ABOUT EAST LOTHIAN COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIP

Community Rail Partnerships (CRP) were first established in England in the 1990s as a formal mechanism to reinvigorate local and rural railways. CRP status provides a framework for community involvement in strategic planning, development and operation of a specific railway line.

Since 2014, the East Lothian Community Rail Partnership has been pulling together a wide range of local organisations with an interest in communities and sustainable transport, to fix the link between railway stations, town centres and the surrounding areas, and realise an integrated transport network accessible to all. We work with four train operators (ScotRail, LNER, TransPennine Express, and Cross Country), Transport Scotland, East Lothian Council, the Regional Transport Partnership (SEStran), local businesses and community groups towards the following aims:

• Supporting the local economy by promoting rail use and rail facilities
• Actively promoting the use of rail and other public and low carbon-emitting transport
• Supporting safety, security and access initiatives relating to railway use
• Working with ‘station adopters’ (individuals and groups) to provide a more pleasant environment within the station areas.

ABOUT THE VACANCY

Harry Barker has been chairing East Lothian CRP since its inception in 2014 and is now preparing to pass on the reins of a well-established and respected organisation. In addition the time is right to expand the Board and also appoint a vice chair. Examples of projects completed to date include:

• restored the murals at Prestonpans Station (best community project 2023)
• improved signage to stations
• provided information boards for display in stations promoting local attractions and historical information
• supported many local events in the North Berwick and Dunbar areas
• producing a line guide and leaflets to encourage tourism
• working with bus operators to improve integration between bus and rail

Projects have always been dependent on external funding which to date has not proved problematical, and, as such, the incoming Chair will have the flexibility to pursue their own agenda. The CRP is financially sound and new ways of operating are being explored by The Community Rail Network and the new Chair will be well placed to provide input to these.

East Lothian CRP has no paid staff, and projects are led by volunteers under direction from the Board, and therefore the amount of work involved can vary but can be expected to be around 10 hours per month for the Chair.

DUTIES OF THE CHAIR

Responsibilities include:

• Ensuring that the CRP is run in accordance with the constitution
• Guiding and encouraging projects that will be undertaken from time to time
• Ensuring that the Action Plan is kept up to date
• Chairing four meetings per year, including the AGM (normally held in November)
• Producing an annual report for the AGM
• Ensuring that the activities of the CRP are within the guidelines produced by the Train Operating Companies in all respects particularly including safely

BENEFITS

You will receive a ‘staff’ rail pass from ScotRail permitting free rail travel throughout Scotland when travelling on ScotRail trains.

Reasonable expenses will be paid if required to travel on other rail services and/or stay overnight.

REQUIREMENTS

The successful applicant will be expected to support public transport in general, with a keen interest in integration between modes such as buses, active travel and rail.

A willingness of Board members to attend committees and conferences is essential (expenses will be covered) and these will give valuable access to professional railway staff and management on the front line, where your views can be heard. These include:

• the local ‘Rail Forum’ involving MSPs, Councillors and Train Operating Companies - twice a year, usually virtually
• in-person or virtual annual conferences of the four local Train Operating Companies (ScotRail, Cross Country Trains, TransPennine Express, and LNER) which may be held anywhere in the UK
• An annual event in Scotland sponsored by Modern Railways magazine which is attended by many high profile railway managers and senior representation from Transport Scotland
• Virtual attendance (via Zoom) at the national Community Rail Network meetings
• In-person Community Rail Networks Awards ceremony, if the CRP is short listed for an Award – this year’s was in Swansea over three days
• Six Community Area Partnership ‘On the Move’ groups consider local transport in East Lothian – CRP representation on one or more of these groups is important for a full appreciation of issues surrounding each station. Each On the Move Group meets every two months

A knowledge of railways and their workings is desirable but not essential.

Living in East Lothian and using the county’s rail services from time to time would be advantageous.

You will be expected to liaise with the station adoption groups from time to time. They have a separate relationship with ScotRail.

You will be expected to be pro-active in instructing the website to be kept up to date via the CRP’s appointed webmaster, and in responding to public enquiries which come via the website. You will not be required to answer complaints from the travelling public but direct these to ScotRail for attention.

From time to time it may be necessary to communicate with the local Press (East Lothian Courier and occasionally Edinburgh Evening News).

Are you experienced Finance leader who’s on the lookout for a fresh new challenge? We could have just the role you are looking for!

We have an exciting opportunity to join Cornerstone as our Head of Finance on a full-time, permanent basis.

Reporting to our Director of Finance, you will be responsible for the management and development of our Finance function, ensuring the provision of accurate, reliable and timely financial information and analysis to support our organisation in its activities. This is a varied role which encompasses many aspects within our Finance department.

Location

This role can be based in any of our main offices (Aberdeen, Dundee or Glasgow), or part of our hybrid working model. If opting for hybrid, we would need you to live within a reasonable commute of Aberdeen, Dundee or Glasgow. There will be occasions that we'll need you to travel to other Cornerstone branch locations (travel expenses will be reimbursed as set out in Cornerstone’s expense policy with travel reimbursed by HMRC legislation).

The Role

As a member of our Senior Leadership Team, you'll contribute to the delivery of Cornerstone's strategic, operational and departmental plans.

You'll assist our Director of Finance to establish and maintain effective financial management and business support to ensure that appropriate financial policies and management information systems are in place to guarantee ongoing stability and growth.

Providing an accounting service to all departments and areas within Cornerstone, you'll combine your accounting skills with effective financial management to provide concise communications to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.

You'll have responsibility for the preparation of monthly financial reporting and monthly written reports analysing performance and mitigation steps where necessary. You'll also support the preparation of annual budgets, monitoring reports, forecasts and annual accounts.

Please see the Role Profile attached to our advert for a full list of duties and responsibilities.

About You

What we'll need you to bring: -

• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline
• Recognised chartered accountancy CCAB qualification
• Knowledge and experience of the legal and charitable framework
• Experience of leading, developing and managing a Finance team to deliver high quality and service within a similar type or size of organisation
• Proven experience in the development and maintenance of financial controls, policies and procedures
• Good analytical and evaluation skills with the ability to understand and carry out complex numerical and financial calculations and analyse data
• The ability to transfer strategy into operational and departmental work plans
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to plan and organise work
• Proven track record of working to tight deadlines and simultaneously managing several initiatives
• The ability to identify quality processes and procedures with the ability to communicate these clearly verbally and in writing

About Us

Established in 1980, Cornerstone is one of Scotland's largest charities with over 40 years' experience providing great care and support for adults and children with various support needs across Scotland.

We operate over 18 local authorities in Scotland and provide a wide range of services to over 2,000 individuals each year. Our focus is to encourage social inclusion, reduce loneliness, and improve health, independence and wellbeing by working closely with the people we support and their families, setting personal goals with them, and ensuring they receive the care and support they need to live the best life possible.

We are always flexible and responsive in meeting the ever changing needs of the people we support and work closely with individuals and families to agree what sort of support will work best for them.

Our strategic aims

• To become an expert provider of services to people with learning disabilities, autism and complex care needs
• To be the best employer in social care in Scotland
• To achieve stability and sustainability which supports future developments.

If you’re up for the challenge and think you have what it takes, then apply today with your CV and cover letter, we'd love to hear from you.

Have any questions? Contact Lynn Wallace, our Director of Finance at lynn.wallace@cornerstone.org.uk.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited along to an interview in person at our Dundee office on Friday 29th November 2024.

The successful candidate will need to undertake a Standard Disclosure check through Disclosure Scotland.