Finance Officer

Salary: £31,200 – £33,600 per year

Finance Officer
We are currently seeking a Finance Officer to join our schools Finance Department.
£26,000 – £28,000 depending on experience.
08:30-17:00 Monday to Friday, 40hrs per week all year round.
Purpose of the Job:
Take responsibility for the efficient and effective management of the school’s finances ensuring that funds are managed with the highest degree of honesty and transparency.
Operate the school’s payroll and personnel administration systems.
Constantly promote the creative use of resources to ensure there is a balance between statutory compliance and allowing creativity and innovation to flourish.
Provide financial and wider administrative support for the school’s extracurricular activities, trips and traded services taking the lead on the organisational aspects of trips.
Responsibilities:
Monitoring, Compliance and Audit
Lead by example and promote the importance of adherence to financial procedures and regulations.
Constantly review and develop systems which support staff to meet financial compliance requirements while minimising restrictions to day to day operations.
Support the Bursar to oversee the school’s contract register and ensure that contracts are tendered for in a timely and appropriate manner.
Monitor performance against existing terms of contracts and ensure suppliers are rigorously held to account.
Ensure the requirements of all statutory audit or self-assessment frameworks are met in day to day practice.
Support the Bursar to complete and prepare for all audit / compliance inspections.
Ensure the school meets all statutory and legal requirements concerning information and financial management.
Assist the Bursar in setting and monitoring of annual budget expenditure
Ensure all necessary reconciliations of control accounts and reports are completed on a regular basis.
Preparation, monitoring and report on the balances of any grants or funds throughout the financial year, ensuring their terms of use are met e.g. nursery grant.
Operate the purchase and sales ledger, ensuring that all expenditure orders and invoices are authorised appropriately and that the progress and follow up of any delayed or missing deliveries is checked.
Support the billing process by working with other members of staff to ensure accurate billing of additional activities.
Ensure that all cash handled within school is receipted, recorded and banked in conjunction with other staff.
Advise on the process of setting delegated budgets and ensure all associated agreements are completed.
Management Accounting
Balance the need for compliance and financial probity with an imaginative use of resources to ensure the school meets the needs of pupils.
Contribute to the strategic planning and decision making to ensure that the school makes the best use of the resources available while ensure that budget setting accurately reflects the school’s development plan and operational needs.
Support staff to evidence financial implications / impact of activities when required e.g. funding applications.
Use accounting and analytical skill and professional judgement to provide purposeful reports which are highly tailored to the needs of the intended audience.
Manage records, information and data, producing analysis and reports as required.
Participate in the monitoring and regular review of the budget and ensure that expenditure remains within agreed limits.
Payroll and Personnel
Lead all aspects of the school’s monthly payroll process to ensure staff are paid in a timely and accurate manner.
Complete and make payments to all parties as required including to HMRC and pension providers.
Complete all statutory reports and requirements for external bodies such as HMRC or pension providers.
Complete all year-end processes and reports such as P60 and annual returns.
Maintain accurate records of all payroll transactions.
Prepare contracts and other documents required for staff joining and leaving the school.
Respond to any queries regarding contracts and payroll in a timely manner.
General Tasks and Financial Management
Oversee the routine administration and financial management of the purchase ledger, sales ledger and cashbook, supported by the Finance Assistant.
Respond to all queries from internal and external stakeholders.
Lead by example and offer advice in delivering the procurement processes which achieve Best Value for the school and promote the creative use of resources.
Complete and maintain an accurate and up to date inventory of school equipment.
Work with the Bursar to source external funding opportunities, both grant and entrepreneurial, and support any subsequent applications or initiatives.
Support the month-end and year-end accounting procedures, ensuring staff are informed of deadlines in a timely manner and adhere to them.
Give help and advice to budget holders on management of their spending and inform them in a timely manner when they are nearing their full budget spend.
Manage monthly recharges for resources and services.
Work with staff and governors to complete all required disclosures and declarations.
Arrange off site visits that have been sanctioned by SLT by carrying out the following: Liaise with the member of staff leading the visit, Booking of venue/accommodation/tickets, Planning and organising transport, Risk assessments, Prepare communication to parents containing full details with consent reply, Collation of replies and records of income, Provide emergency contact during the visit.
Personal
Participate in appraisals in line with the school performance management policy.
Keep abreast of the latest developments both in finance and payroll.
Job Specification – Essential Requirements:
* Experience of finance and payroll systems.
* Experience of delegating and organising work tasks and duties to meet appropriate standards.
* Experience of managing the conflicting pressures of a large budget with several different income and expenditure streams.
* Experience of contract management and the procurement / tender process.
* Demonstrate an underpinning knowledge of effective payroll and financial procedures and controls.
* Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
* Excellent customer service skills.
* Excellent numeracy skills including the ability to explain, produce and present complex information to non-specialists.
* Effective oral and written communication skills.
* Critical attention to detail but with the ability to understand the school’s strategic objectives and your own part in its achievement.
* Highly developed planning and organisational skills and the ability to delegate appropriately.
* Ability to balance the need for compliance and financial probity with an imaginative use of resources to ensure the school meets the needs of students.
* High levels of honesty and integrity and an awareness of the importance of confidentiality.
* Excellent IT skills, especially Excel including the use of Excel functions.
Gateways School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students and expect all staff and volunteers to share the commitment. Appointments will be subject to an enhanced DBS with barred list check as well as a Prohibition List check.