Job Description

The Finance Assistant will work within a team to provide support for the school's Finance function. The role is temporary, and therefore we are looking for a candidate available for an immediate start who can remain in the role for a fixed term until 28th February 2025.

Key responsibilities
General:
• Assist in processing orders, purchase invoices, sales invoices and credit notes and ensuring that they are correctly coded when required;
• Ensure value for money for the school for annual orders and service contracts;
• Ensure all payments to creditors, both system generated and manual, are properly authorised in accordance with the School's Financial Regulations;
• Distribute cheque payments, manual and computer generated, to creditors within the relevant payment period, along with remittance advices for both cheque and BACS payments when required;
• Deal with creditors queries and statements as required;
• Collect cash and cheque income from departments and pupils as and when required;
• Lead on administration of Wise Pay, including dealing with refunds;
• Lead on gift aid administration and claims, ensuring claims are maximised, accurate and timely;
• Record income and expenditure accurately on the schools financial accounting system;
• Be the main point of contact in relation to music tuition and music exams and deal with the administration for music levies including the collection and recording of transactions and reporting of the liabilities;
• Administration of locker keys, accurate recording of transactions and reporting of liabilities;
• ensuring the school reclaims VAT on eligible expenditure and records VAT on all relevant income;

Educational Visits
• Ensure collection and banking of all monies in relation to educational visits including issuing receipts for distribution to pupils as well as making refunds where necessary;
• Responsible for making timely payments as required;
• Liaise with the Risk Protection Arrangement to organise refunds for cancelled trips/visits
• Collating parental consent forms and ensuring staff receive reports relating to their particular activity;

Petty Cash
• Issue and record all petty cash transactions and reconcile on a regular basis;
• Deal with all related administration as and when required.

General Administration
• General finance office administration, filing and maintaining of office records.

The ideal candidate will have:
• Some Financial/accounting background with experience in some of the 'general' tasks (education sector experience is not required)
• A relevant Degree or qualification, or relevant equivalent experience
• Experienced working with software, finance software would be an advantage
• Good Excel skills
• Strong communication skills - front line position
• Able to manage multiple tasks concurrently, in a busy office environment
• Able to prioritise tasks, seeking advice when required
• Trustworthy and able to maintain confidentiality
• Able to work in a small team

The successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Hours per week: 25 hours a week. Working pattern will be Monday to Friday 9.30 - 3.00 or 9.00 - 2.30 with 30m lunch break (there may be occasions whereby ad hoc additional hours are required to complete tasks). The role will be term time only, with an element of paid holiday included within the salary.

Working weeks per year: Term time only

Location: The post is based on site within the school.

Start date: Required for immediate start.

Pay: The post is paid on Essex Schools' Local Government Pay Scale 5 Point 9 which is £26,409 for a full time post (actual salary £15,297 gross per annum) .

Information about the School

At Southend High School for Boys, talent is nurtured and learning is valued. Challenge is welcomed, participation is expected and achievement is prized. Pupils are happy, and prosper at the school.

We are an oversubscribed grammar school, complimented on our latest (2015) outstanding OFSTED inspection on all aspects, including our success in promoting good pupil attitudes and behaviour.

As a grammar school, high academic expectations are central to our purpose, and these are sustained through an extensive programme of support and guidance. Pupils develop their confidence and enthusiasm through a wide range of creative, sporting and other endeavours.

Southend High School for Boys stands on a superb site within walking distance of Prittlewell Station and the centre of Southend. Pupils retain fond memories of their years at the school, and stay in contact for many years.