Area Giving and Finance Adviser (Stepney)

Job Summary 

The purpose of the Area Giving and Finance Adviser role is to provide comprehensive finance support to churches within the Stepney Area, aiding them in the development of their ministries, manage Common Fund giving and to support the Area Bishop’s staff team in the management of resources including monitoring clergy post numbers, curate funding, and other financial matters. As part of a small team of Area Giving and Finance Advisers, the role involves offering training, resources, and advice on parish financial management and administration, and advice on various giving methods, including online and contactless options. Additionally, the role entails promoting generous giving through training initiatives, facilitating the award of grants and loans to churches from Area funds, and fostering effective communication and relationship-building between the Area team, Finance team, and parish officers. 

Job responsibilities 

Financial support  

• Enable churches to develop their respective ministries, manage their finances effectively, and meet their statutory responsibilities.  

• Provide finance and other appropriate training, support, resources and advice to the clergy, PCCs and parish officers.  

• Assist the Bishop, Archdeacons and Area Deans in managing Common Fund giving by the churches in the Area.  

• Facilitate and monitor the award of grants and loans to churches from Area funds.  

• Support the Area Bishop’s staff team and Area Council in monitoring the use of Area resources, including post numbers, curate funding and other matters.  

Giving  

• Supporting parishes to encourage a culture of generosity and giving. 

• Promote generous giving through training, preaching and providing resources to clergy and parish officers.  

• Support the introduction of different methods of giving, including online, contactless, and Parish Giving Scheme.  

Relationship management  

• Build relationships with, and promote effective communication between, the Area team, Finance team, parish officers and the other Area Finance Advisers.  Work with the National Giving Team on projects that support parish ministry.  

Other duties  

• The role will require regular evening and weekend working.  

• Complete other duties commensurate of the role. 

Please refer to the attached Job Description for the full details on the main responsibilities. 

Person Specification 

Essential 

• Experience of encouraging charitable giving.   

• Experience managing a wide variety of professional relationships. 

• Educated to A Level or equivalent standard. 

• IT proficiency (MS Office suite). 

• Fluency in spoken English and ability to communicate clearly in English. 

• Understanding of the ethos and mission of the Church of England, and of the role of parish clergy. 

• Effective written and oral communication skills. 

• Numerate and financially astute – comfortable working with financial data. 

• Strong administrative skills, including use of Microsoft Office. 

• Self-motivated, as work needs to be undertaken proactively and with limited supervision. 

• Attention to detail – accurate and efficient. 

• Strong interpersonal skills, including relationship building and discretion. 

• Christian faith with empathy to the mission and values of the Church of England. 

• Right to work in the UK. 

• The person will not require a DBS check. 

Desirable 

• Experience of charity accounting (accounting qualifications are not a requirement).   

• Educated to degree level. 

Please refer to the attached Job Description for the full details on Person Specification. 

About the London Diocesan Fund 

The London Diocesan Fund (LDF) is the employment body that serves and supports the Diocese of London and Church of England. The Diocese of London comprises of c400 parishes north of the River Thames and within the M25 motorway. 

The Church of England in London is growing, vibrant and at the heart of communities throughout the capital. At the London Diocesan Fund we seek to do everything we can to support this mission and growth, using our resources to help our parishes and chaplains to serve over 4 million people. 

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion 

The Diocese of London is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce which represents our context and wider community. 

We are aware that those of Global Majority Heritage/United Kingdom Minority Ethnic (GMH/UKME), women, and disabled people are currently under-represented among our clergy and workforce, and we particularly encourage applications from those with the relevant skills and experience that will increase this representation. 

Safeguarding 

The Diocese of London is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. 

Benefits of working with us 

The LDF offers a supportive working environment, opportunity for career development and the following financial benefits: 

• Competitive remuneration package 

• 27 annual leave days to rise to 30 after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays 

• 15% employer pension contribution and salary sacrifice available 

• Death in service benefit x3 of basic gross salary 

• Enhanced maternity leave of six months full pay, after 12 months’ of employment 

• Season ticket loans of public transport 

• Access to Benenden Health Insurance 

• EAP counselling through Health Assured                                

• Up to £100 for eye test and contribution to spectacles                          

• Two additional paid days for community volunteering 

The closing date for applications is 16th March 2025. First-round interviews will be held on Tuesday, 25th March.