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To assist the Practice Manager with the administrative, financial and human resource aspects of the practice and to provide a first point of contact for internal and external communications as necessary.
Key Responsibilities:
- Being a first point of contact for the practice with regards to post, email and telephone enquires; dealing with all enquiries in a friendly and professional manner ensuring messages are passed on and followed up, as necessary.
- Using a range of office software and in association with the Practice Manager developing and implementing new administration systems as required to support the efficient running of the practice.
- Day to day management and reconciliation of bank accounts, credit cards and employee expense accounts
- Day to day management of both sales and purchase ledgers including accurate data entry, payments, and credit control.
- Assisting the Practice Manager with maintenance of HR and payroll systems for the practice
- Liaising with clients, customers, and suppliers as necessary and appropriate for the role
- Supporting the Practice Manager with the facilities requirements of the offices as required
- Assisting with data protection issues as required
- Acting as PA to the Managing Director and Senior Team members as required
- Any other reasonable duties that may contribute to the support and growth of the business.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
- Flexibility and adaptability to manage changing workloads and situations.
- Experience of working in a busy office environment in a similar role.
- Time management skills with the ability to prioritise work, as necessary.
- Ability to work as a team or alone and to take responsibility for own actions.
- Professional and confident with good attention to detail and accurate data entry skills.
- Experience and knowledge of standard Microsoft Office applications.
- Experience of the day-to-day management of sales and purchase ledgers, petty cash, and bank reconciliations.
Desirable:
- Project management skills
- Understanding/knowledge of H&S as it pertains to the office environment
- Understanding of GDPR
- Previous experience of facilities management
- Knowledge and experience of Xero accounting systems
- Knowledge and experience of using Moneysoft Payroll Manager
- Knowledge and experience of NEST pensions
- Knowledge and experience of using BreatheHR or similar HR management system
Benefits
Salary: £19,000 to £24,000 per annum FTE (depending upon experience
Hours of Work: 20 hours per week (flexible)
Holidays: 25 days plus public holidays increasing to a maximum of 30 days plus public holidays with service (FTE).
An additional day’s holiday is awarded on your birthday, or nearest working day, each year.
Pension: NEST Workplace Pension Scheme (contributions in line with current legislation).
Training and Development: Linked to the business plan and personal CPD requirements including payment of applicable professional membership subscriptions.
Annual Bonus Scheme: Practice and performance related (not guaranteed).
Volunteer Scheme: One paid day per month allowed for volunteering with a national charity or not-for-profit community group.
Health Related: Sight tests and glasses if required for DSE (display screen equipment) work (in line with current legislation).
How to apply
In the first instance please email [email protected] to arrange an informal discussion about the role, or alternatively to request an information pack.
Closing date: 19th April 2021
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Accountable for the strategic development and daily management of the routine administration, financial and human resource management of the company.
Key Responsibilities:
- Managing and developing a small range of commercial office software/applications and new administration and financial systems and processes as required to support the efficient running of the practice.
- In conjunction with the Managing Director and Senior Management team, producing annual budgets and forecasting against those budgets regularly to ensure the practice maintains profitability.
- Producing insightful financial reports including management accounts and statutory end of year financial reports as required for legislative reporting.
- Responsibility for producing and reporting quarterly VAT returns as required.
- Liaising with clients and suppliers as necessary and appropriate for the role.
- Managing the monthly payroll including all pension and HMRC reporting requirements.
- Managing the insurance and facilities requirements of the offices and liaising with landlords as required.
- Managing the development and implementation of HR processes and procedures as required to support the practice and its employees.
- Managing both sales and purchase ledgers including data entry, payments, and credit control.
- Taking overall responsibility for H&S in the offices.
- Taking responsibility for GDPR as it relates to the clients, suppliers, and employees of the practice.
- Proactively contributing to the strategic direction of the practice through involvement with the Senior Management Team, and any other reasonable duties that may contribute to the support and growth of the business.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Relevant accountancy qualification (ACA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent) or extensive and proven experience in a management accountancy role
- Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
- Proven ability to manage the administrative requirements of a busy office/consultancy
- Flexibility and adaptability to manage changing workloads and situations with a can-do attitude and strong problem solving skills
- Time management skills with the ability to prioritise work as necessary
- Proven experience of working at a strategic level within an ethical business environment
- Ability to work as a team and to take responsibility for own actions
- Professional and confident with good attention to detail
- Previous experience of managing a small team
- Strong financial acumen with experience and knowledge of managing sales and purchase ledgers, petty cash, bank reconciliations, VAT and credit card management and reconciliation
- Experience of running and maintaining a payroll system including managing pension auto enrolment and HMRC reporting
Desirable:
- Project management skills
- Understanding/knowledge of H&S as it pertains to the office environment
- Previous experience of facilities management
- Knowledge and experience of Xero accounting systems
- Knowledge and experience of using Moneysoft Payroll Manager
- Knowledge and experience of NEST pensions
- Knowledge and experience of using BreatheHR or similar HR management system
- Proven experience of developing and implementing HR processes and procedures
Benefits
Salary: £28,000 to £38,000 per annum FTE (depending upon experience
Hours of Work: 20 hours per week (flexible)
Holidays: 25 days plus public holidays increasing to a maximum of 30 days plus public holidays with service (FTE).
An additional day’s holiday is awarded on your birthday, or nearest working day, each year.
Pension: NEST Workplace Pension Scheme (contributions in line with current legislation).
Training and Development: Linked to the business plan and personal CPD requirements including payment of applicable professional membership subscriptions.
Annual Bonus Scheme: Practice and performance related (not guaranteed).
Volunteer Scheme: One paid day per month allowed for volunteering with a national charity or not-for-profit community group.
Health Related: Sight tests and glasses if required for DSE (display screen equipment) work (in line with current legislation).
How to apply
In the first instance please email [email protected] to arrange an informal discussion about the role, or alternatively to request an information pack.
Closing date: 19th April 2021
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Certifying as a B Corp in 2019, and becoming the first ecological consultancy in Europe to do so, meant the world to Wildwood. It is something of which we are exceptionally proud. But why the big deal? What does it mean and why were we so keen to be a part of this global movement?
What are B Corporations?
Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. We believe that profit should not be the sole driving force behind our business. We have the power to use business to create a healthier environment, stronger communities, equal opportunities and better working relationships.
Assessment
The movement’s philosophy aligns with our own vision and values, and by certifying, we have a means to effectively score our progress. As a Certified B Corp, we are rigorously assessed on how we are delivering on our social and environmental performance. As such, all B Corps need to recertify every three years. In the two years between certification, all B Corps must write an annual impact report on their progress to create positive impact. This report is, in part, fulfilment of that commitment.
Our baseline score
As a relatively new B Corp, we had our initial baseline impact assessment completed in early 2019. We were immensely pleased to have recorded a score of 80.6 out of 200. The median score for non-B Corp businesses is 50.9. As the minimum impact score for certification is set at 80.0, we clearly just about scraped in. But that’s not uncommon as a first score. It provides us with a great baseline to improve upon, and one we will relish in doing so.
Our progress since certification
Since certification we have made a number of changes and shifted the dial a little in some of the core areas (see Table below). One area we have made significant efforts to improve was for our customers.
We recognise that our latest score is unverified (verification is scheduled for June 2022), but we are confident that significant progress has been made through some of the following changes:
Governance
- We treat our social and environmental impact as a primary measure of success for our business and prioritize it even in cases where it may not drive profitability.
- Our vision, values and objectives include a commitment to a specific positive social impact (sustainable economic development) and a specific environmental impact (restore biodiversity loss and climate change)
Workers
- Changes to job descriptions and performance reviews that include training in and advocacy for social and environmental change.
- Volunteer days for employees each month.
- As a certified Living Wage employer, we pay a real living wage. Our lowest paid employees therefore earn above the national living wage in the UK.
- All employees receive an annual bonus, based on company performance.
- All employees have access to formal skills based training.
- All employees have access to external professional development training.
- All employees enjoy a minimum of 25 paid annual leave.
Community
- 1% of company profits are donated to charitable causes each year, as well as other resources including equipment and labour.
- Over 50% of senior staff are women.
- We create new jobs each year.
- We use local suppliers.
- We have changed our bank account, from global bank, HSBC, to purpose-led banking provided by The Co-operative.
Environment
- We provide services that seek and contribute towards halting biodiversity loss and halt the negative impacts of climate change.
- We promote discussion of environmental issues.
- At our Cirencester premises, we have influenced our landlord to seek a greener energy supplier.
- We use technology that reduces the impact on the environment. We re-use technology and purchase fairtrade equipment.
- We recycle waste in all offices.
Customer
- Our services have a positive impact on our customers.
- We manage the data provided by our customers sensitively and comply with GDPR.
- We are verified to meet third-party standards for impact (Registered Ecological Practice).
- We address a social or environmental impact for our customers.
What next?
The great thing about the three year assessment is that we have a clear timeline upon which to plan our objectives. We have committed to achieving Carbon Net Zero by 2030 and plans are already in place to:
- Replace our existing vehicles to an electric fleet. Given the amount of time our team spend on the road visiting sites, this is a significant priority for us. Watch this space!
- We recognise that we need to reduce our carbon footprint whilst delivering our services. With our aim to ensure that each service is carbon net zero, we are now embarking on the process of monitoring and evaluation.
- We want to work with like-minded individuals and organisations who share our vision and values. We believe we can achieve great things if we work together, so forging new partnerships is something we are actively pursuing. If you’re interested in having a conversation, do get in touch!
In great company
We are just one of more than 3000 companies in the UK certified as B Corporations, across 150 industries. Big names include Abel & Cole, Cook, Ella’s Kitchen, Patagonia, TOMS to name just a few. It’s a simple philosophy – we share the same vision, we share the same goals and we’re prepared to work together as a force for good. Interested to find out more?
Richard Dodd, Managing Director
We’re expanding our team
We are looking for outstanding Senior Ecologists to join our growing team based in South Wales and the Cotswolds. Do you want to join a progressive ecological consultancy with a strong vision and values? We are a company who won’t knowingly work on projects which compromise our beliefs. We encourage our people to think for themselves and we trust them to make the right decisions.
In order to be considered, you must have the necessary technical skills and licenses, but more importantly, you will need outstanding transferable skills and qualities that include resilience and open-mindedness. You will be highly focused, self-aware and share our company values.
Company values & benefits
Our company values focus upon four main areas; (1) to do well by doing good (to make choices that benefit both the client and nature), (2) to choose collaboration over competition (we enjoy working together to achieve greatness), (3) to make work enjoyable (we value a healthy work life balance) and (4) to commit 100% to customer service (we will always find a way).
The successful candidate should be keen to play an active role in shaping our values as we evolve and grow.
Specific benefits
- Competitive salary
- Annual bonus in line with practice performance (not guaranteed!)
- Continuous service bonus after 5 and 10 years
- Agile working policy
- 25 days annual leave (rising with service) plus 8 bank holidays, plus an additional day on your birthday
- One day a month paid to carry out volunteer work in your community
- Use of company vehicle or mileage allowance
- PPE, branded workwear and equipment, laptop and mobile
- Training and time dedicated to professional development
- Professional subscriptions paid
Normal hours of work are 37.5 hours a week, however you will need to be flexible and adaptable especially during the survey season when you may need to work unsocial and additional hours. (We offer Time off in Lieu (TOIL) if you are required to work additional hours).
The Candidate
Essential skills
You should have the following essential skills:
- Possession of at least two personal protected species licenses, one of which must be for bats; ability to prepare and submit detailed mitigation licenses for a range of protected species.
- A high level of experience in the preparation of and editing and reviewing a wide range of ecological reports.
- A high level of experience of project management including Ecological Clerk of Work duties, the supervision of mitigation measures, compliance, and monitoring.
- Demonstrable experience of motivating, developing, and directing people as they work.
- Ability to manage one’s own time and the time of others.
- Able to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Desirable skills include:
- Possession of additional protected species survey licences in both England and Wales.
- Tree climbing skills suitable to undertake aerial wildlife surveys.
Essential knowledge
You should have the following essential knowledge:
- Knowledge and experience of biodiversity design techniques, tools, and principals involved in the production of technical plans, and drawings.
- Knowledge and an understanding of principles and processes for providing customer services.
- A high level of knowledge and understanding of relevant wildlife laws and planning policy within the UK.
- Knowledge and experience of workplace physical and mental health and safety legislation including the preparation of site and activity risk assessments and method statements.
Desirable knowledge include:
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership technique, and coordination of people and resources.
- Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
- Knowledge of B Corporations and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).
Essential attributes
You should have the following essential attributes:
- Eligibility to work permanently within the UK.
- Full membership of CIEEM and/or CIEMA.
- Full UK driving license with access to own car insured for business use.
- Relevant and recognised degree in an ecological discipline.
- A demonstrable high level of ability to communicate information and ideas both verbally and in writing.
Desirable attributes include:
- Advanced Health and Safety related qualification (e.g., IOSH Managing Safely).
- Relevant and recognised postgraduate degree in an ecological discipline.
- An ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Applications
How to apply
In the first instance please email [email protected] to arrange an informal discussion about the role, or alternatively to request an information pack.
Successful applicants will be invited to interview using a video conferencing platform during March 2021, with a start date as soon as possible thereafter.
Unsuccessful applicants and candidates will be provided with appropriate feedback on request.
Richard Dodd, Managing Director and Principal Ecologist
They should have the following essential skills:
- Possession of at least two personal protected species licenses, one of which must be for bats; ability to prepare and submit detailed mitigation licenses for a range of protected species.
- A high level of experience in the preparation of and editing and reviewing a wide range of ecological reports.
- A high level of experience of project management including Ecological Clerk of Work duties, the supervision of mitigation measures, compliance, and monitoring.
- Demonstrable experience of motivating, developing, and directing people as they work.
- Being able to manage one’s own time and the time of others.
- Able to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Desirable skills include:
- Possession of additional protected species survey licences in both England and Wales.
- Tree climbing skills suitable to undertake aerial wildlife surveys.
They should have the following essential knowledge:
- Knowledge and experience of biodiversity design techniques, tools, and principals involved in the production of technical plans, and drawings.
- Knowledge and an understanding of principles and processes for providing customer services.
- A high level of knowledge and understanding of relevant wildlife laws and planning policy within the UK.
- Knowledge and experience of workplace physical and mental health and safety legislation including the preparation of site and activity risk assessments and method statements.
Desirable knowledge include:
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership technique, and coordination of people and resources.
- Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
- Knowledge of B Corporations and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).
They should have the following essential attributes:
- Eligibility to work permanently within the UK.
- Full membership of CIEEM and/or CIEMA.
- Full UK driving license with access to own car for business use.
- Relevant and recognised degree in an ecological discipline.
- A demonstrable high level of ability to communicate information and ideas both verbally and in the written format.
Desirable attributes include:
- Advanced Health and Safety related qualification (e.g., IOSH Managing Safely).
- Relevant and recognised postgraduate degree in an ecological discipline.
- An ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
How to apply
If you would like to work for an ecological consultancy that cares about people, planet and purpose then we have a role for you. Send our recruitment team an email for an application pack: [email protected]
Successful applicants will be invited to interview using a video conferencing platform in early March 2021. For any position offered the candidate must be able to commence work within our team by the end of April 2021. Unsuccessful applicants and candidates will be provided with appropriate feedback.
The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
Our departure from the European Union (EU) on 1st February 2020 is a new day for biodiversity as the Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 comes into force on ‘exit day’.
In essence, the changes (agreed back in March 2019) are of governance only and the protection of wildlife sites, habitats and species remains intact. So, it’s out with words like ‘European Union’, ‘of Community interest’ and ‘biogeographical regions…of the territory’ and replaced with ‘United Kingdom’, ‘of national interest’, ‘Atlantic biogeographical regions’ and, of course, extensive inclusion of ‘exit day’.
The United Kingdom Government will still be required to report every six years on the implementation of the Habitats Directive and the Wild Bird Directive, and a duty remains to designate Special Areas of Conservation. The change being, is that designations on or after ‘exit day’ are to be of ‘national importance’. Each ‘competent authority’ will also (under the new Regulation 141A) have a transitionary six years to designate previous sites of ‘community importance’ to a new ‘national importance’.
However, there is no change at present to the protection of wildlife formerly known as ‘European Protected Species’. There will continue to be a requirement by a ‘competent authority’ to ensure their protection in the ‘national’ context. People will still need to undertake appropriate measures, such as protected species surveys, where such an animal is reasonably likely to be present and proposed works will have an impact.
In summary, the intention of the change is to ensure habitat and species protection and standards as set out under the Nature Directives are implemented in the same way or an equivalent way as the UK exits the EU. Therefore, there is no (or no significant) impact on business, charities or voluntary bodies. There is no (or no significant) impact on the public sector. There is also no change to policy. Well, at least not yet!
Richard Dodd, Principal Ecologist