Finance Officer | Secondary School in Havering

School Finance Officer

Location: Havering, East/Outer London

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent (36 hours per week, All-Year-Round or Term-Time + 3 Weeks considered)

Start Date: Immediate / ASAP or January Start

A forward-thinking, high-performing secondary school and Sixth Form in the London Borough of Havering is seeking a precise, analytical, and highly organized School Finance Officer to join their central operational services team. This is a crucial business support post for a finance specialist, whether an experienced school finance practitioner, an accounting assistant, or a commercial bookkeeper, who excels at managing educational budgets, maintaining robust financial controls, and driving sound fiscal administration across all school operations.

About the Role

As the School Finance Officer, you will manage day-to-day accounting functions, ensuring financial accuracy, statutory compliance, and efficient resource allocation across departmental budgets. Reporting directly to the School Business Manager (SBM) and working closely with senior leadership, you will oversee accounts payable and receivable, audit preparation, monthly bank reconciliations, payroll verification, and financial reporting across the school's operational accounts.

• Environment: A supportive, well-governed Outer London secondary school committed to fiscal integrity, modern digital accounting systems, and efficient operational infrastructure

• Culture: A collaborative, professional business services hub where numerical precision, proactive problem-solving, and sound stewardship of public funds are prioritized

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Administration & Ledgers: Maintain the school’s general ledger, purchase ledger, and sales ledger using dedicated school finance software (e.g., SIMS FMS, Access Education Finance, PS Financials, or Xero).

• Accounts Payable & Receivable: Process supplier invoices, raise purchase orders, issue sales invoices, manage petty cash, and execute timely BACS payment runs while securing best value for goods and services.

• Reconciliations & Reporting: Conduct monthly bank reconciliations, balance sheet checks, and VAT returns; prepare budget monitoring reports for departmental heads and the SBM to track variance against allocations.

• Payroll & Income Management: Assist with monthly payroll reconciliation, verify staff claims, and manage income streams including trip payments, lettings, catering income, and grant funding via online portal platforms (e.g., ParentPay or SchoolGateway).

• Audit & Compliance Support: Assist in preparing year-end accounts and documentation for internal and external audit reviews, ensuring full adherence to ESFA/Local Authority financial regulations and internal financial controls.

Requirements

• Relevant financial or accounting qualification (e.g., AAT Level 3/4, CSBM, or equivalent) or significant demonstrable experience in a finance officer / bookkeeping role.

• Proven track record in financial administration, ideally within an educational setting, academy trust, local authority, or non-profit sector.

• Proficiency in financial software packages (e.g., FMS6, Access, Sage, PS Financials, or Xero) and advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, financial formulas).

• Thorough understanding of double-entry bookkeeping, purchase order processing, invoice matching, and financial compliance controls.

• High level of numerical accuracy, exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and a professional, discreet approach to confidential financial data.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Outer London Support Staff Scale (commensurate with financial qualifications and experience).

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), generous annual leave entitlement, structured continuous professional development (CPD) and finance training, and access to staff health and wellbeing programs.

How to Apply

If you are a detail-oriented finance professional eager to bring your numerical expertise to a thriving secondary school in Havering, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your application and CV as soon as possible for consideration.