Overview
Laleham Gap School Job Description
Job Description: Finance Officer
School:
Laleham Gap
Grade:
Kent Scheme D (previously KR6) (£26,393-£27,713 (Actual £24,185-£25,394) Term Time x 2 weeks
Responsible to:
School Business Manager
Purpose of the Job:
To Assist the School Business Manager to provide a full range of finance and business support to the school. This includes being responsible for the day to day management and monitoring of the school’s budget and financial systems in accordance with KCC Financial Regulations.
Finance Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Assist the School Business Manager with business and financial management of school resources including budget / financial planning and advice to the senior leadership team, governing body and external agencies.
2. Monitor all school budgets on a monthly basis, producing analysis reports to ensure that the Headteacher, Governing Body and Budget Holders have accurate and timely information on school finances.
3. Assist the School Business Manager in preparation of the annual draft budget and any changes agreed to budget, analysing, interpreting and profiling information to ensure adequate provision is made to cover increasing costs.
4. Maintain the school’s accounting systems both the main school account and the voluntary account.
5. Responsible for adherence to financial regulations and audit requirements and advising on the application of these.
6. Assist the School Business Manager and contribute to develop appropriate policies relevant to school support functions.
7. Assist with the design and implementation of the school’s financial procedures and systems.
8. Process orders and approve payments ensuring correct financial control is applied in the absence of Finance Assistant.
9. Assist the School Business Manager with preparation of payroll reports – this includes checking, collating, inputting and processing.
10. Manage and maintain the School Voluntary Fund, including preparing and organising an annual external audit and providing regular reports to the Business Manager, Governors or other account holders as required.
11. Maintaining the schools Asset Register.
12. Negotiate, manage and monitor licences, insurances and contracts on behalf of the school.
13. Arrange agreed payments, evaluate, audit and monitor expenditure complying with LA guidelines to ensure best value for money.
14. Develop and maintain systems and procedures to ensure information and transactions comply with school, LA and audit requirements.
15. Manage the School Fund within school and LA requirements to ensure that the school receives best value for money.
16. Produce financial analysis and reports, including liaising and reporting to the Local Authority.
17. Authorise petty cash and ensure appropriate use of the school’s bank accounts.
18. Reconcile accounts.
19. Undertake day-to-day supervision of Finance Assistant to ensure deadlines are met.
20. Undertake administrative duties, such as reception, filing, and document preparation.
21. Any other duties or tasks appropriate to the grade of the post assigned by the Headteacher.
Laleham Gap School Person Specification
Person Specification for Finance Officer.
CRITERIA
QUALIFICATIONS
· Level 3 Diploma or equivalent relevant experience.
EXPERIENCE
· Significant experience of working in a finance role.
· Previous experience of working within financial regulations.
· Experience of accounting and financial procedures sufficient to be able to maintain accounts, produce financial reports, advise on variances.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
· Strong interpersonal and communication skills – written and verbal.
· Ability to communicate a range of financial information both verbally and in writing with the senior leadership team and other staff.
· Positive “can do” attitude Initiative / proactive approach.
· Emotional resilience, forward thinking and solution focused.
· Good organization & time management skills ability to manage priorities & meet deadlines whilst remaining methodical and giving attention to detail.
· Assured manner. High level customer service skills and professional ethos.
· Strong IT Skills- Keyboard skills applied with precision and speed.
· Ability to prioritise own workloads and to work to deadlines is essential.
KNOWLEDGE
· Requires knowledge of accounting and financial procedures sufficient to be able to maintain accounts, produce financial reports, advise on variances.
· Must be aware of KCC Financial Regulations and understand other relevant school policies.
· Knowledge of the School’s Record Retention Policy and freedom of information protocols of awareness of the requirement for this policy and protocol.
· Knowledge of a range of IT systems.
· Knowledge of computerised and manual filing systems.
· Awareness of Data Protection and confidentiality issues.
· Staff will be expected to have an awareness of and work within national legislation and school policies and procedures relating to Health and Safety.