At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage finance and operations for a leading immigration law charity, ensuring compliance and efficiency.
- Company: Join ILPA, a respected charity advocating for fair immigration practices.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Dynamic role in a small team, perfect for hands-on finance professionals.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission-driven team impacting immigration law and supporting vulnerable communities.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in non-profit finance, with strong skills in fund accounting and operational management.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 40000 £ per year.
Organisation: ILPA
Location: Hybrid- one day per week (currently Tuesday) in London
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Salary: £40,000 per annum (FTE) pro rata, depending on experience and qualifications
Contract Type: 3/4 days a week, permanent
About Us: The Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) is a professional association and registered charity, the majority of whose members are barristers, solicitors, advocates and IAA regulated advisers practising in all aspects of immigration, asylum and nationality law. ILPA currently has approximately 4500 individual member contacts. Founded in 1984 by leading practitioners in the field, ILPA exists to promote and improve advice and representation in immigration, asylum and nationality law, through an extensive programme of training and disseminating information and by providing research and opinion that draw on the experiences of members. Our vision is a fair and effective immigration system that respects human rights and the rule of law. We realise this by empowering members to provide the best possible advice and support for migrants and collaboratively working to improve law, policy and practice. ILPA is represented on numerous Government, official and non-Governmental advisory groups and regularly provides high-level evidence to Parliamentary and official enquiries. ILPA is at the forefront of engagement with the Home Office, NGOs and other Government departments. To our members, ILPA is a community where they come to share knowledge, keep up to date with changes and receive high-quality training to enable them to practise effectively. Members also rely on ILPA to be their voice in seeking change for the better to immigration, asylum and nationality law and practice.
Role Purpose: As a dual-registered charity and Company Limited by Guarantee with an annual income of c. £750,000, we are seeking a Finance and Operations Officer. This is a vital “sole-charge” finance role within a team of 12. You will take full ownership of our day-to-day transactional accounting, ensure compliance with both the Charity Commission and Companies House, and help keep operations running efficiently. You will bridge the gap between technical accounting and everyday charity management, providing the CEO and Board of Trustees with the clear financial insights needed to plan our future.
Key Responsibilities:
- Financial Management and Compliance
- Fund Accounting: Track, segment and report on restricted grant funding alongside unrestricted income stream using data from accounting platforms.
- Transactional Finance: Manage day-to-day book-keeping using accounting software (e.g. Approval Max, QuickBooks), including processing invoices, expense claims, bank reconciliations, and supplier payments.
- Budgeting & Cash Flow: Collaborate with the CEO to construct the annual organisational budget and budget reforecasts; overall responsibility for cash flow using data from accounting platforms.
- Audit Preparation: Lead and coordinate the year-end independent financial examination or statutory audit process, acting as the primary point of contact for external auditors.
- Income Generation: Assist CEO prepare grant funding applications, reports to funders, develop and maintain transparent data of grant funded income to ensure continuity of funding and consistent cash flow.
- Operations & Payroll
- Payroll & Pensions: Oversee the monthly payroll (which is mainly outsourced). Paycircle our existing platform makes the calculations and payments of salary, tax and pension.
- Office & IT Facilities: Oversee all operational requirements of our premises, manage relationships with facilities vendors, utilities, and coordinate IT/digital infrastructure, software and facilities.
- Procurement & Supplier Management: Oversight and responsibility for procurement processes, develop and maintain supplier register and repository, review vendor and supplier contracts, negotiate commercial terms, and ensure value for money across all spending.
- Governance & Risk Management
- Dual-Regulatory Filings: Complete and submit accurate annual returns and statutory updates required by both the Charity Commission and Companies House.
Person Specification:
- Experience & Knowledge
- Charity Finance Expertise: A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar role, ie non-profit finance role, with demonstrated expertise in fund accounting, restricted grants, and Gift Aid.
- Operational Generalist: Proven track record of handling practical operational environments, such as small-team HR payroll management and administration, basic IT coordination, procurement/supplier oversight, or facilities tracking.
- Small-Team Adaptability: Experience working as a sole-charge finance professional or within a small team (under 20 staff), proving a willingness to be a “hands-on doer” as well as independent.
- Skills & Competencies
- Technical Software Literacy: Proficiency with modern cloud accounting systems (ideally Approval Max, QuickBooks) and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
- Financial Communication: Ability to translate dense financial data and balance sheets into clear insights for the CEO to utilise.
- Attention to Detail: Transactional data entry, financial reporting, and timeline management for compliance filings.
Finance and Operations Officer, Immigration Law Practitioners' Association employer: ILPA company
The Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (ILPA) is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that values diversity and empowers its employees to make a meaningful impact in the field of immigration law. With opportunities for professional growth and development, ILPA fosters a collaborative environment where team members can thrive while contributing to a fair and effective immigration system. Located in London, the hybrid working model allows for flexibility, ensuring a healthy work-life balance while engaging with a passionate community dedicated to social justice.
