Finance Officer

Do you have experience with finance management in either a professional or school capacity? Our thriving academy is looking to appoint a dedicated and resourceful individual as Finance Officer to oversee financial duties across Harris Academy Purley.

The actual salary for this role will be £27,162-£28,761 (38 weeks per year, 40 hours per week).

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION.

About Us

At Harris Academy Purley, you will join a dedicated team of teachers and staff supporting our excellent students. If you are looking for an opportunity to grow, inspire and develop, this may be the role for you. Working at Harris Academy Purley, you will make a real difference to the lives of young people and their families in South London who value the learning and school environment we offer. Our school is oversubscribed; we have families, from a number of boroughs, who choose us for the high standard of education we provide, and staff come from across London as well as Sussex and Surrey to come and work with us. You will be given ample opportunities to develop and progress your career, and all staff are encouraged to develop their interests and areas of expertise. Our professional development is tailored to ensure all staff are able to continue learning regardless of their role or stage of career.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your responsibilities will include:

• Creating purchase orders
• Obtaining authorisation for, coding and posting purchase invoices
• Checking of all deliveries to the Academy, liaising with site staff as to distribution of order
• Raising cheques / BACS for purchase invoices
• Making payments
• Journal entries on accounting system
• Cash / bank reconciliation and reports
• Collecting money from students for educational visits
• Reconciling the petty cash on a monthly basis
• Reconciliation of academy credit card
• Liaison with cost centre budget holders
• Maintenance of Fixed Asset Register
• Academy banking
• Assisting Finance Business Partner in monthly balance sheet reconciliations
• Dealing with incoming and outgoing finance post
• To administer finances in relation to peripatetic music tuition, music subsidies and Food Technology consumable costs
• Raising sales invoices for lettings
• Banking of cash and cheques
• Supporting the Academy in finding ways to raise capital funding
• Creating a business plan for lettings and liaising with the Executive Principal to action
• Supporting any Academy training events that may raise capital
• Giving financial support for any capital spend projects
• Finding ways in which the Academy can get better value for money, through better procurement or other innovative ideas
• Working with Federation Business Partner and Principal in agreeing priorities for expenditure and monitoring the effectiveness of spending and usage of resources to ensure value for money
• Ensuring all matters regarding Academy insurance are dealt with in line with Federation procedures
• Ensuring the academy's financial procedures operate in accordance with statutory guidelines, Academies financial regulations and guidelines set out in the academy's policies and procedures
• Providing statistical information as required by the DCSF, other funding providers and Principal
• Familiarity with all the different funding streams that make up the academy budget and be aware of who has direct responsibility for each one
• Supporting the process of and responding to audit reports and implementation of recommendation
• Reading and understanding the Academies Financial handbook and check the Academies compliance reporting any concerns to the Finance Business Partner and the Principal
• Overseeing all contracts, register at the Academy, ensuring all information is kept up to date
• Monitoring financial and quality issues relating to academy meals contract
• Managing payroll, liaising with EPM as required
• Working with Federation Estates Managers, Projects Team and procurement to check best value for money when the Academy is considering new contracts or services
• Working with FBP when contracts are due for renewal and ascertain value for money and quality of service are in line with expectations
• Communicating any concerns regarding contracts with suppliers as required
• Supporting in any tendering process

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Qualifications to A level or equivalent
• Knowledge of school finance systems
• Knowledge of a variety of financial recording systems
• Knowledge of the budget setting process
• Understanding of the role and function of external audit
• At least three years' experience working in a finance department
• Experience of working within financial controls
• Experience of assisting with budget setting and budget management

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.