Islington Council Hiring for School Finance Officer Job at London, England Full Time

Have you ever considered a career in education finance where you can use your transactional skills to support schools to make a difference to children’s life chances across Islington and beyond? If the answer is yes, why not come and join the school finance team, where you can make a positive difference and further develop your career in education finance.

This is a busy and stimulating role that requires commitment, resilience and professionalism, but gives flexibility and independent working, in line with the service requirements of your schools. You will be working alongside our finance consultants and completing all tasks up to bank reconciliations.

The post holder will contribute to the delivery of high-quality financial reporting and budget management services to schools maintained by Islington Council.

The role involves posting into schools’ accounting systems including;

• Purchase ledger and non-purchase ledger items
• Sales ledger items
• Other income and expenditure
• Bank reconciliations
• System reconciliations

Currently the systems used are FMS and Access Finance.

The successful candidate will be able to work independently as well as part of a busy team. A high level of accuracy is required along with organisational ability to plan and manage work to achieve results and meet deadlines.

Closing date: Wednesday 30th November 2022 at 23:59

Interview date: To be confirmed

For further details please contact Sabrina Bryan | Schools Finance Service Manager | Email: Sabrina.bryan@islington.gov.uk

If you want to be a part of our Schools Finance team of passionate individuals, motivated to working together in the interests of children, then please get in touch.

Benefits include:

• Up to 30 days leave per year with more for long service!
• A range of flexible working arrangements
• A mix of office and home working
• Supportive management and staff support networks
• A strong sense of teamwork and collaboration
• Excellent pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please visit Working for the council | Islington Council to find out more!

To provide a high quality financial service to schools and the Local Authority that supports effective financial management and achieves accounting objectives. To assist in securing continued traded income from schools and to provide Local Authority financial assurance.

To act as a representative of Islington Schools Finance Service, raising its profile, perception and reputation through building effective relationships with schools and Council staff that seek to improvements in schools capacity to manage resources.

To achieve agreed service outcomes and outputs, and personal appraisal targets, as agreed by the line manager.

Key responsibilities

1. To provide a central financial management service to schools, including the completion of all transactions and reconciliations, the Statement of Charges, Statement of Income, payroll and any returns and budget monitoring as required.

2. Through the traded service to work in schools to provide high quality bursary, Access finance and FMS6 system support, Helpdesk support, and other adhoc financial management services to schools.

3. To provide support to the schools finance consultants on the completion and reconciliation of year end in relation to transactions.

4. To support the development of new or additional traded service income in schools, including supporting in provision of new services by the Schools Finance Team.

5. To act as a team member in a flexible and collaborative way for example covering colleagues’ schools at times of leave, sickness.

6. To deal flexibly and in a professional manner with conflicting priorities.

7. To undertake school fund audits within the service offer.

8. To support the Schools Finance Team in delivering training to schools.

9. To advise school staff on systems and procedures which meet their needs to support financial efficiency and maintenance of records.

10. To develop personal skills and expertise in transactions and processes to support the development of a high quality finance service to educational establishments.

11. To undertake training and constructively take part in meetings, supervision, seminars and other events designed to improve communication and assist with the effective development of the post and post holder.

12. To take action in ensuring deadlines are met by schools; monthly; quarterly and yearly, through appropriate communication platforms.

13. To support Schools Accountants in verifying and sense checking schools returns.

14. To carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the council’s commitment to customer service excellence and ensure compliance with the customer care standards.

15. To support the School Finance Consultants, Schools Accountants and School Finance Service Manager as and when required.

16. Contribute to the creation of a digital culture within the service by embracing technology in every-day activities and actively seeking digital improvement opportunities in support of a service-wide digital strategy.

17. Support opportunities for council-wide transformation and alternative service delivery Models.

18. To undertake other duties commensurate to the grade of the post.

Compliance

• Ensure legal, regulatory and policy compliance under GDPR, Health and Safety and in area of your specialism identifying opportunities and risks and escalating where appropriate.
• To ensure that all duties are performed in accordance with Accounting Standards and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Practice.
• Ensure that all services within the area(s} of responsibility are provided in accordance with Islington’s commitment to high quality service provision to the customer.
• At all times to carry out responsibilities/duties with due regard to Islington’s Equal Opportunity Employment Policy.
• To take responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons /vulnerable adults in your care and those who you come into contact with.
• Support an effective system of financial controls across the organisation with adequate review and coverage within the annual internal audit plan.
• Make a contribution towards the closure of accounts, support the external audit opinion and deliver appropriate financial returns. Ensure legal, regulatory and policy compliance under GDPR, Health and Safety and in area of your specialism identifying opportunities and risks and escalating where appropriate.