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Teaching Vacancies; Wakefield Regional Council; On-site; AUD 40,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

CPD opportunities

Flexible family policies

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Job summary

Outwood Grange Academies Trust in Wakefield is seeking a proactive Regional Finance Assistant to join the finance team. Initially based at Outwood Grange Academy, with future flexibility to support other local academies in the Wakefield region.

You will provide transactional accounting and clerical support, including entries, reconciliations, purchasing, and cash handling, working closely with Finance Managers.

Qualifications

• 5 GCSEs (A*-C / 9-4) including English & Maths.
• AAT or ACCA qualification (or active study towards one) is a strong advantage.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel and computerized financial systems.
• Excellent analytical skills with attention to detail; ability to work under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Process daily accounting entries and maintain sub-ledgers.
• Perform monthly balance sheet reconciliations and accounting procedures.
• Oversee purchasing to optimise value from suppliers and manage cash banking.
• Coordinate travel and transport bookings for school trips and queries from stakeholders.
• Handle supplier queries and budget-account-holder communications.

Skills

Excel

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Discretion

Education

GCSEs incl English & Maths

AAT/ACCA qualification (desirable)

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Financial systems

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

Role: Regional Finance Assistant

Academy:Wakefield Region (Initially based at Outwood Grange Academy, with future flexibility to support other local academies in the region)

Start Date:ASAP

Working Pattern:37 Hours Per Week, Monday to Friday, Whole Year.

Are you a detail-orientated finance professional looking to build a rewarding career within a high-performing Multi-Academy Trust?At Outwood Grange Academies Trust, we place Students First in everything we do. We are seeking a proactive Regional Finance Assistant to join our dedicated team. Initially based at Outwood Grange Academy in Wakefield, this dynamic role offers the opportunity to provide crucial financial support locally, with future flexibility to work across our Wakefield region academies as their finance functions evolve.The RoleWorking closely with our Finance Managers, you will deliver efficient transactional accounting and clerical support across the Trust. Key duties include processing daily accounting entries, maintaining sub-ledgers, and completing monthly balance sheet reconciliations. You will oversee purchasing to ensure best value from suppliers, manage physical cash banking, and coordinate travel and transport bookings for school trips. Additionally, you will serve as a primary contact for finance queries from Heads of Faculty, parents, and external contractors.About YouYou will possess 5 GCSEs (A*-C / 9-4) including English and Maths, with an AAT or ACCA qualification (or active study towards one) considered a strong advantage. Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel and computerized financial systems, you bring exceptional analytical skills, strong attention to detail, and a talent for prioritizing workloads under pressure. Excellent communication skills, absolute discretion, and a collaborative mindset are essential.Requirements Appointment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and full adherence to Trust Child Safeguarding procedures.

Responsibilities

The Finance Assistant provides financial administrative support by undertaking transactional accounting and clerical duties. Key responsibilities involve carrying out all financial procedures accurately and timely.

Duties include making accounting entries manually and via financial systems, monthly balance sheet reconciliation, and managing physical cash collection and banking. The role co-ordinates the purchase of goods and supplies, ensuring the school obtains best value for money. The Finance Assistant also deals with queries regarding suppliers and budget account holders, and organises staff business travel and transport for school visits.

Qualifications

Candidates must be ICT literate, skilled at using Microsoft Excel, and comfortable using other Microsoft applications. Essential skills include excellent analytical skills with great attention to detail. Requires the ability to work accurately and efficiently under pressure, and to deal with orders, invoices, and payment reconciliations. An Accountancy qualification or studying towards one (AAT, ACCA, etc.) is desirable.

What the school offers its staff

Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) places staff development at the heart of its strategy to deliver excellence, aiming to recruit, develop, and retain the best staff through the Outwood Institute of Education (OIE).

What will we do for you?

We offer a supportive package focusing on professional advancement, secure benefits, and work-life balance:

• Secure Pay & Pension:Competitive salary, automatic pay progression, and enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Training & Progression:Access to diverse CPD opportunities, including apprenticeships and vocational qualifications.
• Flexibility & Leave:Flexible family policies, enhanced occupational benefits (with no qualifying period), and 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays for non-term time staff.(Holiday for part-time staff is calculated on a pro-rata basis)
• Wellbeing & Perks:Dedicated mental well-being strategy, free on-site parking, employee discounts, and access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.