Job Description
Senior Finance Officer
* Annual Salary: £39,000 - £40,000
* Location: South West London (on-site role)
* Job Type: Full-time
My client is a prestigious Independent School, seeking a pragmatic and enthusiastic Junior Finance Officer to join their finance team. This role is based primarily in Clapham but may require some presence at their other location in Belgravia. This is a pivotal role for someone with finance experience in an educational setting, offering the opportunity to contribute significantly to the financial management of our schools.
Day-to-day of the role:
* Manage day-to-day financial operations and accounts for both schools, including:
o Accounts payable and receivable life cycles, including termly billing.
o Bank reconciliation.
o Leading the monthly payroll process for each of the two schools.
* Assist the Head of Finance in preparing monthly management accounts, including:
o Deferred income.
o Prepayments and accruals.
o Reconciliations of other balance sheet accounts.
o Cash flow forecast.
* Assist the Head of Finance in providing regular financial and budget analysis to the schools’ Senior Leadership Team and Dukes’ finance team.
* Support the Head of Finance in the annual budgeting and forecast as well as in preparing ad-hoc financial analysis.
* Provide supervision and mentoring to finance team members.
* Communicate regularly and effectively with the Head of Finance and all other senior staff as required.
* Serve as a key point of contact within the finance team for all staff members at the Schools.
* Act as a key point of contact for families regarding billing issues.
* Identify opportunities for improving financial processes and systems to increase efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.
* Understand and adhere to financial regulations, legislation, and internal policies.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
* Demonstrable experience in a finance role, preferably in an educational or similar environment.
* Experience in financial reporting and accounting, and in managing payroll.
* Experience with financial software such as XERO and ApprovalMax.
* High proficiency in Excel.
* A relevant financial qualification (AAT, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent) is desirable but not essential.
* Ability to work well within a team is essential.
* Ability to adapt and contribute to new processes.
* Ability to explain complicated financial matters to non-financial staff in a friendly and confident way.
Benefits:
* Competitive salary range of £39,000 - £40,000 per annum.
* Opportunity to work in a supportive and dynamic educational environment.
* Professional development opportunities.
Safeguarding and Child Protection:
As the role will be based within the school, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring check.
To apply for the Senior Finance Officer position, please submit your CV and cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you are interested in this position.