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Accountant and/or Assistant Accountant

Accountant and/or Assistant Accountant

The Griffin Schools Trust

Catford

  • £25,000 - £35,000 per year
  • Expired
Job type:
Full Time, Part Time, Permanent
Start date:
As soon as possible
Apply by:
15 July 2022

Job overview

The Griffin Schools Trust is expanding its finance function to give even better support to our leaders and to prepare for our next stage of growth. We are looking for talented professionals to complete our finance team.


Position: Accountant and/or Assistant Accountant

Location: Catford, South East London

Contract type: Full or Part time

Contract term: Permanent

Hours: 9am-5pm

Salary: FTE £25k-£35k depending on qualifications and track record


The Griffin Schools Trust is looking for an experienced Accountant/Assistant Accountant to support the education of 5,600 children through the strategic financial management of public money.


We are not a run of the mill organisation. We have big ambitions for our schools and their communities and offer a vibrant working environment in which you can grow.


Our Trust is passionate about opportunities for the young people in our schools and we value our staff highly because they are the ones who make the magic happen. We offer excellent personal and professional development and a vibrant and unusual office environment.


Key Purpose

The role plays an important part in the provision of the highest quality education for all our children by enabling Trust and school leaders to make optimum use of resource through accurate and timely financial information and specialist support.

 

Main Responsibilities - not limited to

Provision of financial support to Executive Team and School Leadership Teams

  • Assist the senior stakeholders in running the school/Trust as a ‘not for profit business’ 
  • Actively support in the formulation of annual budgets and 5-year plans, supporting leaders to cost development plans 
  • Provide regular and accurate cash flow information, predict future trends and support Heads and Trust leaders to manage budgets
  • Check and be responsible for payroll accuracy
  • Interact directly with Trust and school leaders as required.

 

Income Generation and Support for Projects and Procurement

  • Actively contribute to the financial analysis of and provision of financial advice to school and Trust-wide projects, including the procurement of goods and services
  • Continuously seek ways to ensure finance processes and controls are performed in the most effective and efficient manner
  • Continuously seek to improve value for money and savings where possible
  • Work with colleagues to explore and generate additional income (e.g. grants, fee and letting income, donations).


Financial Reporting, Management and Control

  • Support the Executive Team and school leadership teams in meeting the requirements of the ESFA Academies Financial Handbook 
  • Be responsible for ensuring high standards of compliance with the GST financial handbook and immediately report any instances of non-compliance
  • Prepare monthly management accounts for the schools and include commentary and narratives on trends and monthly changes. Explore with leaders the reasons for variations to budget
  • Interpret financial statements and present to senior leadership teams, governors and the Trust Board coherently and succinctly.


Stakeholder Engagement and Wider Team Contribution

  • Communicate well, engage with and manage internal and external stakeholders
  • Act as the school/s finance representative and attend key meetings 
  • Engage on a regular basis with internal audit to ensure improvement actions are implemented and to further develop corporate governance within the business
  • As part of GST Finance Team, support other finance colleagues based in other locations when required
  • Take on duties as reasonably required by the Chief Executive Officer
  • Collate information as needed for auditors and for GST reporting.


Person Specification

Accountants and Assistant Accountants come in all shapes and sizes and from a whole range of backgrounds. We encourage and promote diversity of every kind in our Trust so we are not looking for clones or people to fit an identikit. You must

  • Have an appetite for continual development of your own skills and expertise
  • Have an improvement mind-set; everything can be improved, confident in putting forward new ideas and challenging processes.
  • Be assertive and focussed on execution - making things happen.
  • Have the ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
  • Be comfortable with change and excited to work with your team and the wider business to problem solve, focusing on solutions.
  • Have experience in accounting, financial analysis, underwriting, or auditing (also suit a part-Qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA or newly qualified AAT)
  • Be able to communicate well, orally and in writing, with a range of professionals including the Trust’s Executive and Board.
  • Have a track record in meeting deadlines and producing quality work.
  • Be genuinely enthusiastic about the Trust’s mission and bring to it personal integrity and a strong work ethic.
  • Good analytical skills, commercial aptitude and professionally sceptical mind-set (ability to identify issues, understand complex problems, draw sound conclusions).


Experience required

  • Preparation of balance sheet reconciliations
  • Experience in preparing accounting journals
  • Experience within an accountancy practice
  • Strong Excel Skills: Pivots / V-lookups.


How to apply

Please complete the application form and send a full CV along with a supporting statement of no more than one side of A4 telling us why you feel that you are the best fit and what you have found out about the Griffin Schools Trust.


Your application should be addressed for the attention of Anne Powell, Chief Executive Officer, and sent by direct email to recruitment@griffinschoolstrust.org. Send these together with the names, email addresses and direct phone numbers of two referees and in what capacity they know you. References will be sought for all shortlisted candidates.


For further information or for a confidential discussion of the opportunities please contact michelle.hall@griffinschoolstrust.org who will arrange for you to speak with the CEO and/or the Senior Accountant.


Applications will be considered as they arrive up to the closing date of Midday Friday 15 July 2022.

Interviews will be held week commencing 18 July 2022.


The Griffin Schools Trust is an equal opportunities employer committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. We treat people equally regardless of gender, race, disability or sexual orientation and are committed to meet the requirements of the Equalities Act and other relevant legislation. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Attached documents

About The Griffin Schools Trust

+44 20 8698 7049

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The Griffin Schools Trust is a transformational family of primary and secondary schools committed to providing an independent-style education for its 8,500 pupils in the Midlands and South East of England. Founded with the explicit vision to foster proud traditions, widen horizons and promote high achievement for students, staff and communities, it has an impressive track record of raising standards in challenging contexts. 

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Applications closed