Job Description
Finance and Corporate Services Officer
Location:
Brighton, with occasional travel to London
Salary:
£21,000 p/a pro rata, 3 days per week (flexible hours
possible with negotiation)
Contract:
12 month fixed term contract
Responsible to:
Finance and Corporate Services Manager
Background to the organisation
Renewable World is the international non-profit organization of the Renewable Energy
Industry. We stimulate market based development of affordable, reliable renewable energy
services for some of the poorest people in the world. The organization focuses on working
with the “poorest of the poor” i.e. those who presently cannot afford or are not serviced by
private energy providers, and are most impacted by climate change. As a result of our
unique relationship with the Renewable Energy Industry we are ideally positioned to
leverage skills, knowledge and resources from the sector and supply chain to tackle poverty
and reduce vulnerability of populations who typically live on less than $2/day.
Additionally we provide support to poor populations to enable them to optimize the
opportunities presented by the provision of energy. We have carefully analyzed the role that
sustainable energy services can play in alleviating poverty, by exploring both consumptive
and productive uses of energy. This ensures both an improvement in basic services and
stimulus to local economies through increased incomes. Renewable energy services are also
used to improve the quality of and access to education and healthcare, providing a strong
foundation for an economically active population.
We aim to reduce the gap between poor potential consumers and a functioning market. We
see building business skills and encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit as critical to achieving
the long-term success of changes propagated by access to affordable renewable energy
services. Functioning, sustainable micro enterprises lie are at the heart of our work and a
critical to ensuring the long term sustainable of the poverty alleviation impacts.
We have a strong focus on sustainability and replication, closely examining the impact of
social, financial, technical, environmental and organizational sustainability on the long term
development of the energy generation businesses. We work with small-scale renewable
energy systems (wind, solar, hydro and biogas) which are excellently suited to meet the
specific needs of poor off-grid consumers.
1
We provide partners with access to expertise and skills e.g. business modeling, cash flow
analysis, ownership and management advice and technical skills etc. to reduce barriers to
business development and enhance the sustainability of impact of the small scale renewable
energy businesses which are established. We promote the effective use of energy for
productive purposes to enhance income generation opportunities and local enterprise
development to kick start market processes.
Over the last two years Renewable World has significantly increased the scale and quality of
our programme work. We work hand-in-hand with local partners in East Africa, South Asia
and Central America to build their capacity in terms of business development, institution
strengthening and technical skills.
Main duties and responsibilities
Financial
1. Processing and checking of purchase invoices and cheque requests
2. Preparation of client invoices
3. Checking staff expense claims (and providing advice to staff as required)
4. Inputting all financial transactions in the accounting software (Quickbooks)
5. Attending to banking matters including deposits and encashment
6. Maintaining petty cash float
7. Assisting the Finance and Corporate Services Manager with other financial tasks as
necessary
8. Maintenance of fixed asset register
Office Management and delivery of administrative support
1. Provide input and support the development of appropriate administrative systems
necessary to improve organisational processes
2. Ensure the maintenance of a suitable office environment in accordance with the
terms of the lease, liaising with the landlord and other tenants as necessary.
2
3. Supervise and negotiate contracts for the smooth running of the office including
cleaning, security, telephones, replacement/additions to office furniture and
equipment.
4. Support with general office running such as post, recycling, ordering stationary etc.
5. Ensure the functionality, availability and security of the organisation’s IT systems,
liaising with the external IT contractors providing outsourced support, as
appropriate. Recommend purchase of additional/replacement IT equipment as
required.
6. Coordinate the organisation’s annual retreat
7. Support administration of recruitment processes
8. Coordinate the annual objective and appraisal process, using our online
performance management software
9. Ensure HR records are kept in line with data protection requirements and
organisational needs and that all staff have up-to-date and consistent contracts.
Person Specification
Experience, skills and competences
Essential
 Have experience working in a finance department and office management
 Advanced excel skills
 Strong numerical and organizational skills
 Demonstrable ability to input into finance systems
 Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrable success building, maintaining and
progressing relationships within and between organizations.
 Good organisational and coordination skills with proven ability to prioritize and
control a demanding workload and work effectively under pressure to meet tight
deadlines
 Excellent IT skills across Microsoft Office
 Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English
Desirable


Experience of working with Quickbooks
Experience of working in the development sector
3
Attitude and approach
Essential






Highly collaborative in nature
Resilient and with the ability to think creatively to overcome challenges and
effectively engage with new situations
Flexible, keen to learn and hard worker
Able to work independently while being a team player and strong communicator
An analytical and methodical approach
Willingness to undertake a range of tasks
Terms and Conditions
Salary:
£21,000 p/a
Hours of Work:
Part-time, 24 hours per week. Flexibility can be negotiated
in regards to working hours.
Annual Leave:
Leave year runs January to December. Full time staff are
entitled to 24 days holiday per annum plus all bank holidays.
In addition the office is closed between Christmas and New
Year and staff are awarded these three days as additional
holiday
Benefits:
After successful completion of the probationary period, staff
are entitled to join the Renewable World Pension Scheme.
Renewable World will contribute 3% of salary, with no
contribution from the employee. Renewable World will also
contribute an additional 2% (total 5%), as long as this is
matched by an employee contribution of 2%
Place of work:
Our office is currently located in Brighton but is likely to
relocate at some point in the next two years to central
London. Some office capacity may remain in Brighton at that
point in the future
Term:
There will be a three month probationary period upon
successful completion of which, the contract will be
confirmed
Application Procedure
To apply, please send us:
1. An application letter which should include (amongst other things): a summary of
why you are applying for this role; how you meet the person specification
requirements; and what, in particular, you would bring to Renewable World.
2. A copy of your current CV.
4
3. The names, positions and contact details of at least two referees, including your
current or most recent employer. No contact will be made with any referee in
advance of an offer being made, without your prior approval.
Send your application to jobs@renewable-world.org for the attention of Rob Bartlett,
Finance and Corporate Services Manager
If you would like an informal conversation about this position in advance of your application,
please contact Rob Bartlett on 01273 234801 (Renewable World main line).
Closing Date:
1st Interview:
02/06/2013
11/06/2013
5