The Lothian Pension Fund administers the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in the Edinburgh and Lothians. It’s Pension Committee determines the overall policy objectives, strategy and operation of it and the Scottish Homes Pension Fund in accordance with relevant legislation and in the best interests of the members and employer bodies within the pension funds.

The Pension Board is made up of five employer and five member representatives, (our key stakeholders) who provide oversight and assist the LPF Pensions Committee in ensuring compliance with Pension legislation and the Pension Regulator code of practice.

We’re looking for applications for two Pensions Board (employer representation). Candidates eligible to apply for the employer representative role must be a member of Lothian Pension (a list of all employers is available onpage 115 of our annual report).

The opportunity

We are looking for applications to join our Pensions Board (as an employer representative): Candidates must a member of Lothian Pension Fund through their employer.

The Pension Board provides oversight and assists the LPF Pensions Committee in ensuring compliance with Pension legislation and the Pension Regulator code of practice.

Members of the Pension Board do not participate in the voting or decision making at Pensions Committee but they have access to all committee papers, attend Pension Committee meetings and have an opportunity to input into discussion and/or consideration of matters by the Pensions Committee as appropriate and assist the committee with regulation and compliance, whilst representing the perspective and insight from LPF’s key stakeholders, our scheme members and employers.

Essential Requirements

Credible experience and qualifications to perform the following duties are highly desirable for the appointed individuals:

• Able to provide independent scrutiny and sound judgement, providing challenge and support to ensure the Committee delivers on its strategic, business, and financial targets
• Uphold high standards of integrity and probity whilst representing the scheme member and employers of the Lothian Pension Fund
• Support the Pension Board chairperson in assisting the committee to instil the appropriate culture, values and behaviours
• Oversight of Pension Committee assurance models and compliance with requirements imposed in relation to the scheme and by the Pension Regulator
• Satisfy yourself on the integrity of financial information and that financial controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible
• Scrutiny of any reports produced for the Pension Committee, including the annual report, fund performance and administration, actuarial report and valuations and the fund strategy
• Devote time to developing and refreshing your knowledge and skills.

This role will provide an ideal opportunity for someone interested in gaining board member/trustee experience.

Time Commitment

You will be expected to devote such time as is necessary for the proper performance Pension Board duties. This will include attendance at Pension Board and Pension Committee meetings (ordinarily held quarterly), as well as a strategic planning session held annually. You will also need to undertake a minimum of 21 hours of training annually. In addition, you will be required to consider all relevant papers before each meeting. Unless urgent and unavoidable circumstances prevent you from doing so, it is expected that you will attend all meetings.

The nature of the role makes it difficult to be more specific about the maximum time commitment. You may be required to devote additional time to the Board in respect of preparation and ad hoc matters which may arise, and particularly when LPF is undergoing a period of increased activity. At certain times it may be necessary to convene additional board meetings.

About the Organisation

Lothian Pension Fund (LPF) administers the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in Edinburgh and the Lothians. We’re asset backed and multi-employer scheme with around £9 billion assets and the second largest LGPS fund in Scotland, serving 9.,000 members and 63 employers.

We also manage the Scottish Homes Pension Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government. This a closed fund and has approx. 1,550 deferred and pensioner members with £0.16 billion investments.

Our investment team is unique in Scotland in holding FCA authorisation. We manage over 85% of assets in-house via internal equity, bond and other real asset portfolios (e.g., infrastructure, property and timberland investments).

We established a regulated investment company providing resourcing, operational support, governance and deal execution for our private markets and gained FCA authorisation in 2015. This enables collaboration with other LGPS funds on investment management, strategic investment advisory, private markets, and listed and indirect property investments.

In March 2017, we became the first UK Local Government pension fund awarded accreditation for the Pensions Administration Standards Association and have held the Customer Service Excellence Award for over ten years.

The day-to-day running of LPF is carried out by a specialist team who undertake pension administration, accounting and investment functions.

LPF colleagues are employed by an arms-length company, LPFE Limited (LPFE), which is wholly-owned by the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC).

East Ayrshire CAB is a progressive and innovative advice organisation providing both generalist advice and specialist casework services. We are seeking an enthusiastic and well-motivated team member with excellent interpersonal skills. The successful applicant will provide Bureau reception services to Cumnock and surrounding community. In addition, the post holder will carry out administrative duties to assist with Bureau operations.

The successful applicant will have experience of working in a public facing role that integrates their excellent customer service skills with IT knowledge and demonstrates a high level of accuracy within their administrative duties.

East Ayrshire CAB is a progressive and innovative advice organisation providing both generalist advice and specialist casework services.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and well-motivated team member with excellent interpersonal skills. The successful applicant will be a highly motivated individual who has recent working knowledge of Money Advice and the Benefit System.

The ability to address the needs of clients seeking help to manage their money and debts.

Recent experience of casework involving multiple debt problems is essential as well as excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Some of your role will involve supporting volunteers and members of staff in the provision of general advice. You must be able prioritise and have good organisational skills.

East Ayrshire CAB is a progressive and innovative advice organisation providing both generalist advice and specialist casework services. We are seeking an enthusiastic and well-motivated team member with excellent interpersonal skills. The successful applicant will support the Corporate Services function with the delivery of a variety of administrative tasks.

The successful applicant will be flexible, highly organised and adaptable to change. Their excellent IT knowledge and skills will assist them to demonstrate a high level of accuracy within their administrative duties.

The post holder will work with the Energy Advice Team Leader to provide specialist and holistic advice on Energy issues. The post holder will need to be organised and work efficiently, providing an excellent service to clients and maintaining quality of advice standards. The post holder will need to be comfortable delivering advice and dealing with clients both by phone and in person.

On occasion the post will be required to represent the bureau in stakeholder engagement in relation to energy advice and associated issues. There may also be opportunities for home visits or attendance at local outreaches, if required to meet the objectives of the projects.

As full training will be provided, this post would suit someone looking for a move into energy advice or would suit a more experienced worker with existing advice experience in energy.

Job description

Key responsibilities

• To provide specialist and holistic advice on energy issues to clients by phone, email or in person.
• To work with the Energy Advice Team Leader to ensure best practice in energy advice and to provide a supportive and collaborative service to volunteers and other bureau staff.
• To ensure compliance with Citizens Advice Scotland Quality of Advice Standards as well as any funder specific guidance.
• To carry an active energy advice caseload and to work effectively and efficiently in order to provide an excellent service to clients while meeting funder objectives.
• To assist the Energy Advice Team Leader to produce project reports as required.

The above job description is not exhaustive and is clarified and intended to include broad duties inherent of the post.

Person specification

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential

• An interest in energy advice work within the charity advice sector
• A good standard of IT literacy (MS Office and other relevant software) and good people skills (in person and by telephone)
• Experience of successfully working on own initiative and managing own workload.
• Ability to identify and action own training needs and to work effectively to enhance continual professional development including keeping up to date with any relevant legislation; procedures; guidance; directives and advice topics.
• An understanding of current concerns around household costs, costs of living issues and fuel poverty.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the aims and principles of the CAB service.
• Completion of the CAB Adviser Training Programme.

Parkhead CAB is seeking applications for a suitably experienced and enthusiastic individual to join our staff team.

The post of Money & Welfare Rights Adviser is a vital post with Parkhead Citizens Advice Bureau. We believe strongly in making a difference for our clients. Our aim is to ensure that no one suffers through lack of knowledge of their rights and entitlements and that equally through social policy action we strive to make long lasting changes for everyone by raising issues with decision makers at a local and National level.

The post holder will contribute to this through providing money, financial capability and welfare rights information, case work and representation.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants a job that makes a real difference to people’s lives. The post holder will be working with colleagues and supporting highly trained volunteers to deliver welfare rights and money advice to our clients. You should have advice delivery experience and thrive on a challenge and assisting your clients to tackle their issues and support them to move forward and plan long-term solutions rather than a quick fix. We believe strongly in delivering a quality advice service in line with the Scottish National Standards. We are also committed to staff and volunteer training and we will ensure that you are fully supported in your role.

Parkhead CAB prides itself in recruiting staff who want to make a positive difference to the lives of those around them. Our priority is to make a welcoming and trusted environment for clients and an enjoyable work place for our staff and volunteers. We believe strongly in our staff wellbeing. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in then we would love to hear from you.

Responsible to: Assistant Manager/ CEO

ESS is based in Edinburgh. We work with the third sector and funders so they can measure and explain their impact, as well as use learning to improve practice and inform policy.

The post involves managing ESS’s external communications (our website, newsletter and social media) to share learning about third sector evaluation and to promote our events and resources. You work with colleagues to create and design resources. You contribute to ESS’s income generation by promoting our services to the sector and to funders.

We want the best candidate for the job, so we will consider candidates who can work 4 days a week (28 hours) or 3 days a week (21 hours). See application pack for details.

Small for All is looking for a highly motivated individual to work alongside our Charity Founder to ensure the smooth running of the charity, in particular the warehouse.

The post holder will provide operational support in the warehouse, including key holding responsibilities, room set-up, cleaning and other tasks to ensure the warehouse runs smoothly. They will also have responsibility for managing our volunteers on a day-to-day basis and dealing with Royal Mail as well as other administration responsibilities.

The position requires a high level of organisational skill, competence in a range of information technology applications such as email and Microsoft Teams and the ability to work well with others.

A full Job Description and Person Specification is available to download below.

Could you be SiMBA’s new Trustee Treasurer?

About Us:

SiMBA Charity is a dynamic and impactful non-profit organisation committed to supporting bereaved parents who lose their baby during pregnancy or around the time of birth. Our team is comprised of passionate individuals who share a common goal – to help parents through their bereavement journey.

Key Responsibilities:

• Financial Oversight: Monitor, support, and report on the organisation's financial health, including budgeting, cash flow management, financial forecasting, annual accounts, and audit.

• Transparency and Compliance: Ensure compliance with financial regulations and transparency in financial reporting to stakeholders.

• Strategic Financial Planning: Collaborate with the team to develop and execute a financial strategy aligned with the organisation's mission and goals.

• Fundraising Support: Work closely with the fundraising team to develop financial strategies that support our fundraising efforts and ensure sustainability.

• Risk Management: Identify and manage financial risks and propose mitigation strategies to protect the organisation's financial interests.

• Financial Reporting: Support the preparation and present financial reports to the board of directors and key stakeholders, providing insights and recommendations.

• Team Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate financial strategies into program planning and execution.

Experience:

• Proven experience in accountancy and financial management in the charity sector.

• Strong understanding of charity financial regulation, compliance and reporting.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Proficiency in financial software and tools (our charity uses Xero).

• Commitment to the organisation's mission and values.

What We Offer:

• An opportunity to drive financial excellence for our organisation.

• Collaborative and supportive environment.

• The chance to make a real impact through your financial expertise.

Argyll & Bute Citizens Advice Bureau (ABCAB) is excited to invite applications from the diverse communities across the region for two new Trustees on our Board of Directors to support the strategic direction and development of the Bureau.

The Bureau is an independent charity that provides free, impartial, and confidential information and advice services across the 2,676 square miles and 26 islands of Argyll & Bute. We offer support on issues ranging from Debt, Benefits, and Welfare rights to Energy, Patient rights, and also Armed Service Advice provision.

The Board are seeking applications from individuals representing the diversity of the Argyll area and are particularly interested in those with skills and experience with working in the Third Sector; working locally and dealing with local issues as well as those with qualified skills in areas such as IT, Business Management and Development, Charity Law, Project Management, Fundraising, Human Resources, Public Relations, Marketing and Strategic Development.

We encourage applications from groups that are under-represented on charity boards, and would welcome approaches from people who have lived experience of issues facing our clients. We particularly would like to hear from people from Black, Asian, or other minority ethnic communities, as well as young and disabled people. You do not need to have board experience to apply, we will support you with tailored training based on your level of experience.

The ideal candidates will be committed to service excellence, raising standards and continuous improvement. They must also embrace bureau values and show a commitment to wider role activity to improve the quality of life of local people in the community.

The Board currently meets bi-monthly and members will also be expected to participate in projects and attend training when required.

The Board of Directors are responsible for:

• Ensuring that good quality advice is given to the public, including ensuring that Citizens Advice Scotland’s membership standards are met
• Deciding what the bureau should aim for, including input into business planning and budgeting
• Controlling the finances of the bureau
• Overseeing the recruitment and selection, management support and training of all paid staff
• Appraising and supporting the Bureau Manager
• Promoting the image of the bureau
• Ensuring that the bureau fully meets its legal obligations under charity, employment and (if relevant) Company Law
• Dealing with complaints about the service

Candidates should be 18 or over and either live or work in our operating area (Argyll & Bute)

What are the benefits to you?

• The role is unpaid, however incurred expenses are reimbursed (e.g. travel, childcare)
• Induction and training tailored to you needs
• Opportunities to make strategic decisions and develop new skills
• Opportunities to network with senior professionals
• Influence to shape innovative projects and highlight public policy issues
• Contribute to supporting the people & communities of Argyll & Bute with a range of pressing advice issues