THIS POSITION IS NOW FILLED

Portsmouth City of Sanctuary (PCoS) is a mainly volunteer-led charity with a very small team of staff, reporting to an experienced Board of Trustees. PCoS seeks to build a culture of welcome, inclusion and support for everyone in the city of Portsmouth and local area, with a focus on those seeking sanctuary. 

The bookkeeping position is a new role for the PCoS Portsmouth Migrant & Refugee Support (PMRS) project, made possible with thanks to the National Lottery. PCoS is at a key stage of development and the PMRS project will sustain and extend our essential service delivery to 1500+ refugees, asylum seekers, vulnerable migrants, and dependents, annually.

Salary: Up to £6,000 per annum, depending on experience.
Hours of work: 7.5 hours per week.
Benefits: Pro rata annual leave of 28 days per annum inclusive of bank holidays.
Contract: Fixed term for 3 years starting April 2024 (subject to passing a three-month probationary period).

Work in Portsmouth, the UK’s only island city with a rich history and a vibrant culture. It has major rail links with direct trains to London and major cities, and crossings to IOW, France and Spain. Portsmouth is easy to get around by foot or via public transport and there is a network of Beryl Bikes and e-scooters to hire.

Make a real difference to people’s lives by joining our enthusiastic and dedicated PCoS team in this new role!  We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in all our practices including recruitment.  If you have specific accessibility requirements to support you in applying or attending an interview, please let us know.  We encourage applications from candidates who may be underrepresented, including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities, and the LGBTQI+ community.

If you’d like to apply, please email a CV and cover letter to [email protected], Subject: Job application – Project Book-keeper, FAO the Chair of Board of Trustees.
Closing date for applications: POSITION FILLED

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for an informal chat if you wish to apply on 07584 293033.

Job Description:

• Ensuring all expense forms are completed correctly and approval has been obtained
• Keeping separate expenses records.
• Recording financial transactions and uploading receipts into the accounting software package – currently using Xero.
• Balancing the accounts each month.
• Ensuring all receipts are filed onto the shared drive.
• Bank reconciliation of all bank accounts and Petty Cash each month.
• Managing Payroll – calculating pay and deductions each month and filing all returns with the Inland Revenue in a timely manner.
• Ensuring all tax and NIC are paid on time each month to Inland Revenue.
• Work closely with the Finance Officer to ensure all month/quarter/year end reports are prepared on time.
• Provide project managers information, for them to manage budget or provider funders with the relevant information.
• Ensuring all financial information is kept for the required period of time and is available for inspection if requested.
• Annual Depreciation/Prepayments and Accruals if required.

Purpose, reporting and location of role:  The post-holder will report to the Project Manager and Finance Officer as it is critical that PMRS budgeting and book-keeping aligns with broader PCoS accounting and Independent Examination (IE).

The post-holder will also assist the Finance Officer to manage the budgets for individual managers and the trustees, and to prepare an annual financial report for the Trustees to approve before sending to the Charity Commission.

Much of the role will be undertaken from home, but also at St. Luke’s Church co-worker space (Greetham St, Portsmouth PO5 4LH), as agreed with the Project Manager. Because of the nature of the work the post-holder will be required to work flexible hours.

About us:  PCoS is an award-winning Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) helping local asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants. A grassroots charity with strong but independent links to the national City of Sanctuary movement. PCoS is non-religious and non-political, existing to further humanitarian aims, mostly via the provision of orientation casework for asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants.

Several existing projects which PCoS delivers, such as Welcome Project, English classes, Wellbeing sports and dance, Haven, Kitchen of Hope, and creative projects, offering sanctuary seekers integration and choice, will link closely to the PMRS project.

Our aim and values:  PCoS aims to uphold the dignity and independence of all clients, regardless of status. The post-holder will naturally align with our ‘compassion, community and choice’ values.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:  PCoS is committed to supporting diversity, encouraging applications from a broad range of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We believe this will strengthen the overall team, promote creativity and innovation, and we are committed to being fair and inclusive.

Person Specification: