Finance Officer - Inspiring School in Southwark

Job Title: Finance Officer

Location: Southwark, Inner London

School Type: 11–18 Secondary School & Sixth Form

Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Start Date: ASAP

Salary: Competitive (Inner London local authority pay scale, depending on experience)

Role Overview

An inspiring secondary school in Southwark is seeking an accurate, organized, and reliable Finance Officer to join their business operations team ASAP. In this key support role, you will work closely with the Finance Manager and School Business Manager to manage daily accounting activities, maintain accurate financial records, and ensure strict regulatory compliance. This is an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented finance professional to play an active role in maintaining the smooth operational running of an Inner London educational community.

Key Responsibilities

• Process purchase orders, supplier invoices, sales ledger transactions, and petty cash reconciliations in a timely manner.

• Perform routine banking tasks, monitor incoming payments, and execute regular bank reconciliations using school financial software (e.g., SIMS FMS, PS Financials, Civica).

• Support budget holders with monthly balance monitoring, variance reporting, and departmental expenditure tracking.

• Manage online payment systems (e.g., ParentPay, SchoolGateway) for catering, school trips, and extracurricular activities.

• Maintain accurate audit trails and ensure all processes comply with financial regulations, procurement guidelines, and internal controls.

Key Requirements

• Relevant financial qualification (e.g., AAT Level 3/4) or proven practical accounting experience within an education or public sector environment.

• Demonstrated track record in finance administration, ideally utilizing dedicated school finance software.

• High numerical accuracy, robust organizational skills, and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

• Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills for effective liaison with budget holders, suppliers, and auditors.

• Legal right to work in the UK.

School Highlights & Benefits

• Collaborative administrative team and supportive senior leadership committed to staff development.

• Opportunities for ongoing professional learning and sponsorship for relevant finance qualifications.

• Central Inner London location with outstanding transport connections (London Underground, Overground, and national rail lines).

• Competitive Inner London salary, Local Government Pension Scheme enrolment, and staff wellbeing initiatives.

Application

To apply for this Finance Officer role at an inspiring school in Southwark, starting ASAP, please submit your updated CV as soon as possible.