School Finance Assistant London, England
Job description
Role Profile: School Finance Assistant
Purpose
Reporting to the Pod Finance Manager, the School Finance Assistant will play an integral role in the smooth operation of day-to-day school finances.
The School Finance Assistant will assist the school leadership team and the Pod Finance Manager in ensuring the compliance and implementation of finance polices and processes related to procurement, payroll, Cognita Connect and other finance processes.
We are looking for someone with good IT skills and strong administrative and organisational skills. The role is an integral part of the finance function for the school and the wider business and will give opportunity to develop understanding of policies and processes to allow for a potential pathway into operations management or the wider finance function.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Management
- Ensure that all financial accounting deadlines are achieved to a high standard. This includes information related to month end close and payroll.
- To complete for the school/cluster all purchase requests via Netsuite in line with budgets ensuring correct approvals are received prior to purchase
- To collate and prepare payroll related documentation for the school/cluster and ensure this is shared in a timely fashion with relevant stakeholders
- To process all offers and bookings on Cognita Connect to enable parents to make purchases
- To provide data where required to Pod Finance Manager, Accounts Payable, Central Billing or other central functions
- To process refund requests for the school as per guidance from Pod Finance Manager
- To ensure invoices are ‘goods receipted’ in a timely fashion to enable prompt payment of our suppliers
Team Responsibilities
- Support on finance within the school/cluster
- Provide support to the Head Teacher, Pod Finance Manager and other school colleagues
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Person Specification
Skills, Capabilities, Attributes
Be a nice person who is likeable and can relate easily to others
Ability to work collaboratively within a team and communicate with multiple levels of stakeholders
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to relate
well to people on all levels with sensitivity, tact and diplomacy First class organisational and administrative skills.
Ability to remain calm under pressure and work to tight deadlines; systematic approach to tasks, with attention to detail
Able to maintain a high work rate and to juggle a range of tasks and competing priorities
- Excellent ICT skills – confident and adept in use of Microsoft applications e.g. Word, Excel and database input. Experience in NetSuite, Weduc desirable but not essential
- High levels of accuracy and attention to detail
Experience
- Previous experience of working in an administrative function
Experience of delivering time-sensitive data processing to ensure smooth customer journey
- Experience with finance software
Diversity and Inclusion
We believe having a diverse workforce makes us better, smarter and happier and so welcome applicants from all backgrounds, genders, and races. We have an unwavering commitment to being fair and equitable in our recruitment process.
Safeguarding Responsibilities
- To comply with safeguarding policies, procedures and code of conduct
- To demonstrate a personal commitment to safeguarding & student/colleague wellbeing
- To ensure that safeguarding concerns or incidents are reported appropriately in line with policy
- To engage in safeguarding training when required
Cognita Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.
Key Stakeholders
Internal – Pod/UK Finance Team/Parent Experience Team
External –Third Party Contractors
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months
Salary: £25,000.00-£30,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Ability to commute/relocate:
- London, SW7 1ND: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person
Expected start date: 29/05/2023
