School Finance Assistant

Location: Waltham Forest, East London

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent (37 hours per week, Term-Time + 2 Weeks or All-Year-Round)

Start Date: Immediate / ASAP or January Start

A vibrant, forward-thinking secondary school and Sixth Form in the East London Borough of Waltham Forest is seeking a precise, proactive, and detail-driven School Finance Assistant to join their dedicated operational support team. This is an excellent opportunity for an accounts administrator, finance clerk, or aspiring finance professional looking to deliver high-quality transactional accounting, purchase ledger management, and financial coordination in a dynamic educational environment.

About the Role

As the Finance Assistant, you will play a core operational role in supporting the daily financial health of the school. Reporting directly to the Finance Manager / School Business Manager, you will manage day-to-day accounting transactions, process supplier invoices, handle income reconciliation, and maintain accurate financial records to ensure full compliance with public sector financial standards.

• Environment: A welcoming East London secondary school equipped with modern financial management software, streamlined digital workflows, and a well-structured administrative hub

• Culture: A supportive, collaborative operational department where accuracy, teamwork, financial integrity, and clear communication are highly valued

Key Responsibilities

• Accounts Payable & Receivable: Process supplier purchase orders and invoices, verify deliveries, perform three-way matching, resolve payment queries, and prepare periodic BACS payment runs.

• Income & Banking Reconciliation: Collect, log, and reconcile incoming revenue—including trip payments, catering fees, and lettings income—using digital school payment systems (e.g., ParentPay, SchoolMoney) and process bank deposits.

• Petty Cash & Expense Processing: Manage petty cash transactions, audit staff expense claims, and verify credit card receipts in line with financial regulation guidelines.

• Financial Ledger Maintenance: Input financial data accurately into school accounting databases (e.g., SIMS Finance, FMS, PSF, Sage, or Access Education), ensuring correct cost-center coding and ledger integrity.

• Audit & Reporting Support: Assist the Finance Manager with monthly bank reconciliations, year-end financial audits, budget monitoring reports, and supplier statement checks.

Requirements

• Demonstrable experience in a finance, accounting, or bookkeeping role (experience within a school, college, local authority, or public sector setting is desirable).

• Relevant financial qualification (e.g., AAT Level 2/3, NVQ in Accounting/Finance) or equivalent practical experience in transactional finance.

• Proficiency in computerized financial management systems and Microsoft Office (particularly Excel spreadsheets, Word, and Outlook).

• Strong numerical accuracy, sharp attention to detail, and sound understanding of basic accounting principles (purchase ledger, sales ledger, cash reconciliation).

• Excellent organizational abilities, strong interpersonal skills, and a professional, discreet approach to handling confidential financial data.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Outer London Support Staff Scale (commensurate with qualifications and financial administration experience).

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), generous annual leave/holiday entitlement, funded accounting CPD/AAT training opportunities, and access to staff health and wellbeing benefits.

How to Apply

If you are a organized, numbers-focused finance professional ready to support the operational success of a thriving secondary school in Waltham Forest, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your application and CV as soon as possible for consideration.