Finance Officer
Immediate start
Now is an exciting time to Mercy Ships UK.
With a growing supporter base, a talented
staff team and ambitious targets to reach over the
next five years, we are looking for a talented
Finance Officer to join our team.
Mercy Ships is a faith-based charity, bringing safe
surgery to people in Africa who have limited access
to healthcare and little or no money to pay for it. For
over 40 years, Mercy Ships has visited more than 55
developing nations. We are passionate to serve those
in need and to leave a lasting impact for the future by
working alongside governments, supporting health
systems and delivering training within the countries we
visit. Our volunteer crew represent our organisation
onboard our two ships through excellence and
diligence. Sixteen Mercy Ships offices around the world
collaborate on fundraising, recruitment and public
relations.
Mercy Ships UK
The UK currently raises circa £9 million a year to
support Mercy Ships’ operations, benefiting from a
diverse base of committed funders and partners.
As well as providing financial resources for surgeries,
healthcare, education and local partnerships, the UK
identifies over 400 professional volunteers
with medical, maritime and many other skills to
crew the world’s largest charitable hospital ships
‘Africa Mercy’ and ‘Global Mercy’, – bringing immediate
relief to thousands of individuals and leaving a
sustainable legacy of hope and healing
in every nation we visit.
Values
Mercy Ships was founded by Don and Deyon Stephens
in 1978, committed Christians with a vision to follow the
model of Jesus, who inspires action and guides us to
imitate God’s heart for those marginalised by poverty
and disease. Mercy Ships is a diverse community
made of people from all walks of life, practically
demonstrating love, integrity and excellence to make a
lasting impact. While not all of our staff are practising
Christians, they all align with and respect the Christian
values that underpin Mercy Ships’ work.
Approximately 90% of the population in sub-Saharan
Africa lacks access to safe and affordable surgical care.
On average, there are only 1.8 beds per 1,000 people,
and nearly 40% of healthcare settings lack hygiene
infrastructure. The need for Mercy Ships is clear – we
strive to provide safe and equitable healthcare for those
who need it most.
Shelley Pigott,
Executive Director, Mercy Ships UK
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Our Mission
Mercy Ships follows the 2,000 year-old model
of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to the
world’s forgotten poor.
Our Vision
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to transform
individuals and partner with nations.
Our Values
Following the model of Jesus, we seek to:
Love God
Love and serve others
Be people of integrity
Strive for excellence in all we say and do
M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
Impact
Since 1978, Mercy Ships has brought hope and healing
to more than 2.88 million people through free,
life-changing healthcare and training. Our volunteer
professionals have performed over 122,000 surgical
procedures and provided more than 556,900 dental
procedures to those in desperate need. Alongside
this, we have trained more than 55,500 local
professionals in their area of expertise, equipping
them to go on and impact over 252,000 others within
their own communities.
Our commitment extends beyond the hospital
ship—we have completed over 1,110 community
development projects, including the reconstruction
of schools, clinics, orphanages, water wells, and
agricultural programmes. These initiatives ensure
sustainable transformation by strengthening local
infrastructure and skills for the future.
Today, we have proudly served across more than
55 of the world’s poorest nations, with two
remarkable hospital ships:
The Global Mercy: the world’s largest civilian
hospital ship, featuring 6 state-of-the-art operating
theatres, 199 patient beds, the capacity for 640 crew,
and a gross tonnage of 37,856.
The Africa Mercy: with 5 fully equipped operating
theatres, 85 patient beds, space for 470 crew, and a
gross tonnage of 16,572.
Together, these ships represent a unique and powerful
force for good, bringing hope, healing, and lasting
change to those who need it most.
Our work
Mariama’s story
Mariama is a lively and healthy baby, but a severe facial
cleft strained her joyful smile. This facial cleft affected
7-month-old Mariama’s lip and nose, making it difficult
for her to eat and causing her parents to worry about
their child’s future.
Since paediatric services capable of treating baby
Mariama’s condition were not available near the family,
local doctors directed her father to Senegal’s capital city
in hopes of finding help.
It was there that he heard about a hospital ship capable
of providing healing for his little girl.
Soon after, Mariama received an operation onboard
the Africa Mercy that repaired her cleft lip. After surgery,
Mariama and her family stayed at the HOPE Centre,
where her mother learned how to make nutritional baby
formula and learned about the importance of nutrition
for her child. Now, Mariama is home with her family,
happy and healthy!
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M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
History of
Mercy Ships
Founded in 1978 by Don and
Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships
has worked in more than 55
countries, providing services
valued at more than £1.3 billion.
By improving healthcare delivery in
every country visited, Mercy Ships
is working to eradicate the diseases
of poverty. Mercy Ships follows the
model of Jesus by “bringing hope
and healing to the forgotten poor”,
helping people of any faith or none.
Mercy Ships delivers a customised
five-year partnership model with
every country it is invited to support.
Relationships are built with the
national government and ministry
of health, so that the specific needs
of each country are met; we work to
strengthen the country’s healthcare
systems and drive policy change.
The aim is to tackle the root causes
of the problems rather than just the
consequences.
Mercy Ships UK (a key member of
the Mercy Ships global partnership)
was founded in 1996. We run the
two largest charity hospital ships in
the world: the Global Mercy and the
Africa Mercy.
Behaviours
We put beneficiaries first
Our performance impacts lives, so we
strive for the very best results.
We are open to challenge
We challenge current norms, ideate,
create and develop.
We expect the best
We consistently seek the best in
and for others.
Together in everything
We are a relationally-driven team.
Effective interaction
We communicate with clarity
and purpose.
03
Bank and cash reconciliations
Carry out daily bank reconciliations and complete
formal reconciliations at least weekly for MSUK’s
corporate current account and at least monthly for
other MSUK bank accounts.
Ensure cash is accurately counted by Supporter
Services, securely stored while on MSUK premises,
banked in line with insurance requirements, and
reconciled monthly.
Other accounting duties
Prepare MSUK invoices as required, ensuring charges
are recorded against the correct ledger account.
Respond to supplier and third-party queries promptly,
professionally, and efficiently via telephone, email,
or in writing.
Provide support with additional finance department
duties as required.
General Duties
Other duties as are within the scope, spirit and
purpose of the job as requested by the line manager.
Post holder will actively follow Mercy Ships UK policies.
As duties and responsibilities change, the job
description will be reviewed and amended in
consultation with the post holder.
M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
Role Description
Main Workbase: 12 Meadway Court, Stevenage SG1 2EF
Hours of Work: Part-time (24 hours)
Contract: Permanent with hybrid working
Line Manager: Finance Manager
Salary: £26,000-£30,000 FTE
Line Management Responsibility : None
Benefits:
25 days annual leave + bank holidays, increasing + 1 day
with each year of service, up to 30 days annual leave
Up to 7% Employer pension contribution
Travel and training loans
Free parking onsite
Main Purpose
To provide book-keeping support to the finance function
of the organisation, ensuring timely and accurate
recording, payment and reconciliation across sales,
purchase and general ledger.
Main Responsibilities
Posting of income and expenditure
Post donations and other income, ensuring
each transaction is recorded with the correct date,
payment method, and general ledger code in line
with supporting documentation, and that all income
is allocated to the appropriate fund on the
accounting system.
Post invoices to the purchase ledger, allocating
them to the correct departmental code
and confirming that, where applicable, invoices are
supported by an authorised purchase order.
Post other expenditure items to QuickBooks,
ensuring accurate allocation to the correct
departmental code or fund.
Making payments
Ensure payments are made promptly, in line with
agreed credit terms.
Set up electronic payments using MSUK’s corporate
internet banking facility, arranging for authorisation
in accordance with bank mandates and issuing
remittance advices where required.
Process crew support payments promptly upon
receipt of instructions from the International Office.
Arrange reimbursement of authorised staff expenses
and speakers’ expenses on time.
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M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
Person Specification
Attribute
Essential
Desirable
Education/
qualification
Educated to AAT level or equivalent
Understanding of QuickBooks.
relevant experience.
Understanding of databases and
operating systems – training given.
Knowledge of the not-for-profit
sector.
Proven
experience
Previous experience in a similar role and or
Experience in the charity sector.
accounts department.
Skills and
abilities
Good organisational and time management
skills with the ability to prioritise.
Excellent verbal and written
communication skills.
Able to prioritise internal demands while
retaining good relationships.
Attention to detail.
An ability to work to deadlines and targets.
Ability to organise workload and multitask.
Personal
qualities
Able to actively support, promote
and encourage Mercy Ships’
mission and values.
Tactful, friendly, and calm under
pressure.
Confident, resilient, tenacious,
self-motivated, and collaborative.
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M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
Equal opportunities
Mercy Ships UK is an equal opportunities employer.
We welcome applications from all individuals and
value diversity in our workforce.
DBS check
Candidates will be asked to declare any ‘unspent
convictions.’ Further information can be found here.
Eligible roles may require a Disclosure Barring Service
(DBS) check.
How to apply
to join us in transforming lives:
Please send a CV and cover letter detailing your
relevant experience and why you want to work for
Mercy Ships to:
careers@mercyships.org.uk
Salary : £26,000-£30,000 FTE
Don’t delay applying as we screen applications on
receipt and reserve the right to close early.
Hope.
Healing.
Transforming Lives.
Registered Charity No: 1053055. Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC039743.
Company No: 3147724 (England and Wales)