Finance Assistant

Contract Type: Permanent

Contract Term: Full-Time

Salary: £27,274.00 - £29,070.00 Annually (Actual)

Band E: NJC scp 07 (£27,274) to NJC 11 (£29,070)

The Sutton Academy is seeking a Finance Assistant to join our business support team at the academy.

This role is for someone who can keep school finances accurate and timely, managing purchase orders, supplier invoices, card reconciliations and Arbor Pay queries while working closely with the Cluster Finance Manager and Finance Officer. You will be hands-on with day-to-day processing and month-end reconciliations, and your attention to detail will ensure payments and records are correct and compliant. The role is practical and collaborative: you will support routine processing and be a first point of contact for payment and Arbor Pay queries.

What you'll be doing:

• Process supplier invoices and purchase orders in Civica Financials; check entries for accuracy and secure budget-holder approvals for timely payment

• Reconcile credit card transactions monthly and administer petty cash.

• Handle Arbor Pay online payment queries and related tasks.

• Assist with school bank administration, including regular cash reconciliation and deposits.

• Produce and collate finance reports from accounting software for the finance team and external auditors.

• Support month-end and year-end financial reconciliations and help maintain financial records in line with school policies.

• Support staff with purchasing processes and place orders when required.

• Maintain confidentiality and professional conduct in all finance duties

What we're looking for - Essential

• Experience of financial procedures, controls, processes and reconciliations

• Accounts payable experience, handling supplier invoices and purchase orders.

• Experience working in a busy finance office environment.

• Up-to-date knowledge of ICT and financial management systems (for example Arbor, Civica Financials and Microsoft Office).

• Excellent organisational skills, strong numeracy and literacy.

• Ability to work accurately to strict deadlines with high attention to detail.

• Effective communication skills with staff, suppliers and external organisations.

• A strong team player who supports colleagues when required.

• AAT part-qualified (Level 2/3 or equivalent).

• GCSE Grade C/4 or above in Mathematics and English (or equivalent).

• Commitment to personal development.

• Experience of working within a school or academy environment is preferred but not essential.

What we offer:

• Permanent, full-year role: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

• Clear salary range: Band E: NJC scp 07 (£27,274) to NJC 11 (£29,070).

• Eligible for membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

• Occupational sickness and parental leave pay schemes.

• A minimum of 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days after 5 years eservice), in additional to bank holidays.

• Access to TCAT+ our Reward, Recognition and Wellbeing platform, including access to retailer discounts and benefits, discounted healthcare cash plan, cycle to work scheme and online resources to support physical, emotional, professional, financial and social wellbeing.

• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme.

• Access to a comprehensive CPD framework though ‘Education Connect’, our professional development arm, and online resources from the ‘National College’.

Applications close: Midday, Sunday 1 November 2026.

This post is subject to satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. The Sutton Academy is committed to equal opportunities. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, The Sutton Academy will undertake general online searches for all shortlisted candidates, this may include social media and video platforms. Online searches will only examine data that is publicly available, and the aim is to identify any incidents or issues. Any areas of concern will be discussed during the interview process