Customer Services Administrator

This is a superb opportunity to develop a career in financial services, working with the savings customer service team of a leading ethical financial institution

Full time role: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week

Salary band: £17,480.00 to £19,130.00  per year

Ecology Building Society is a successful member-owned financial institution with a clear environmental focus and a mission to promote sustainable development. We are committed to building a greener society through the provision of a range of simple, ethical savings products to support mortgages for properties and projects which respect the environment. With more than 35 years’ experience, around £200m in savings balances and over 11,000 members, we’ve got ambitious plans for our future.

The successful candidate will be responsible for providing a broad range of customer services to new and existing customers. The primary responsibilities will include:

  • Answering members’ account queries or customer service requests, either by telephone, online, or by post.
  • The day-to-day receipt and processing of all new and existing customer savings account enquiries, transactions, account openings / closures and administration activities.
  • The day-to-day banking/reconciliation of transactions through our online banking systems.
  • Maintaining and developing strong customer service relationships with savings members.
  • Ensuring all activities follow agreed society policies and procedures.
  • An understanding of all appropriate savings regulations and legislation which directly impact savings administration activities, e.g. money laundering regulations.
  • Undertaking appropriate training to develop personal knowledge and skills on the main savings activities.
  • Ensuring all savings activities are performed within the agreed customer service standards.

Person specification

The ideal candidate will have experience working in the financial services sector, preferably in a customer service team. You will be speaking to our members on a regular basis too, so we are looking for an organised and motivated individual with a passion and drive for delivering excellent customer service. You will be dealing with large amounts of data on a daily basis so you will have strong attention to detail, be great with figures and used to working with excel spreadsheets.

Working for Ecology

Located in Silsden, West Yorkshire, our offices are an eco-friendly design and build. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer:

  • Pension scheme*;
  • Cycle to work scheme;
  • Free parking available;
  • Competitive holiday allowance with an annual holiday purchase scheme;
  • Life Assurance*;
  • Annual volunteering days; and
  • Annual profit related pay scheme.
    * after 3 months qualifying service

Please apply via our main advertisement at indeed.co.uk

Ecology are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified applicants, regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age.

Application deadline: 22 June 2020

 

 

 

 

Head of Risk and Compliance

• Based in Silsden, West Yorkshire BD20 0EE
• Salary commensurate with experience

At Ecology we believe it’s possible to build a better, greener society by using money for positive environmental and social impact. A real triple line impact on people, planet and prosperity. Our unique member driven ecological mission has never been more relevant in the face of the climate crisis and we’re growing, showing that finance that benefits people and planet is both compelling and profitable.

About the role

The Head of Risk and Compliance is the Society’s professional lead on all aspects of risk management, compliance and assurance ensuring that appropriate frameworks and oversight arrangements are designed, integrated, embedded and operating effectively and efficiently.

Main responsibilities:

• Designing and implementing effective levels of assurance for the Society to assure compliant and ethical delivery of services to our members.

• Responsible for ongoing assessment, development and implementation of the risk management framework to ensure it provides a robust and fit for purpose control system.

• To develop, implement and monitor a risk-based framework of financial crime and anti-money-laundering controls across the Society’s activities and monitor its ongoing effectiveness to prevent the Society being used as a vehicle for financial crime.

• Identify, remediate and mitigate conduct and operational risks for the Society.

• Ensure the Society complies with current and emerging regulation and meets its regulatory obligations.

• Embed a culture of risk and compliance awareness across the operational teams to develop understanding across first and second lines of defence.

• To develop, implement and maintain a system of meaningful MI to relevant committees to ensure risk and compliance priorities are known and understood.

• Manage the second line risk and compliance activities, including the creation, implementation and review of a compliance monitoring plan and identify areas to undertake thematic reviews.

• To develop and lead the risk & compliance team.

About you

You’ll have proven experience in a senior risk and compliance role within financial services (PRA/FCA regulated) and happy to operate both strategically and tactically when required. In addition, you will have:

• Experience of the development and implementation of control frameworks

• Experience of managing risk and compliance issues

• Experience of developing and embedding a culture of risk and compliance

• Experience of leading and developing a team of risk and compliance professionals.

Why is Ecology a great place to work?

As a mutual we’re powered by our members, offering an inspiring alternative for people who believe in the positive potential of a fair and transparent financial system. Our people put our values and mission into practice throughout our operations and are committed to doing what’s right for the environment and society, ensuring we continue to lead the way in ethical and sustainable finance. Amongst other accolades we’re proud to be the first building society to be awarded the Fair Tax Mark, the first to sign-up to the UN Principles for Responsible Banking and the first to have a fair pay policy with maximum pay ratio.

In addition to the usual benefits such as a competitive salary, pension and profit related pay, our unique eco-built offices offer a flexible inclusive environment where you will be challenged and your ambition, energy, talent and a can-do attitude will be recognised and rewarded. We also offer free EV charging and support colleagues to volunteer in their communities for up to 3 days a year. We’re a sociable team with regular team and society-wide events to select from and you can also spend summer lunchtimes in our onsite garden where you can even help tend the office vegetable patch.

So, if you want to develop your career in an award-winning sustainable business that empowers, respects and supports the people who are at the heart of delivering our ecological mission, why not join us?

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role to [email protected] by Friday 14 February 2020.

Ecology are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified applicants, regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age.

 

 

 

Non-Executive Director Opportunities

Ecology Building Society – Non-Executive Director Opportunities

Silsden, West Yorkshire

At Ecology we believe it’s possible to build a better, greener society by using money for positive environmental and social impact. A real triple line impact on people, planet and prosperity.  Our unique member driven ecological mission has never been more relevant in the face of the climate crisis and we’re growing, showing that finance that benefits people and planet is both compelling and profitable.

Our lending is supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy and sustainable communities, funded by our members who choose to save with us in the confidence their money is doing good.  Since 1981 we’ve lent to over 3,000 projects, supporting individuals, families, charities, environmental businesses and community-led housing groups to realise their sustainable living ambitions and build a greener future for us all.

Who are we looking for?

Following a review of our governance structure we are looking for passionate and committed individuals to join the Board as advisers and advocates for the Society. A personal commitment to our mission is key and our values of fairness, openness, responsibility, co-operation and activism shape our business.

We are actively seeking candidates who bring experience of operating at board or strategic level from a range of professional backgrounds, especially those who can bring skills from relevant sectors.  This is an exciting opportunity to join the Board of a growing and relevant Building Society that instigates real change.  To maintain a balanced Board, we are interested in hearing from people with skills, knowledge and expertise in one or more of the following areas:

    • Climate change issues and renewables
    • Public relations, marketing and social media
    • Business transformation and change management
    • Financial services technology including digital transformation
    • Regulated financial services.
What commitment is expected?
    • Attendance at Board meetings – currently 11 per year
    • Willingness to serve on Board subcommittees (in addition to Board meetings)
    • Board members serve for three years, with the possibility of extending to nine years
    • The total time commitment is anticipated to be 36 days per annum

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK and must meet the standards/compliance requirements for Directors and will be subject to approval by our regulator the Prudential Regulatory Authority.  Director fees of £13,918 per annum are payable and reasonable travel expenses incurred whilst on Society business will be reimbursed.

Interested in making a difference?

For more information and to apply please email your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the position to [email protected]. The closing date for enquiries is the 27th September 2019.  We recognise the benefits a diverse Board can bring and welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified applicants, regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age.

Governance Administrator

    • Based in Silsden, West Yorkshire, BD20 0EE
    • £20,000 to £22,500 dependent upon experience
    • Full time 35 hours, Monday to Friday

We’re looking for an experienced senior administrator to join us, providing administrative support to the Society’s Board of Directors in establishing and maintaining good standards of governance.

About the role

The Governance Administrator will support the Board Governance Officer with a wide range of administrative responsibilities including:

  • Maintaining the annual schedule of Board and Committee meetings;
  • Issuing invites to relevant attendees and manage Board and Committee meeting attendance;
  • Creating and issuing agendas for all Board, Committee and Management meetings;
  • Supporting the Executive to schedule, produce, circulate and quality control papers for meetings;
  • Maintaining the Society’s Governance Manual to ensure that it accurately reflects Board and Committee decisions and takes into account industry and regulatory best practice;
  • Managing the annual certification process of recording Directors’ compliance with regulatory requirements;
  • Maintaining the Board Policy Schedule, ensuring policies are reviewed, amended and submitted to the Board for sign off by the Policy owner in line with agreed schedule;
  • Maintaining the Society’s published and archived policies;
  • Provide administrative support for the Society’s Annual General Meeting;
  • Assist in collating information for document request from the Regulators.
About you

You will be an experienced administrator, ideally used to providing administrative or PA support to a senior team. Great organisation and communication skills are a must along with an impeccable attention to detail. Experience of taking and producing minutes would be advantageous.

What makes Ecology different

Ecology Building Society is a successful member-owned financial institution with a clear environmental focus and a mission to promote sustainable development. Our members save with us in the knowledge that their money is being used to make a positive environmental impact whilst giving them a fair financial return. Our impact isn’t about the profit we make – it’s about the difference we make to the environment and to communities across the UK. Since 1981 we’ve lent to over 3,000 projects, supporting individuals, charities, environmental businesses and community-led housing organisations to realise their sustainable living ambitions

Working for Ecology

You’ll be based in our unique eco-build office in Silsden, West Yorkshire. As well as a great working environment and supportive team you will enjoy:

  • a salary of £20,000 to £22,500 per annum (dependent upon experience);
  • 23 days annual leave plus bank holidays
  • free parking
  • a holiday purchase scheme
  • annual performance related bonus scheme
  • After 3 months service, you will be entitled to a competitive Society pension contribution and death in service life cover.

Our mission matters. Many of the UK’s 16 million houses waste energy on a massive scale – contributing up to 27% of our carbon footprint. We know that properties can be built, converted, renovated or improved with respect for the environment, and with comfort and affordability in mind. We’re here to help people and communities across the UK make it happen. You don’t need to take our word for it, we:

  • are the proud winners of the Mortgage Finance Gazette award in 2018 for Mortgage Product Innovation
  • were rated as an ethical best buy for our mortgages and savings accounts by Ethical Consumer magazine in its product guide rankings (May/June 2018)
  • are an accredited Living Wage employer, and
  • were the first building society in the UK to be awarded the Fair Tax Mark in 2016.

If you would like to be part of our team and help make a difference, then please send your CV and a covering letter in support of your application before the closing date of the 30th April 2019.

Relationship Manager

    • Based in Silsden, West Yorkshire, BD20 0EE
    • £30,000 to £32,000 dependent upon experience

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join a small team working with new and existing partnerships for community and commercial lending. We specialise in lending for sustainable housing projects such as co-operatives, co-housing groups, and other community-led projects. Alongside this, we support small-scale housing developers seeking to build or renovate residential properties in a sustainable manner and for part-residential borrowers who run a sustainable enterprise from home.

About the role

We are looking for a Relationship Manager to work with our Business Development Manager in delivering an end to end relationship managed experience to our prospective and existing borrowers. You will handle borrower enquiries, providing relevant product information and guide the enquirer through the application requirements and procedures.

You will co-ordinate a caseload of lending applications, from initial enquiry through to completion and further advance. The role is varied and you will be speaking to applicants, prospective partners or third parties, gathering the required information and documentation to ensure the smooth processing of applications. We’re specialist at what we do – so you will be involved in the technical detail of the lending propositions, supporting the assessment and underwriting of applications for new and existing projects against our lending criteria.

In addition to managing new applications, you will also play a key role in supporting existing borrowers and developing key relationships with partners, introducers and corporate borrowers.

This is a varied role where great communication skills and your knowledge and expertise in this complex area really makes a difference. The role is predominantly desk-based, with the opportunity to represent the Society by attending industry events and meeting the people and projects we support.

About you

You will have a proven track record of relationship management in a specialist area. You will have experience of working within the secured lending market and understand the lending application and under-writing process, ideally within the commercial / non-residential sector.

What makes Ecology different

Ecology Building Society is a successful member-owned financial institution with a clear environmental focus and a mission to promote sustainable development. Our members save with us in the knowledge that their money is being used to make a positive environmental impact whilst giving them a fair financial return. Our impact isn’t about the profit we make – it’s about the difference we make to the environment and to communities across the UK. Since 1981 we’ve lent to over 3,000 projects, supporting individuals, charities, environmental businesses and community-led housing organisations to realise their sustainable living ambitions.  If you would like to find out more about the type of projects you will be involved in supporting, please take a look at our customer projects  on this website.

Working for Ecology

You’ll be based in our unique eco-build office in Silsden, West Yorkshire. As well as a great working environment and supportive team you will enjoy:

  • a salary of £30,000 to £32,000 per annum (dependent upon experience);
  • 24 days annual leave plus bank holidays
  • free parking
  • a holiday purchase scheme
  • annual performance related bonus scheme
  • After 3 months service, you will be entitled to a competitive Society pension contribution and death in service life cover.

Our mission matters. Many of the UK’s 16 million houses waste energy on a massive scale – contributing up to 27% of our carbon footprint. We know that properties can be built, converted, renovated or improved with respect for the environment, and with comfort and affordability in mind. We’re here to help people and communities across the UK make it happen. You don’t need to take our word for it, we:

  • are the proud winners of the Mortgage Finance Gazette award in 2018 for Mortgage Product Innovation
  • were rated as an ethical best buy for our mortgages and savings accounts by Ethical Consumer magazine in its product guide rankings (May/June 2018)
  • are an accredited Living Wage employer, and
  • were the first building society in the UK to be awarded the Fair Tax Mark in 2016.

If you would like to be part of our team and help make a difference, then please send your CV and a covering letter in support of your application before the closing date of the 5th May 2019.

Customer Service Apprenticeship

    • Based in Silsden, West Yorkshire
    • £14,943 per annum plus benefits
Job Description

This is a superb opportunity to start your career in financial services, working with the savings team of a leading building society. We use our members’ savings to make a positive environmental impact and at the same time give them a fair financial return. With more than 35 years’ experience, we’ve got ambitious plans for our future.

About the role

With around £170m in savings balances and over 10,000 members’ accounts to manage, our savings team are a hive of activity. We don’t have a network of branches so our central savings team are responsible for the full administration of our members’ accounts. This will include:

  • Receiving, validating and actioning receipt of funds into accounts;
  • Receiving, validating and actioning funds withdrawal or transfer requests – either by phone, online or by post;
  • Supporting our members over the telephone with account queries and online access registration queries;
  • Opening new accounts;
  • Carrying out the end of day balancing and reconciliation of transactions through our online banking systems;
  • Setting up or amending direct debit instructions;
  • Answering members’ account queries or customers service requests – either by phone, online or by post.

About you

The ideal candidate will have a friendly disposition and a good work ethic.  You will be dealing with large amounts of data on a daily basis so  will need strong attention to detail and good IT skills. You’ll be speaking to our members on a regular basis too, so we are looking for an organised and motivated individual with a passion and drive for delivering excellent customer service.  Experience isn’t necessary – we can provide you with the opportunity to gain experience – we are looking for an enthusiastic individual with a positive attitude who wants to succeed.

Ideally candidates will have GCSEs grade 9-4 (A-C) in English and Maths

Working for Ecology

Located in Silsden, West Yorkshire, our offices are an eco-friendly design and build. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer:

  • The opportunity to gain a nationally recognised level 2 Customer Service or Level 3 Business Administration qualification;
  • Free parking available;
  • Competitive holiday allowance with an annual holiday purchase scheme;
  • Life Assurance*;
  • Annual volunteering days;
  • Cycle to work scheme; and
  • Annual profit related pay scheme.
    * after 3 months qualifying service

About us

Ecology Building Society is a successful member-owned financial institution with a clear environmental focus and a mission to promote sustainable development. We are committed to building a greener future through the provision of a range of simple, ethical savings products to support mortgages for properties and projects which respect the environment.

If you would like to join our team and pursue a rewarding career in a company that exists to make a difference, then please apply today, sending your CV and covering letter to [email protected]

Closing date:  21st January 2019

 

 

 

Marketing Manager

• Based in Silsden, West Yorkshire
• Full-time
• Salary scale £38,000 – £40,000, plus benefits

We’re looking for a talented marketing specialist to develop and deliver a marketing strategy, plan and activity that supports the Society in achieving its mission to build a greener society.

Ecology Building Society is a successful member-owned financial institution with a clear environmental focus and a mission to promote sustainable development. Our members save with us in the knowledge that their money is being used to make a positive environmental impact whilst giving them a fair financial return. Our impact isn’t about the profit we make – it’s about the difference we make to the environment and to communities across the UK. Since 1981 we’ve lent to over 2,500 projects, supporting individuals, charities, environmental businesses and community-led housing organisations to realise their sustainable living ambitions.

About the role

The Marketing Manager is responsible for the development and implementation of marketing initiatives to promote the aims and objectives of the Society and support the delivery of the corporate business plan. As Marketing Manager you will:

  • identify and develop channel specific marketing plans to optimise our reach and enhance distribution capability
  • support our planned growth by building the marketing strategy, acquiring new members and engaging existing members via multiple channels
  • undertake market research and analysis to provide valuable input into product development, pricing and marketing decisions
  • create and manage relationships with key stakeholders and ensure that Ecology’s website, digital channels and promotional activity is optimised to grow the audience, build engagement and drive our mission
  • work collaboratively with colleagues and play a key role in developing the marketing infrastructure and systems for a modern and growing organisation.

 

About you

You will be comfortable working at both strategic and tactical levels and will bring your knowledge, expertise and vision to shape the future of marketing at Ecology. You will have experience in a similar role, a relevant qualification and share a passion for our ethical products, services and values. This is a fantastic opportunity for the successful candidate to bring their creativity, acumen and insight to the team.

Working for Ecology

You’ll be based in our unique eco-build office in Silsden, West Yorkshire. As well as a great working environment and supportive team you will enjoy:

  • a salary of £38,000 to £40,000 per annum (dependent upon experience)
  • 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
  • free parking
  • a holiday purchase scheme
  • annual performance related bonus scheme
  • entitlement to a competitive Society pension contribution and death in service life cover (offered after 3 months’ service).

 

Our mission matters. The majority of the UK’s 16 million houses waste energy on a massive scale – contributing up to 27% of our carbon footprint. We know that properties can be built, converted, renovated or improved with respect for the environment, and with comfort and affordability in mind. We’re here to help people and communities across the UK make it happen. You don’t need to take our word for it, we:

  • are the proud winners of the Mortgage Finance Gazette award in 2018 for Mortgage Product Innovation
  • were rated as an ethical best buy for our mortgages and savings accounts by Ethical Consumer magazine in its product guide rankings (May/June 2018)
  • are an accredited Living Wage employer, and
  • were the first building society in the UK to be awarded the Fair Tax Mark in 2016.

 

If you would like to be part of our team and help make a difference, then please send your CV and a covering letter in support of your application to [email protected] before the closing date.

Closing date:  8th January 2019

How can I change a Direct Debit?

If you wish to set up a new Direct Debit, you’ll need to print off our Direct Debit mandate and return a completed copy to Ecology.

If you wish to amend the details of an existing Direct Debit (e.g. increase or decrease the amount, or suspend or cancel the payment), you can do so by sending us a secure message. Please note, you cannot set up a new Direct Debit by secure message; this is only possible by sending us a completed Direct Debit mandate in the post.