Financial Control Officer

Job Title: Financial Control Officer

Location: Warlingham, Surrey

Salary: TLT 7 - FTE £32,517 - £34,654.00 (part time considered but a minimum of 4 days per week and 42 weeks of the year)

Job Type: Permanent - Full / Part time.

Job Purpose:

The Financial Control Officer role forms a key part of the Trust's shared services Finance team. This role will support the MAT Finance Manager in delivering accurate, reliable and timely data to the wider Finance team, and the schools within our Trust.

We are looking for someone with strong knowledge of accounting principles, who is highly analytical with a good attention to detail, and someone who works well in a team.

The shared services Finance team are a supportive and friendly team, with high aspirations to provide an exceptional service to the schools in our Trust by maximising efficiencies and presenting accurate and meaningful data to our key stakeholders.

Key Accountabilities and Tasks:

• Prepare monthly balance sheet reconciliations, demonstrating solid understanding of all balances and be able to explain and investigate the underlying transactions
• Prepare a monthly cashflow forecast to enable the Trust to invest funds appropriately
• Prepare month end journal for payroll costs for all employees in the Trust to ensure accurate reporting
• Review consistency of staffing costs across schools to enable meaningful benchmarking analysis
• Prepare overtime analysis for reporting to Headteachers
• Post any staff recharge journals between schools and shared services
• Ensure bank / credit card statements are made available regularly to assist timely reconciliation
• Book transactions on the finance system as required (eg income received, payments to HMRC)
• Review month end cut off and post any accruals, prepayments and accrued / deferred income
• Check and validate funding streams from the ESFA and Local Authority to ensure accuracy and maximisation of funding
• Prepare reports/statistics/briefings to meet statutory/management information requirements
• Recommend improvements and support implementation to systems, processes and procedures, ensuring best practice is shared across the team
• Develop further KPI reporting on key metrics for review by the Executive and Trust Boards
• Prepare analysis on capital expenditure and fixed assets
• Review transactional data for the whole Trust to ensure consistency of reporting and highlight any issues to the wider team
• Assist the MAT Finance Manager in ad hoc analysis work, preparing easy to follow and comprehensive information that is accurate and reliable
• Investigate any accounting issues / problems using a methodical approach
• Prepare month end packs and schedules for the Finance team for analysis
• Respond to and resolve enquiries and problems, judging when to pass on complex queries or involve others, to provide an effective service and clear advice to colleagues and customers.

Planning and Organising:

• Provide comprehensive support to a group of senior staff, ensuring confidentiality, effectively organising internal and external activities/events to support the delivery of efficient services.
• Plan and prioritise own work activities for the weeks ahead, to ensure operational efficiency
• Respond effectively to changing demands, adjusting priorities as needed
• Keep abreast of new funding streams or any relevant changes, and update the wider team as required
• Support the MAT Finance Manager in the year end external audit, and internal audits where required
• Work to a prescribed timetable ensuring all deliverables are met on time

Person Specification:

Qualifications;

• Full / part qualified accountant. Would consider qualification by experience in certain circumstances

Knowledge & experience;

• Exhibits technical proficiency, with a good understanding of accountancy principles.
• Strong grasp of double entry bookkeeping
• Practical knowledge or experience relevant to the role

Skills & aptitudes;

• Competent in a range of IT tools including Word, Excel, Outlook and Information Management Systems
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Ability to problem solve independently
• Able to prioritise and plan own workload in the context of conflicting priorities
• High level of analytical skills
• Ability to work with large / complex data sets
• Work with others to provide excellent customer service, ensuring good working relationships are maintained with all stakeholders

Personal attributes;

• Maintain confidentiality and discretion
• Be flexible, adaptable and patient
• Be a real team player

Safeguarding;

• Able to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people in line with the school Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Please click APPLY and attach your CV + Cover Letter to be considered for this role.

Candidates with the experience or relevant job titles of Financial Controller, Finance Supervisor, Accounts Manager, Accounts Supervisor, Finance Coordinator, Accounts Coordinator, Management Accountant, Group Finance Officer, Accountant, Finance Officer, Finance Specialist may also be considered for this role.