Finance Officer (Payments and Payroll

Global Witness; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global independent organization is seeking a Finance Officer to manage payments and payroll, ensuring accurate financial operations. The role requires collaborating with finance and external partners while maintaining financial records. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, with experience in financial systems and a solid understanding of accounting principles. This position offers a hybrid working model and an excellent benefits package, including a competitive salary and 25 days annual leave plus additional wellbeing support.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Healthcare insurance

Wellbeing days

Hybrid working model

Qualifications

• Organised and detail-focused finance professional with experience in payments and payroll.
• Solid understanding of accounting principles.
• Ability to manage sensitive information and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage payments and maintain financial records.
• Support balance sheet processes, monthly and annual reporting, and audits.
• Collaborate with finance and external partners to maintain financial controls.

Skills

Experience in payments and payroll

Proficiency in financial systems and Excel

Strong analytical skills

Detail-oriented and organized

Effective communication

Job description

As Finance Officer (Payments and Payroll), you will support the Finance team in delivering accurate, timely, and compliant financial operations across the organisation. The role focuses on managing payments, maintaining financial records, and supporting payroll for our Brussels and US offices as well as regular consultants. You will process day-to-day financial transactions across multiple currencies, including supplier invoices, staff expenses, credit cards, and bank transactions, while responding to payment queries and ensuring high standards of record keeping.

Responsibilities

• You will also support balance sheet processes such as depreciation and prepayments, contribute to monthly and annual financial reporting, and assist with audits and donor reviews.
• You will work closely with colleagues across Finance, Operations, Fundraising, and Budget Holders, as well as external partners such as auditors, banks, and payroll providers, to help maintain strong financial controls and support the smooth running of financial systems in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

Qualifications

• You are an organised and detail-focused finance professional with experience in payments and payroll, and a solid understanding of accounting principles.
• You are confident working with financial systems and Excel, comfortable handling sensitive and confidential information, and able to manage competing priorities to meet deadlines.
• You enjoy working collaboratively and communicate clearly with colleagues at all levels.
• You are flexible, adaptable, and remain calm under pressure, responding positively to change.
• You bring strong analytical skills, a proactive approach to problem-solving, and a commitment to accuracy in everything you do.

At Global Witness, we're on a mission to shift the balance of power from the polluters profiting most from the climate emergency to the people most adversely affected. We are an independent, global organisation of investigators and campaigners using cutting-edge investigative methods. We shine a light on the financial and political systems that enable corporate abuses of power that harm people and planet.

We are all determined and confident that together we can secure a better tomorrow for everyone. If you are inspired to join us as we investigate and expose abuses of power, tell the stories the world needs to hear and campaign for systemic change, we would love to hear from you.

Global Witness has a talented team of people worldwide with offices in London, Washington D.C. and Brussels.

We aim to be a diverse and inclusive place to work. We value new perspectives, original ideas and different ways of working. We believe that diverse views and experiences improve the way we do our work. We do our best to make our jobs accessible to all regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, or identity.

We offer an excellent benefits package including a competitive salary and 25 days annual leave (excl. Bank Holidays). We also offer healthcare insurance, wellbeing days and policies to support you during key life events.

We are currently in the first year of a shorter working week pilot where everyone works 30 hours Monday to Thursday, with Friday off with no impact on full time salary. We operate a hybrid working model which requires at least 2 days in the office.