Job Description
3 months contract with a Local Authority
Job Summary:
• The SEND Payments Team Leader will oversee all financial processes relating to the High Needs Block within North Northamptonshire Council’s Children’s Services.
• The role is responsible for ensuring accurate budgeting, forecasting, reconciliation, and reporting of High Needs Funding, and for ensuring payments are correctly allocated to educational providers.
• The postholder will manage the High Needs Funding Team, maintain robust financial records, and lead termly, monthly, and weekly payment cycles.
• This role requires strong financial experience, advanced Excel capability, and detailed knowledge of High Needs Funding and Dedicated Schools Grant processes.
Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample):
• Extract, analyse and interpret funding data to identify and record allocations for children and young people with EHCPs.
• Build, maintain and update master spreadsheets and databases for budget forecasting, monitoring and reporting.
• Oversee the setting, profiling and reporting of the High Needs Block budget, including analysis of variances and financial risks.
• Ensure accurate and timely payments to NNC and non-NNC schools via top-up transfers, invoices and direct payments.
• Manage and support two Finance Assistants, overseeing invoice checks, ERP interfaces and authorisations.
• Prepare monthly monitoring reports and reconcile all transactions against master spreadsheets and statutory accounts.
• Lead termly top-up payment cycles, funding statements, payment calculations and adjustments for all schools and specialist settings.
• Manage ad-hoc funding tasks, data requests, reports and payment queries.
• Keep up to date with statutory High Needs Funding guidance and ensure compliance in all financial processes.
• Develop and improve financial and payment processes to maximise accuracy, efficiency and audit compliance.
Skills/Experience:
• Strong background in financial administration, forecasting, monitoring and managing complex budgets.
• Proven experience working with the Dedicated Schools Grant and High Needs Block.
• High level of Microsoft Excel ability (formulas, data interrogation, modelling).
• Experience using financial and education systems such as Synergy, ERP Gold, and case management tools.
• Ability to interpret large datasets and produce accurate financial analysis and reports.
• Experience supervising staff and managing workload distribution.
• Knowledge of financial procedures, payment processes, reconciliations and statutory financial requirements.
• Experience working in a local authority finance or education environment (desirable).
• Knowledge of SEND processes and funding mechanisms (desirable).
• Strong communication skills, able to present financial information to non-finance stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, manage high-volume workloads and meet strict deadlines.
• Understanding of Health & Safety, GDPR, equalities legislation, and corporate policies.
Additional Information:
• A Level / NVQ 4 / AAT or equivalent finance qualification or experience.
• Client: North Northamptonshire Council.
• Hours: 37 per week (09:00–17:30).
• Location: WFH + office working (Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough or Thrapston – flexible).
• DBS: Enhanced (with barred list).
Requirements
• Strong background in financial administration, forecasting, monitoring and managing complex budgets. • Proven experience working with the Dedicated Schools Grant and High Needs Block. • High level of Microsoft Excel ability (formulas, data interrogation, modelling). • Experience using financial and education systems such as Synergy, ERP Gold, and case management tools. • Ability to interpret large datasets and produce accurate financial analysis and reports. • Experience supervising staff and managing workload distribution. • Knowledge of financial procedures, payment processes, reconciliations and statutory financial requirements. • Experience working in a local authority finance or education environment (desirable). • Knowledge of SEND processes and funding mechanisms (desirable). • Strong communication skills, able to present financial information to non-finance stakeholders. • Ability to work independently, manage high-volume workloads and meet strict deadlines. • Understanding of Health & Safety, GDPR, equalities legislation, and corporate policies.