Finance Officer – Secondary School – Chelmsford

Start Date: As soon as possible
Contract: Full-time Permanent
Salary: Paid to scale

This is a well-established Secondary School in Chelmsford serving students across Key Stages 3 4 and 5. The school has a strong academic ethos alongside a clear commitment to student wellbeing inclusion and personal development.

The school has an established business and administration team responsible for supporting the financial and operational requirements of the school. Accuracy accountability and effective organisation are central to the work of this team.

The successful Finance Officer will work alongside the School Business Manager and other administrative colleagues supporting the school with its day-to-day financial processes.

The school provides a professional environment in which support staff are valued for their contribution. Staff work collaboratively and there is a clear emphasis on maintaining efficient systems that allow teaching and pastoral teams to focus on supporting students.

The school is seeking an organised and detail-focused Finance Officer to join its finance and administration team.

The successful candidate will support the daily management of financial administration including invoices purchase orders payments records reconciliations and financial reporting.

The position will require a high level of accuracy and confidentiality. You will need to be comfortable working with financial information and able to identify discrepancies or missing information.

You will also communicate with suppliers staff and external contacts meaning that strong professional communication skills are important.

• Support the day-to-day financial administration of the school.

• Process invoices and payment documentation.

• Assist with purchase orders and supplier payments.

• Maintain accurate financial records.

• Check invoices against relevant purchase information.

• Liaise with suppliers regarding invoices and payment queries.

• Process staff expenses and claims where required.

• Assist with account and bank reconciliations.

• Monitor outstanding payments.

• Maintain supplier records.

• Assist with budget monitoring.

• Prepare financial information and reports for senior staff.

• Support the School Business Manager with financial administration.

• Maintain accurate electronic and paper financial records.

• Assist with month-end procedures.

• Support year-end financial processes.

• Assist with audit preparation and financial checks.

• Identify discrepancies and raise them promptly.

• Ensure financial procedures are followed consistently.

• Handle confidential financial information appropriately.

• Assist with departmental budget administration.

• Respond to finance-related queries from staff.

• Support the wider administration team during busy periods.

• Ensure deadlines are met.

• Contribute to improvements in financial administration procedures.

The successful candidate will have previous experience within finance accounts or financial administration.

Experience in a school academy college charity public-sector organisation or similar environment would be advantageous.

You should be confident working with numbers and financial records and have excellent attention to detail.

Good knowledge of Microsoft Excel is important while experience with accounting software or school finance systems would be beneficial.

You must be able to work independently while also contributing effectively to a wider finance and administration team.

• Previous finance or accounts administration experience.

• Strong numerical ability.

• Excellent attention to detail.

• Good Microsoft Excel skills.

• Experience using financial or accounting systems.

• Strong organisational skills.

• Ability to meet deadlines.

• Excellent written and verbal communication.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Strong problem-solving skills.

• Ability to identify financial discrepancies.

• Professional and reliable approach.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Previous education-sector experience is desirable.

• AAT or relevant finance qualification is advantageous.

• Full-time permanent employment.

• Professional school environment.

• Supportive finance and leadership team.

• Established financial systems.

• Opportunities for training and development.

• Modern administrative facilities.

• Collaborative working culture.

• Varied financial responsibilities.

• Opportunity to develop within an established education environment.

To apply for the Finance Officer position please send your CV as soon as possible.