Established in 1936 and one of Scotland’s leading wildlife bodies, the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club is a registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) with some 3500 members. Its purpose is to advance the study and appreciation of birds in Scotland by promoting their documentation, promoting interest in them, promoting their conservation, providing a focus for information about them and encouraging the appreciation of relevant creative arts.

The Club’s headquarters, which also feature a renowned ornithology library, wildlife art gallery and sales outlet, are in Aberlady, East Lothian. Fifteen nationwide Branches are led by members who organise events, outings and projects in their areas. Staff contribute a national series of events, conferences and training activities for members of all ages. Publications include the highly regarded quarterly journal Scottish Birds, mobile app (Where to Watch Birds in Scotland), regional bird reports, e-newsletters and other online media.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Treasurer is a key member of the SOC Council and serves as a trustee of the Charity, with all the associated duties and responsibilities. More details on these responsibilities can be found in the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) guidance for charity trustees: OSCR Guidance.

While professional qualifications are not required, the role requires an interest in the financial operations of the SOC and a broad understanding of financial requirements for charities in Scotland.Further details on the role can be found here.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Elected at the SOC AGM (usually in November) for an initial two-year term, with re-election every two years.
• Provides financial advice and guidance to staff and branch officials as needed.
• Attends Council and Management Committee meetings (each held four times per year) and presents a written financial update at each.
• Convenes and chairs Finance Committee meetings (3–4 per year), reporting recommendations to Council.
• Attends the Club’s AGM (usually in November) to present the End-of-Year Accounts.
• Meets with Brewin Dolphin (SOC’s investment managers) at least annually to review investments and assess risk levels.
• Works with Council to maintain and update SOC’s Investment Policy, including setting reserve levels.
• Regularly liaises with the Finance Officer to ensure smooth financial operations.
• May be consulted on HR issues and trustee induction.
• Out-of-pocket expenses incurred on SOC business are reimbursed.
• SOC FINANCIAL PROCESSES
• The SOC Council has collective responsibility for the Club’s finances.
• The Finance Committee oversees financial strategy and budgeting, meeting 3–4 times a year. It consists of the Treasurer, the Finance Officer, and two other members.
• SOC’s financial year runs from April to March.
• SOC uses Xero for bookkeeping, holds accounts with the Royal Bank of Scotland, and has investments managed by Brewin Dolphin.
• Two staff members, the Treasurer, and a past President (from the Lothian branch) currently have signatory responsibility, with protocols ensuring that transactions over a specified amount require two signatures.
• The Finance Officer manages day-to-day accounting and banking procedures.
• The Treasurer provides financial updates and forecasts to the Council and the Management Committee at each meeting, working closely with the Finance Officer.
• The Treasurer, Finance Officer, and Independent Financial Examiner (currently Whitelaw Wells) oversee the end-of-year financial process, culminating in the submission of the independently examined accounts to OSCR.
• The Club’s core income sources include membership subscriptions, events, sales, commission from artwork sales, and legacies. Legacy income is highly variable, requiring careful financial planning.
• SOC branches maintain some financial independence but provide annual financial summaries to SOC.

Our current Treasurer will remain in position until November 2025.

About us

For 60 years, the Scottish Wildlife Trust has worked with its members, partners and supporters in pursuit of its vision of healthy, resilient ecosystems across Scotland’s land and seas. The Trust successfully champions the cause of wildlife through policy and campaigning work, demonstrates best practice through practical conservation and innovative partnerships, and inspires people to take positive action through its education and engagement activities. It also manages a network of over 100 wildlife reserves across Scotland and is a member of the UK-wide Wildlife Trusts movement.

As a member of our Finance department, you will;

• Provide organisation- wide support to ensure smooth operation of all finance matters in compliance with Trust policies.
• Demonstrate and champion effective internal financial controls throughout the organisation.
• Process purchase and sales invoices.
• Support and assist Finance Manager in preparation of month-end and year- end accounts.
• Manage BACS payment run.

The candidate will ideally;

• Have at least one year of relevant accounting experience.
• Hold an HNC/HND in relevant subjects.
• Have a positive attitude toward the objectives and values of The Scottish Wildlife Trust.

For full details of the role, please download the job description from the documents section below.

What we offer:

• Salary sacrifice schemes, including Cycle to Work & Pension schemes.
• We have always been hugely flexible in our approach to how you wish to work and continue to offer a flexible approach.
• One Wellness Hour per week
• Enhanced Pension rate upon completion of probation
• Sick Pay Allowance
• Enhanced Maternity/ Paternity Leave
• Training and Development

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a proud equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all candidates irrespective of their background. We are committed to helping to make the world of nature conservation as inclusive as possible, as we believe there should be no barriers to being involved, and that champions and role models from every part of society will be vital in helping to reverse the loss of biodiversity.

About Options Fife Lochwood Park

Aberlour Options Fife - Lochwood Park service, based in Kingseat, is a forever home for one young man who has complex needs. Our service is a safe space for not only our young man but for his family to spend meaningful time. Although there can be behaviours that challenge, it is the small steps of progress that this young person makes daily that makes our work meaningful. We are looking for someone to join our small team, who is a patient and understanding person. These are key skills for this role.

What we are looking for....

As someone who has built up experience working in residential childcare, you will have the confidence to guide and direct the provision of care for our young person.

When on shift, you will play a lead role, mentoring and supporting staff and being a role model, delivering excellence in the services we provide. You will assist in assessing, planning and delivering services, taking responsibility for ensuring that assessment and interventions are prepared, monitored and evaluated.

Engaging positively with our Young Person and their family you will plan and implement appropriate suppor. Sensitive and accurate reporting is a key responsibility and so you will have good written communication skills and the ability to learn how to use effectively, Aberlour’s recording system: Dynamics.

This role offers the opportunity to consolidate and build on your experience combined with the ability to enhance your skills and knowledge through training, for example, in Dyadic Developmental Practice.

As part of the management team you will play an active role in ensuring that shift duties are delegated and completed in accordance with service guidance. You will work 2 x 7.5 hour shifts per week as part of a Residential Rota.

Overnight sleep ins are part of the role, alongside an awake member of night staff.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. Aberlour’s values are critical and drive everything we do. We will be looking for someone who can demonstrate how Aberlour’s values of Respect, Innovation, Integrity and Challenge will be visible in their practice. You must be comfortable working in an environment where Aberlour’s values are lived in practice.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

This is an exciting time to join Venture Trust as we continue to develop, embed and grow our teams, and apply our developmental approach in communities, in greenspaces and across Scotland’s wilder places.

Venture Trust supports people facing challenging life circumstances to overcome barriers and realise their potential. We work alongside people who have been impacted by trauma, and together we build the programme they need to move forwards in their journey, utilising in communities, greenspaces and wild places across Scotland.

About this role

We have an exciting opportunity for a new Outreach and Support Worker to join our team for a fixed-term period of two years. This role will be working across West Central Scotland and we are particularly keen to hear from applicants living in Forth Valley, North Lanarkshire and Glasgow. You will be the first person our participants meet, so knowledge of services within this area would be beneficial.

You’ll be a caring, dynamic and driven person, dedicated to levelling the playing field and equipping people with the tools they need to thrive. You’ll be comfortable and confident working autonomously alongside people with complex lives.

Working across your area and in the Scottish wilderness, you’ll provide bespoke and holistic 1:1 support for participants, spending time to get to know them, their strengths and where they want to go. You’ll help to shape their journeys, navigating 1:1, community and wilderness journey support, always harnessing the benefits of the outdoors and nature spaces to provide therapeutic benefit. You will prepare participants for wilderness journeys and support them to develop employability skills.

We need you to work closely with referrers and partners to provide joined up support for participants, managing the differing needs of your case load, including working with young people and adults.

As an Outreach and Support Worker, you will:

• Have knowledge of services in the area that you will deliver (i.e. Glasgow and West Central Scotland)
• Deliver group activities outdoors in community greenspaces
• Provide one-to-one support for participants, identifying and removing barriers to participation and supporting towards their individual goals
• Maintain positive relationships with stakeholders, generating referrals for all programmes
• Promote Venture Trust within local communities
• Support the delivery of wilderness journey opportunities in Scotland’s wilder places
• Work closely with referral partners and any other stakeholders to provide joined up support for participants
• Work within a team structure with hybrid working arrangements

For the full job description of this role, please see below.

Working at Venture Trust

We offer a range of generous benefits including:

• a generous annual leave entitlement (28 days annual leave plus public holidays and 3 Christmas holidays)
• an employee benefits package
• flexible and hybrid working
• a joint contributory pension scheme