About People First (Scotland)

People First (Scotland) is the national disabled people’s organisation run by and for people with learning disabilities. Our work is rooted in human rights, equality, and the belief that people with learning disabilities must have full control over their own lives.

We are a member led organisation. Our values guide everything we do:

• Respect for lived experience
• Equality in how we work and how we treat each other
• Inclusion in decision making and leadership
• Human rights at the centre of every action
• Accessibility in communication, processes, and culture

The Finance Officer plays a crucial role in protecting these values by ensuring the organisation is financially secure, transparent, and sustainable.

Role Purpose

Creation of this new role illustrates the focus on two of our Strategic Priorities

Financial stability

And

Secure infrastructure.

This post holder will serve a vital role in support of both.

They will provide information in person and by report to inform the decision-making of directors and committees. This will strengthen existing and developing governance structures.

They will refine existing recording and systems improving effectiveness of those without removal of or risk to the established practice which crucially supports member-led control and ownership.

They will work directly with the auditor or other professional contacts as required. They will extract and provide timely and accurate financial details to support reporting to funders by the wider team.

The information they generate will contribute directly to committee and Board of trustee financial updates. In so doing ensure that internal decision makers have a full, accurate and up to date awareness of financial balances, forecasts on spending and information to support timely planning.

Their work will inform the financial aspects of future grant applications and maintain awareness of all the appropriate dates on expected income change.

Production of quarterly management accounts, salary payment checks and everyday expenses is included in the role.

This best serves the purpose and recognises the skills that this postholder will bring from day one.

These contributions strengthen this organisation’s sound financial process, improving transparency of member decision makers’ priorities.

This is not a development or project delivery role. It informs both in partnership with fellow team members but the focus is entirely on finance.

It will supply clear information to illustrate and evaluate all development activity and our charitable purpose.

The postholder will benefit from team support to identify the appropriate structures or specific team members to approach in order to generate, develop and provide information to populate funding reports and applications for future funding.

The role safeguards the organisation’s resources and ensures that our work continues to be led by and for people with learning disabilities.