Finance Officer

Finance Officer

Reports to: Senior Finance Manager

Location: London Borough of Wandsworth

Contract: Permanent

Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm)

Closing date: We will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response

Interviews: Interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised

Salary: £24,000 to £30,000 depending on experience

About the role:

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity where you can be part of a strong team? Do you have a passion for finance processes and embedding best practice? Do you have a head for numbers? If so, this might just be the perfect operations role for you! This is a full-time, permanent role. You will work closely with (and report to) the Senior Finance Manager and will also work with the Principal and Operations Director at Ark Putney Academy.

As Finance Officer, you will be an integral part of the school, responsible for ensuring high standards of financial integrity. You will manage the daily and monthly financial processes in the school, ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Academies Financial Handbook. Your duties in each school may vary as you may be required to support the current Finance team in place.

About Ark Putney Academy:

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a ‘Good’ school

Ark Putney Academy opened in September 2012 as part of the Ark network in the London Borough of Wandsworth. We are a mixed school with 950 students, ranging from year 7 through to a very successful sixth form.

In our 2017 OFSTED inspection we were rated ‘Good’ in every category.

We have a successful sixth form which is renowned in the local area. We have a strong ethos, results are excellent and every year we send large numbers of students to some of the best universities, including Oxbridge.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

• Working closely with the Senior Finance Manager and Operations Director to ensure the continuing financial stability of the school
• Ensuring accurate and timely processing of purchase invoices and other documents using SAP Concur invoice approval system and PS Financials accounting software, reconciling supplier statements, and preparing payment runs for authorisation
• Assisting the Senior Finance Manager with the preparation of month end and year end accounts
• Support the Senior Finance Manager in driving forward change and initiatives which promote regularity, propriety, value for money and best standards
• Support other schools in South London region where necessary

Key Requirements:

• English and Maths GCSE grade A-C, or equivalent
• Experience of running effective administrative and financial systems, ideally within a school environment
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially excel, PSF financials desirable
• Strong organisational and time-management skills and the ability to delegate appropriately
• Ability to skilfully manage and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and other stakeholders
• High standards and a keen eye for detail

About Ark

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 28,500 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

You’ll be joining a group of like-minded, ambitious individuals who work collaboratively and are all committed to our core mission, that every child has the potential to succeed. Having just celebrated our 20th anniversary, we are shaping our goals for the next 20 and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service and full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Hybrid working, with currently two days a week in our state-of-the-art office in West London working alongside colleagues
• Regular social events, monthly free breakfast, and daily fruit
• A flexible approach to working with understanding and consideration for work life balance and personal commitments
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS/TPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and cover letter on our online recruitment portal. We will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.

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Interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; all successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Ark Schools are committed to attracting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce, with a broad range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.