioner Forums and Consortia - in conjunction with lead facilitator, manage the arrangements for the full range of forums and consortia meetings, including setting dates, sending out agendas, formatting and sending out final notes, collating meeting papers, and keeping distribution lists up-to-date.

Support training and development events (Commissioned Training, Conferences and workshops) – in conjunction with Trainer/Consultants, provide administrative support for management of events including: finalising training materials for training booklets, creating and sending out booking forms; logging bookings and maintaining database; preparing attendance certificates for participants at all external events; create , collate and analyse evaluation form returns.

Information Technology – Support staff in their use of IT apps and platforms when they are producing materials or delivering training.

General Administration – Undertake a range of administrative tasks to support the work of the organisation including:

• In conjunction with the Business Support & Finance Manager plan and monitor the action required to run the planned programme of events.
• Telephones - answer the phone and pass messages to staff as appropriate.
• Email - check generic emails and respond / forward messages as appropriate.
• Photocopying – where required, photocopy training materials / meeting papers for all events.
• Banking/Post Office – posting office mail and banking cheques when required.
• Library – maintain database and record when books taken out on loan.
• Take notes at staff meetings.

Scotland’s Adoption Register - provide administrative support to Register staff including support for the running of family finding events when required.

Advice Line Enquiries – record all enquiries, forward to staff, follow up as required, maintain records of completion dates and provide statistical information to Business Support & Finance Manager.

Participation in conferences and other external events – provide administrative support for the running of events as part of the AFKA Scotland team.

Experience

Essential

• A working knowledge of an office environment
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to work on own initiative

Desirable

• Personal or professional experience of the care system
• Experience of working as part of small enterprise or charity

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

• Computer literate in a range of computer processes which must include Microsoft Access, Word, PowerPoint and Excel and have proficient keyboard skills
• Familiarity with Microsoft 365 including MS Teams
• Working knowledge of social media platforms
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and telephone manner
• Ability to collate and analyse information and to produce accurate, well presented documents
• Self-motivating with excellent organisational skills

Attitude and beliefs

Essential

• Positive, problem solving and resourceful
• Clear understanding of the need to maintain confidentiality
• Flexible working approach

Base: Office - 3 days / Home - 2 days (if desired).

Organisational Relationships:Line Managed by the Business Support & Finance Manager / Responsible to the Executive Director.

About Aberlour …

We are a values driven organisation delivering over 40 services across Scotland supporting children, young people and families.

The views of our children, young people and families are critical in shaping the support they receive as well as helping us shape internal polices and influence national policy makers. The rights of children and young people are at the forefront of decision making and policy development in Scotland thanks to the introduction of the Promise and the UNCRC. Our work aims to ensure the voices and views of children and young people we work with are at the centre of decision making and policy development within Aberlour and across Scotland.

What we are looking for...

You will work directly with children and young people, parents and carers, to identify appropriate and accessible ways for them to participate meaningfully in activities designed to help them share their views and experiences.

You will also support staff to ensure that all Aberlour services are able to demonstrate the active and meaningful participation of children, young people and families in decision making, policy making and service planning.

You will have experience of working in a social care environment supporting children and young people and will have an understanding of children and young people’s rights.

Please see the job description on our website for further details about the role along with the required qualification level and knowledge.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme, life assurance worth 3x salary and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.