Savings & Loans for People in Croydon, Merton & Sutton

Job Application Pack &Guidance notes

JOB: Business Development Officer (Payroll) (ref BDF/1113)

Thank you for your interest in the credit union and the vacancy ofBusiness Development Officer (Payroll).The successful post holder will join our existing staff and volunteer team helping people to save regularly and to borrow sensibly through access to affordable loans.

Included with this pack are a job description, person specification,project milestones application form and equalopportunities monitoring form. Please complete these fully and return them by e mail only

Only the information on the application form will be considered by the selection panel when shortlisting; so it is essential that you provide examples of how you meet each of the points of the person specification.

To ensure fairness, the name and details of applicants will be removed before the applications are scored by the selection panel, in line with our equality and diversity policy.

The closing date for applications is Monday 6th January 2014Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

Interviews to be confirmed

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by telephone or e mail to confirm the interview arrangements. Unfortunately, we will only be able to contact shortlisted candidates; so if you do not hear from us by 13th December then you may assume you have not been successful on this occasion.

Please note CVs will not be considered. Only information contained on the application form will be considered. Application is by e mail only to

The recruitment process is being administered by Helen Mason, Credit Union Operations Manager.

For an informal discussion regarding this post please contact Helen on: 07579 009017

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The post holder will work from the Credit Union Central office located at Bernard Weatherill House, 8 Mint Walk, Croydon CR0 IEA. The project may secure separate managed office space in other locations as the project develops.

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The Board, CMS Credit Union Ltd

Background information

Croydon, Merton & Sutton Credit Union Ltd was established in 1999. We offer anyone who lives, studies, volunteers or works in the 3 London Boroughs of Croydon Merton or Sutton affordable credit union services. Our objective is to help local people save regularly and borrow sensibly. The credit union currently has over 3,000 local members and a turnover of more than £1,600,000.

We offer our members:

  • Secure savings
  • Low cost loans
  • Ethical Investments
  • Junior (under 16) savers accounts
  • Christmas & holiday savings accounts

As a financial co-operative, we are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) (firm 213603 reg. No: 569c) and our members’ savings are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

As part of our commitment to increasing access to the credit union’s savings and loans, we are delighted to have recently been awarded funding to extend our established Employer Payroll Deduction Schemes with local employers in Croydon,Merton & Sutton. We currently have a number of agreements with local authorities, housing associations and other employers to support their workforce. Through these payroll schemes local people can join the credit union and arrange for their weekly or monthly contribution to the credit union to be paid directly from their wages. In this way the employee has the benefit of knowing that their regular saving or loan payment is made at source. Members who have set up payroll deduction arrangements are, in general more likely to keep up with their agreed payments to the credit union and therefore receive preferential terms for credit union loans. This in turn will increase the savings we have available to lend to local people and increase the sustainability of the credit union through the increased interest made on loans granted.

This project has an ambition of increasing the number of employers participating in the scheme across our 3 boroughs by 14 and to increasing the number of local people signed up by 1,200 over 3 years..

We know there are many more local people, who we could help to save money, get out of debt and avoid high-interest loans. Help us spread the word about the credit union:

CMS Credit Union Ltd: Business Development Officer (Payroll)

Project Milestone (Years 1, 2 and 3)

Milestone 1: 6 months from commencement

  • Initiate one new payroll scheme with 100 new members
  • Establish links to all existing (13) payroll schemes and recruit 100 new members
  • Promote £20,000 in additional, low-cost loans to the benefit of the local economy

Milestone 2: 12 months

  • Initiate three new payroll schemes with 300 new members
  • Continue to grow penetration of payroll schemes in existing relationships
  • Promote £45,000 in additional low-cost loans during the 6-month period

Milestone 3: 24 months

  • Initiate five new payroll schemes with 300 new members
  • Continue to grow penetration of payroll schemes in existing relationships
  • Promote £250,000 in additional low-cost loans during the year

Milestone 4: 36 months – project close

  • Initiate five new payroll schemes with 300 new members
  • Continue to grow penetration of payroll schemes in existing relationships
  • Promote £250,000 in additional low-cost loans during the 6-month period
  • Establish the role of business development officer as self-financing

This project complements and enhances our business plan objectives to grow membership by 700, 850 and 1000 in our financial years 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-26 respectively.

We expect that, by dedicating resource to building up close payroll deduction scheme relationships, we will enhance the profitability of the credit union, helping to promote social objectives such as:

  • provide training and education of members in the wise use of money and in the management of their financial affairs
  • contribute towards the alleviation of poverty within the community
  • contribute towards the economic regeneration of the community, particularly by job creation and helping people to enter the labour market
  • promotion of financial inclusion

Savings & Loans for People in Croydon, Merton & Sutton

JOB DESCRIPTION – Business Development Officer (Payroll)

Title Business Development Officer (Payroll)

Hours10 hours per week

Pay£10.50/ hour £5,040.00 p.a.

Reports to Credit Union Manager

Scope of Role To achieve the milestones of the project brief and grow 14 new payroll schemes with 1,200 new credit union members over 3 years

Key Responsibilities

  1. Research the local possibilities for new Employee payroll deduction schemes with local employers across Croydon, Merton & Sutton
  2. Develop appropriate project marketing materials to encourage take-up by employers and employees
  3. Make regular presentations to prospective employer and employee groups
  4. Review, update and monitor all necessary project documentation in accordance with current best practice
  5. Make all necessary arrangements for the set- up of agreed payroll schemes
  6. Encourage new members on payroll schemes to access appropriate credit union savings and loans services
  7. Review existing payroll schemes and recommend improvements and amendments
  8. Prepare and provide accurate and timely project reports to the Credit Union Manager and Board so as to achieve project milestones
  9. Ensure all project data, records and information are up to date and accurate
  10. Provide support and training as required to team colleagues as required
  11. Provide a professional service to customers at all times
  12. Support the cost effective and efficient day-to-day operations of the credit union office/s and outreach services to ensure the membership is provided with a prompt and reliable standard of service at all times
  13. The post holder will undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required

GENERAL

  • The weekly hours for this post will be 10 hours and will be worked across the week flexibly to achieve maximum contact time with prospective employers and to achieve the agreed project milestones.

Total: 10 hours per week

A requirement of this post is that the postholder will

  • work flexibly on a daily and weekly basis and and outside normal office hours as required
  • travel extensively around the 3 boroughs of Croydon, Merton & Sutton on a weekly basis to engage with prospective companies
  • keep a record of their working hours for audit purposes
  • be expected to keep under review their own training needs and attend training or other developmental activities from time to time as required and appropriate.
  • the organisation is committed to achieving equality of opportunities in both services to the community and in the employment of people. The post holder is expected to understand and promote this and all other policies of the organisation.

- PERSON SPECIFICATION –

Business Development Officer (Payroll)

The following qualifications, experience, skills and competencies are required in the post (gained in a paid or voluntary capacity):

  1. A general understanding of the credit union ethos, structure and its services.
  1. NVQ Level 2/ GCSE level pass at C level or equivalent in English Language and Maths.
  1. An understanding of the principles of marketing.
  1. Experience of identifying leads and securing sales.
  1. Able to work confidently and reliably following agreed policies and procedures when unsupervised.
  1. Confident in communicating on the phone, e -mail and in person.
  1. Able to make successful presentations to a variety of audiences and potential customers.
  1. Methodical, accurate and with an eye for detail.
  1. A commitment to equality and diversity and sensitivity to the differing needs of our diverse communities.
  1. IT literate: experienced and confident in the use of software packages including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, e mail and the internet.
  1. Good time-management skills to ensure effective use of the time available.
  1. Proven ability to work as an effective team player as well as on own initiative.
  1. Sound organisational skills, an ability to prioritise, and work to deadlines.
  1. Able to travel independently to and from locations within Croydon & Merton on a daily and weekly basis.
  1. Able to work flexibly to suit the needs of the job (daytime/ evenings/ weekends).
  1. A commitment to continuous self-improvement.
  1. Personal experience of involvement in a credit unions or other voluntary sector organisation would be an advantage.

Savings & Loans for People in Croydon, Merton & Sutton

APPLICATIONBusiness Development Officer (Payroll) (ref BDF/1113)

Note: For copying purposes please complete this form in black ink or type in 12 pt font size (All information will be treated in confidence).

1. PERSONAL INFORMATION

Surname / Family name:Forename(s):

Address:

Postcode:

Daytime Telephone: Evening Telephone:

Email:

Where did you see the post advertised? (Please give name of website where appropriate):

When would you be available to take up the post?
Please provide the notice you would be required to give your current employer:
Interviews will be held onXXXX 2013.
Do you have any problem with this date? Yes / No
(If Yes, please give details:
Are you registered disabled?
If yes, please give registration number:
If you require specific provision for an interview, please contact us or state here:
Do you have a legal right to work in the UK?
Please provide the number of days absent through sickness in the last 3 years and reasons:

2. REFERENCES

Please provide the names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of two people who may be approached for references. Normally only work and/or education related references should be given. One of these must be your present or most recent employer, the other could be someone who knows you in a work related, voluntary or academic capacity, or is able to comment on your suitability for the post applied for.

Name
Address
Postcode
Telephone no.
Email
How does this referee know you?
Can we contact them prior to interview?
Name
Address
Postcode
Telephone no.
Email
How does this referee know you?
Can we contact them prior to interview?
3. CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS
Because you will have access to vulnerable people we may carry out Criminal Record Bureau checks. Previous convictions do not necessarily constitute a bar on selection, but failure to disclose such convictions will do so and would result in immediate termination of your services.
Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence?
If your answer is YES then please give particulars (including date of offence(s) committed and sentence(s)

4. DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998

As part of the recruitment procedure we may collect and store sensitive personal data about you. We are required by law to obtain your consent to such data being recorded. It is our policy to store data relating to recruitment procedures for 12 months after the date on which it is submitted, for internal auditing purposes. Any information of this nature will be treated confidentially.
Sensitive personal data is defined as information relating to any of the following: racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, health, sexuality or sex life, offences and/or convictions
For the purposes of the act the data controller is Croydon, Merton & Sutton Credit Union Ltd

I declare the information given on this form is correct to the best of my knowledge and acknowledge that by signing this form I give consent to sensitive personal information being recorded and stored. I understand that if appointed on the basis of false information contained in this form, I may be summarily dismissed.

Please note: Application forms submitted by email are not required to be signed when returned. However, if you are shortlisted you will be required to provide a signed copy of your application form at the interview and to provide evidence of qualifications.

Signature:

Date:

Applications must be returned by e mailby Monday 6th January 2014 to:

Helen Mason, Operations Manager

Croydon, Merton & Sutton Credit Union Ltd,

E: oting vacancyBDO/1113)

5. PAID AND/OR UNPAID / VOLUNTARY WORK EXPERIENCE

Please include your current/previous employment, voluntary work, community activities, work or school placements etc.

Please put in date order starting with the most recent.

If there is insufficient space then please continue on a separate sheet of paper

Date from / Date to / Employer / organisation details / Job title and salary / unpaid / Brief summary of main duties / Reason for leaving

(Continue on a separate sheet if necessary)

6. EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Please list any education and/or training (including short courses) that you have undertaken and qualifications you have obtained. (Please continue on a separate sheet if necessary).

Dates / Education/Courses/Training / Qualifications includinggrades

(Continue on a separate sheet if necessary)

7. SUPPORTING INFORMATION

(Please refer back to the person specification)

The only information that will be used to shortlist candidates will be the information given in this section (7.) of the application form. It is therefore in your interest to ensure that you cover each point on the person specification giving examples to support each statement.

Please tell us how you think you have the experience, skills and competencies that are required in the post (Examples can be gained in a paid or unpaid/ voluntary capacity): Do not use more than 200 words for each point. Applications which exceed this requirement will have the additional words disregarded and may therefore affect whether you are shortlisted for interview.

Failure to complete this section, or making reference to a CV you have supplied will not be considered a valid application

  1. A general understanding of the credit union ethos, structure and its services.

  1. NVQ Level 2/ GCSE level pass at C level or equivalent in English Language and Maths.

  1. An understanding of the principles of marketing.

  1. Experience of identifying leads and securing sales.

  1. Able to work confidently and reliably following agreed policies and procedures when unsupervised.

6.Confident in communicating on the phone, e -mail and in person.
  1. Able to make successful presentations to a variety of audiences and potential customers.

  1. Methodical, accurate and with an eye for detail.

  1. A commitment to equality and diversity and sensitivity to the differing needs of our diverse communities.

  1. IT literate: experienced and confident in the use of software packages including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, e mail and the internet.

  1. Good time-management skills to ensure effective use of the time available

  1. Proven ability to work as an effective team player as well as on own initiative.

  1. Sound organisational skills, an ability to prioritise, and work to deadlines.

  1. Able to travel independently to and from locations within Croydon & Merton on a daily and weekly basis.

  1. Able to work flexibly to suit the needs of the job (daytime/ evenings/ weekends).

  1. A commitment to continuous self-improvement.

17.Personal experience of involvement in a credit unions or other voluntary sector organisation would be an advantage.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES MONITORING SHEET

This form does not form any part of the recruitment assessment. You may return it in a separate envelope if you wish with no name. If it is enclosed in with the application it will be separated prior to any assessment, Information will be used only to assess our advertising and related Equal Opportunities policies.

Post applied for: Project Officer (PO/ 1113)

1. Where did you hear/read about the post?

If from a website, please say which one:

2. Please state your gender:

3. Please describe your ethnic background (Tick or enter your own description):

Black UK / White UK
African / White European
Caribbean / White other
Indian Sub Continent / Irish
Other Asian / Other
4. What is your age / Tick
Under 25 years
25 -50 years
Over 50 years

5. Do you have a disability?

If so, please give brief details:

6. Are you a member of the credit union?

if so, please give your membership number, if known:

8. Are you a member of any disadvantaged group not listed?

If so, please state which:

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