Finance Officer

Job Title: Finance Officer
Basis of appointment: Full-time (38.5 hours per week)
Duration of contract: Permanent
Reports to: Senior Financial Accountant
Location: London (UK) - hybrid working
Salary: £33,900 per annum
Start Date: As soon as possible

Are you our new Finance Officer?

We are currently looking for a Finance Officer to join our team on a permanent basis. We are seeking a resilient, organised and self-motivated Finance Officer that has an exceptional eye for detail to join us and contribute to the effective management of our financial operations at UWC International.
This role is ideal for an individual with a passion for finance, who has started their studies and career in this field with a proactive approach to learning and problem-solving. The Finance Department is a small team, working closely with the Senior Financial Accountant, providing essential support to this key area, in which you will be able to be involved in a broad range of financial responsibilities that will allow you to learn and grow your skills.

About us

Changing the world takes passion and dedication

UWC is a global family of schools with a powerful difference. With a shared goal of working towards global peace and sustainability, we bring together young people from around the world to study in one of our eighteen schools on four continents. There they don’t just learn how to be great at passing exams. They learn how to communicate across cultural boundaries. They develop the skills to be a changemaker. They design and engage in initiatives that transform their lives and the lives of those around them for the better.
Our students go on to become leaders in politics, NGOs, social enterprises, community movements, charities, and business. For life, they remain dedicated to the UWC mission and many of them remain in close contact with us, their school, and their peers, becoming part of a global community of over 60,000 changemakers transforming the lives of others.

About UWC International.

The UWC International Office serves as the operational arm of UWC International, a UK-registered and
Germany-registered charity, and stands as a pivotal entity within the UWC movement. Positioned in central
London and Berlin, it collaborates extensively with stakeholders across the UWC spectrum, actively engages a robust alumni community comprising more than 60,000 members, and fulfils essential functions for UWC International's governance bodies. Our primary duties encompass global fundraising initiatives, comprehensive communications strategies, promotional endeavours, support for the network of over 150 UWC national committees, global strategy development and implementation, and support services to the UWC schools.

What we offer

As part of a commitment to our employees, we offer the following:

• Generous holiday allowance – 28 days per year plus eight public holidays (pro rata for part-time or fixed-term contracts).
• The standard working hours are 38.5 per week. Start and finish times can be agreed between managers and employees. We support flexible working and are happy to discuss different working patterns.
• We offer up to two days per year for volunteering and up to two days per year for study leave.
• We offer a health and well-being support package, which includes income protection, an employee assistance programme, advice and legal support helpline, remote GPs access, medical second opinions, mental health support, physiotherapy, cycle to work and a well-being calendar featuring podcasts and webinars.
• Perks and discounts portal, which provides a range of discounts across shopping, dining, lifestyle, and entertainment. With thousands of offers on hundreds of top retailers.
• Contributory pension scheme, UWC International currently contributes up to 8% of the employee’s gross salary, and the employee must match the percentage of up to 8% of their gross salary. The minimum contribution rate is 4%. This applies to everyone aged 22 and above but under state retirement age, earning at least £10,000 p.a. and classed as working in the UK.

Visa requirements

Anyone who applies to work at UWC International in London must have a work visa before starting employment, in compliance with the relevant immigration rules. Please provide confirmation of your eligibility to indefinitely work and reside in the UK in your application. Any offers of employment made by UWC International will be subject to a right-to-work check or your immigration status.

Application Process

Do you want to be part of our team? To apply, please complete the application form provided and submit an up to date copy of your CV along with a cover letter in English (each a maximum of 2 pages).

Your cover letter must:

• Outline your experience, skills and competencies against the Person specification section in the attached Job Description.
• Explain why you want to join UWC International
• Provide confirmation of your eligibility to work and reside in the UK.
• Provide the name and contact details of two professional referees, including their job title, email address and the capacity in which you are known to them. References are taken up prior to the second round interviews. We will not contact your referees without first letting you know.

Please note that CVs received without a Cover Letter, including the information requested above will not be considered.

Deadline for application: 23.59 (UK time) on Sunday, 5 January 2025

Interview and/or assessment dates:
➢ First round interviews and assessment on 14 and 15 January 2025 (remote)
➢ Second round interviews on 21 and 22 January 2025

For further information on this opportunity, please see the detailed job description attached. 

Safeguarding Statement

The job holder might have to travel to UWC schools and colleges. Therefore, a Basic DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service) or international equivalent will be required before any job offer is made. We will also take up references before the second stage of the interview process. Referees will not be contacted without your consent.

Diversity Statement

UWC places deliberate diversity at the heart of our educational model because of its critical importance in our mission ‘to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future’.

At the UWC International Office, we believe this commitment to deliberate diversity must be reflected within our team, organisational practices, policies and culture. We recognise people with different backgrounds, skills, attitudes and experiences bring fresh ideas and perceptions, and we encourage and leverage these differences to make our work more relevant and accessible.

We will not discriminate or tolerate discriminatory behaviour on any grounds such as, but not limited to, race, gender, disability, nationality, national or ethnic origin, religion or belief, marital/partnership or family status, sexual orientation, age or socioeconomic background.

We strive to be an inclusive workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging, has a voice, can raise concerns, and feels comfortable and confident. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment and to act accordingly as we aspire best to serve the UWC mission and our global community. It is an ongoing journey and we welcome all those ready to travel with us.