Herts for Learning Ltd Hiring for Financial Accountant Job at Stevenage, England Full Time

Do you have excellent accounting and financial management skills combined with an interest in the education sector?

Would you enjoy the opportunity to work with different clients, including schools and academies, on a daily basis both in Hertfordshire and beyond?

If so, we would love to hear from you.

The Financial Services Academies team works with single and multi-academy trusts both inside and outside of Hertfordshire, providing financial management, financial planning and financial assurance services. We are looking for an experienced and professional accountant, who is looking for a varied role, to join our growing team to support with the development and delivery of services to single and multi-academy trusts as well as to maintained schools.

The team are working remotely where possible to support their schools and when required, providing onsite support to their schools in line with Government guidelines. Therefore the ability to reach different locations by car will be essential. If you drive then a full driving licence and appropriate car insurance will be required. Also as there is a permanent home working element to this role, you will need to ensure you are equipped for home working.

Main areas of responsibility

• To provide complex financial accountancy services to a portfolio of schools and academies to include;

• the preparation of ESFA financial returns
• completion and submission of VAT returns
• reconciliation of accounts
• preparation of year end accounts and audit working papers

• To provide business partner services to schools and academies including the preparation of monthly management accounts to include profit and loss reviews, balance sheet reports and cash flow forecasting
• To provide strategic financial planning support to schools, to include the preparation of annual budgets, support with ongoing budget planning and scenario planning
• Attendance at academy trust resource meetings as required to report on monthly management accounts and year end
• To delivery internal audit services to academies, to include the planning, on-site fieldwork and submission of reports within set deadlines
• To support schools converting to academy status, supporting the set-up of new finance systems and processes for the opening academy.
• Working as a critical friend and carrying out peer reviews of academy work completed by members of the Financial Services team, ensuring compliance with The Academies Financial Handbook.
• To support on project work, developing new services for academies, to improve financial reporting, processes and procedures
• To develop and deliver training courses to schools, academies and colleagues in the Financial Services Team.
• Liaison with external organisations as appropriate including Audit Firms, Hertfordshire County Council and the Education Standards & Funding Agency.

Person specification

• Strong academic background
• Full or part-qualified accountant working towards an accounting qualification (desirable)
• Knowledge of schools finance (desirable)

Experience of

• Production of financial accounts and working papers for year end
• Application of financial policies and procedures in your work
• Preparation and monitoring of budgets (desirable)
• Using a variety of financial accounting systems, including PS Financials, Sage, Access Education Finance and FMS (desirable)
• Schools financial management (desirable)
• Working with auditors.

Skills and abilities

• Ability to work independently and on own initiative
• Ability to build effective relationships with senior management and other external stakeholders e.g. auditors.
• Ability to explain through instruction, guidance and training, complex financial information and best practice.
• Highly organised with the ability to plan and manage work to achieve results and meet deadlines.
• Ability to lead and deliver specific projects with little direct supervision
• Ability to provide high quality commentary and analysis of management accounts
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written form and face to face
• To demonstrate a passion and motivation to support schools of all types to achieve the very best for their pupils.

Full training on academy trust and school finances will be provided.

This is a busy and stimulating role which requires commitment, resilience and professionalism, but gives flexibility and independent working in line with the service requirements.

Would you like to know some more about this opportunity? If so please visit the Herts for Learning website and review the job outline. You can also contact the Central Recruitment team with any queries on the hfl.recruitment email address below.

Ready to apply… please click ‘Apply’ and you will be contacted to complete an application form and supporting statement as part of the recruitment process. We do not accept CVs and this vacancy is open to UK residents only.

We would love to hear from you.

Closing Date: 10th September 2021 at midday

*Interview Date: 22nd September 2021

*In the event you are shortlisted, please ensure you are available for the Interview date stated above. Interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams.

HfL is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We insist on the equal treatment of all current and prospective colleagues and will never condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

HfL is also equally committed to becoming an anti-racist organisation and we encourage you to view our Black Lives Matter statement which gives clarity on our anti-racist stance. In our relentless efforts to be an anti-racist organisation, we recognise the negative impacts of under representation and lack of diversity in our organisation, our education system and in all aspects of our society. Therefore, to help us meet our high standards and aspirations of a fully diverse and inclusive workplace, we strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply and to join us.

Reference ID: HFL1377

Hours: 37 per week 52 weeks per year (part time / term time plus 2 weeks per year considered)

Application deadline: 10/09/2021

Expected start date: 20/10/2021

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Salary: £32,000-£34,000 per year

Reference ID: HFL1377

Application deadline: 10/09/2021

Expected start date: 20/10/2021

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Salary: £32,000.00-£34,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Bike to work scheme
• Company events
• Company pension
• Sick pay
• Store discounts
• Wellness programmes
• Work from home

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

COVID-19 considerations:
Teams are working remotely where possible. The office in Stevenage is continuing to support distancing between desks, regular handwashing and facemasks to be used when moving around the location.

Education:

• GCSE or equivalent (preferred)

Work remotely:

• Temporarily due to COVID-19