Winchester Action on the Climate Crisis (WinACC)
Chief Operating Officer
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Chief Operations Officer
Purpose of the Job
This role is central to strengthening WinACC’s financial sustainability, operational effectiveness, and ability to scale its climate impact across the region. The COO will maintain WinACC’s finance and operating systems, and core organisational infrastructure, ensuring WinACC is financially robust, compliant, and able to scale its impact. They will play a proactive role in fundraising, managing the administration of existing grants, fundraising pipeline and supporting colleagues with new applications.
This is a new post, and presents an opportunity for someone to come in and make a real difference in an exciting new chapter in the development of WinACC. As we navigate change in Hampshire through local government reorganisation and creation of a new combined strategic authority, we aim to ensure WinACC is a robust and well-resourced organisation to maintain the momentum of climate action.
The COO will work closely with the Executive Director to translate the organisation’s strategy into effective operational delivery. The role requires sound judgement, and a proactive, hands-on approach, with a willingness to engage in both strategic planning and day-to-day operational matters.
Given the nature of the organisation and the size of the team, the successful candidate will also need excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively and effectively as part of a small team. They will be expected to build strong working relationships, communicate clearly and sensitively, and contribute positively to a supportive and conscientious working environment.
Manager
Executive Director, with a dotted line to the Treasurer.
Pay
Up to £46,000 a year full-time equivalent (37 hours a week); pro-rata if part-time.
Hours
37 hours a week, with the option of potentially fewer hours for the right candidate. There can be some flexibility by mutual agreement e.g. to work fewer hours during school holidays. The holiday entitlement is 27 working days paid holiday during each holiday year, plus statutory bank holidays, each year for a full-time employee, pro rata for part-time.
Location
A mix of working from home and at the WinACC office, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road Winchester SO22 4NR. Although much of the work can be done from home at any time, it is essential for the postholder to be familiar with all that WinACC does so that they can fundraise effectively.
Contractual Arrangements
The contract will be for a fixed term to 30 September 2027, to be extended subject to funding. There is a probationary period of three months with one week’s notice, then the notice period becomes 4 weeks from either side. WinACC meets its statutory requirements in respect of statutory workplace pensions.
WinACC
Winchester Action on Climate Change Ltd (WinACC) is a charitable company - see https://www.winacc.org.uk/about-us/ - with a mission to inspire and enable action to create a net zero carbon Winchester District. We are a participative network for members and supporters to focus their energies on different aspects of the climate crisis. Much of WinACC's work is done by volunteers. We currently have six part-time employees.
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Responsibilities
Financial Management
- Operate the finance function to ensure all finance tasks and functions are undertaken in line with the charity’s requirements and liaise with the Treasurer to ensure appropriate separation of preparation and authorisation procedures.
- Present finance reports to Finance Committee/Board meetings (at least quarterly) in conjunction with the Treasurer.
- Support the Treasurer with financial strategy, planning and development of future business models.
- Prepare budgets in collaboration with the Executive Director with oversight from the Treasurer.
- Produce draft annual accounts, manage the relationship with the Independent Examiner, arrange for review/approval of the Annual Report & Accounts and ensure timely financial filings to Companies House and Charities Commission.
- Manage WinACC’s payroll, ensure HMRC/Nest submissions are made correctly and on time, and work with the Treasurer on criteria for annual pay/benefits evaluations.
- Undertake banking administration, including daily monitoring of transactions, preparing payment runs for authorisation (c. x3 per month), overseeing direct debits and credit card expenditure.
- Manage the charity’s investments, including preparing regular cash flow forecasts to ensure current account balances are maintained at required levels and evaluating alternative saving/investment options.
- Undertake regular bookkeeping using Liberty Accounts, including uploading of bank account transactions, checking and processing invoices, maintaining up-to-date donor, supplier and customer accounts, processing Gift Aid claims, preparing and seeking approval for journal adjustments, preparing and running reports.
- Attend meetings of the Finance Committee on finance and fundraising, and organise meetings including annual timetables, schedule of regular items, preparation and distribution of agendas and minutes, venues or digital systems for participation.
- Keep abreast of changes in legal, regulatory and taxation requirements impacting finance and financial controls, including changes in accepted good practice, liaising with the Treasurer on any changes required.
- Evaluate IT systems, procedures and controls required for effective financial management, recommend changes where needed.
- Lead procurement of relevant suppliers e.g. banking, insurance, payroll, pension, independent examiner; evaluate supplier performance and value; recommend and advise on changes where needed.
- WinACC does not currently need to register for VAT. If this ever becomes required or beneficial, the postholder would be expected to lead on this.
Fundraising
- Maintain fundraising records including deadlines for submission of applications, bids submitted, and their outcome.
- Maintain records of reporting requirements and deadlines for all successful bids; ensure that those responsible for meeting the requirements and writing reports are aware of them and taking relevant action; provide whatever financial information is required for these reports and/or prepare financial claims and invoices where required using designated formats.
- Identify and evaluate potential funding sources and opportunities developing a fundraising pipeline including trusts, grants and partnerships. Work with colleagues to draft funding applications.
- Supply financial information required for all funding bids, and check bids for financial accuracy.
- With the Treasurer, maintain appropriate confidential records of voluntary financial subscriptions from members.
- Work with the Head of Communications and Membership to ensure that all donors via individual giving are thanked, kept informed of how their gift is being used to contribute to winACC’s successes, and encouraged to give again.
- Work with the Head of Communications and Membership to ensure that systems for donating through WinACC’s website work smoothly and encourage donations.
- Work with the Treasurer on claiming Gift Aid.
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Strategic Management
- Keep abreast of digital opportunities and risks and recommend where WinACC needs to review and potentially change. Develop a digital and data strategy, including systems, security, and efficiency improvements.
- Ensure that WinACC has up-to-date policies and procedures, in line with law and good practice, on:
- HR including employees, freelancers/consultants, interns, volunteers including trustees
- Records of membership and communications with members
- IT including cyber security, data protection, privacy, keeping and sharing images, contact management, information management, AI, social media etc.
- Manage the Office Manager, and provide the strategic overview for their work on
- storage and retrieval systems for information and documents
- digital working (currently Google Workspace for email, contacts, GDrive); Zoom; mailing software
- WinACC's digital contracts: mobile phones, website hosting, Microsoft and zoom licences etc.
- cyber security
- asset management.
- Manage anyone else working on these areas, including volunteers, interns and freelancers.
- Support the Executive Director on financial and resource aspects of writing the strategy and annual plan, and in identifying and reporting on appropriate performance measures.
The post holder will be expected to carry out any other duties commensurate with the post, with training where required.
Person Specification for Chief Operating Officer WinACC June 2026
Skills and Qualifications
Essential
- Successful experience as a COO or similar role.
- Experience in financial management and reporting, including budgeting and forecasting.
- Knowledge of UK charity law, regulations, and best practices.
- Strong problem-solving, critical thinking and strategic planning abilities.
- Success in fundraising.
- Risk management knowledge and experience.
- Highly developed interpersonal skills.
- Excellence in written communication.
- Commitment to WinACC’s mission and values.
Desirable
- Experience of working for a participatory network/charity.
- Lives (or has lived) in or near Winchester District.
- Understanding of the causes of climate change and what can be done about them.
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