Accountant (1-year Fixed Term Contract)

St Helen’s is an academically selective independent girls’ day school of more than 1200 students aged 3-18, set in beautiful green space in Northwood, Middlesex. 

THE SCHOOL

It draws pupils from a wide area of north-west London, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire with easy access by Underground from central London.  

We want our students to be brave and true, ever intellectually curious. They will believe they can do anything. They will want to explore how they can best interact with the world around them and make a difference for the better in their own way. They will be ready for whatever the future brings.

Our aims are:  

• To provide each and every girl with the opportunity and means to achieve academic excellence. 
• To provide our students with the personal skills, emotional resilience, and the confidence to achieve their full potential through a varied, rich and challenging co-curricular programme. 
• To know, value and respect all girls as individuals so as to best support them on their journey through the school. 
• To ensure that the girls are ready to play a full and active part in their communities and in an interconnected digital world. 

Our students achieve high academic standards, and we encourage them to develop lifelong skills in a diverse range of areas, both within and outside the curriculum, and to pursue their individual ambitions. The school is proud of its tradition of providing a balanced and forward-looking education through which its pupils can become confident, independent learners and leaders in their fields, their professions, and their communities. Attention to the individual child is at the heart of everything we do and shapes the pastoral care, teaching and learning and the co- curricular opportunities on offer at St Helen’s. 

THE POST

The role will report to: Head of Finance

St Helen’s is looking to appoint a Full time Accountant to join our Finance Department on a 1-year fixed term contract. This role is Monday to Friday, based on site throughout the year. Core office hours are: 08.30am – 5.00pm.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

•      You will support the Head of Finance with the preparation of the annual budget for

the school, including supporting schedules and all elements of income and

expenditure, including salaries

•      Input the annual budget into the accounting system

•      Prepare monthly management accounts for budget holders, including variance

analysis and full-year projections and other updates as agreed with Head of Finance

•      Develop and maintain the performance dashboard

•      Monitor/review financial transactions and ensure best value and practice

•      Support the year end closedown and preparation of statutory accounts

•      Support the audit process and assist with preparation of necessary working papers

and audit file

•      Support review of current processes and drive forward implementation of new

technologies to streamline the functions of the department including financial

access across the school

•      Preparation and submission of regulatory and annual returns as directed by the Head

of Finance

•      Ad-hoc financial and process analysis as required 

THE PERSON

•      Part CIMA/ACCA qualified or qualified by experience

•      Minimum of 2 years relevant experience

•      Experience of producing management accounts

•      Advanced Excel skills that enable the manipulation and analysis of data

•      The ability to work to tight deadlines

•      Numerate with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills

•      Team player

•      Ability to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholder

It is desirable for the successful candidate to have the following qualifications,

experience, and personal attributes:

 •     Experience of using Sage 200

APPLICATION PROCESS

Closing date: 8am Friday 9th December 2022

Please apply as soon as possible as shortlisting/interviews will progress up until the closing date. Should a suitable candidate be appointed, we reserve the right to close the advert early. 

Due to the volume of applicants, we receive, if you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume we will not be progressing your application further on this occasion.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the school where they will be interviewed by the Head of Finance and members of the Human Resources team, undertake a skills test, and have a tour of the school with other members of the Finance department.

St Helen’s school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, as detailed in Part 3 (Safer Recruitment) of the KCSIE 2022 guidance document. Applicants will be asked for proof of right to work in the UK and undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the disclosure and barring service.

If you have any queries about this position, please contact the school at recruitment@sthelens.london