Contracts Officer

Lumina Energy; Aylesford; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading public sector service provider in Aylesford is seeking a Contracts Officer to ensure sound financial planning in educational institutions. The ideal candidate must have experience in school finance departments and strong customer relationship skills. You will support schools with financial management, liaise with senior officers, and provide guidance on financial issues. In return, this role offers a salary of £27,642 per annum and additional benefits, emphasizing a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Life assurance cover (4x salary)

Pension scheme with 4% employer contribution

Retail and gym discounts

Health cash plan

Cycle to work scheme

Volunteer days

Access to a comprehensive wellbeing programme

Tailored learning and development support

Qualifications

• Understanding of national and local policies, financial controls and procedures.
• Ability to travel across Kent and Bexley as required.

Responsibilities

• Deliver and support contracts as defined in documentation.
• Liaise with Senior Contracts Officers on financial issues.
• Provide support on financial management systems.
• Advise on financial matters to schools and academies.
• Support delivery of business requirements of Schools Financial Services.

Skills

Experience in working in a school finance department

Knowledge of school finance systems and accounting software

Strong customer relationship skills

Research, analytical and interpretive skills

Job description

Location: Aylesford/Hybrid

Salary/package:£27,642 per annum

Contract type: Permanent

Hours:Full time,37 hours per week(may consider term time only)

Join a trusted team supporting schools across Kent with financial services that keep education on track. As a Contracts Officer, you’ll be playing a key role in ensuring sound financial planning and control. This is a great chance to develop your career in a supportive environment with one of the UK’s leading public sector service providers.

Who we are

The Education People, part of Commercial Services Group, havebeen supporting people to deliver the things that matter to the lives of children for many years and can proudly say that each of our education services is brought to you by experts in their field.

Our expertise ranges from safeguarding to equality & inclusion, from financial management to professional development alongside a whole range of other areas. Wherever it’s possible to provide education support services, we are committed to doing just that - whether it’s expert training, online education events or downloadable resources.

Why this role matters

The Contracts Officer plays a key role in supporting education centres with accurate financial planning, monitoring and compliance. By delivering expert advice and services, the role helps ensure financial stability and accountability across the education sector. It’s essential for enabling schools to focus on delivering quality education.

What you’ll be doing

• Deliver and support contracts as defined in the relevant contract specification documentation and agreed with schools, academies and MAT’s. This will include providing support and sound financial management advice to schools, to include Full bursarial, Returns & Monitoring and Adhoc contracts on processing, budget preparation, monthly monitoring and closure of accounts.
• Liaise with the Senior Contracts Officers regarding all financial issues in schools and academies, identifying and informing the senior management of the school/academy and the Senior Contracts Officer of any concerns and relevant budgetary issues.
• Provide support and guidance to schools and academies on their chosen financial and management accounting package ensuring the production of both statutory and ad hoc financial returns as well as their timely submittal.
• Provide advice, support and guidance to contracted schools and academies in relevant financial matters, including regular duties on the Helpdesk.
• Support the delivery of all business requirements of Schools Financial Services.

What we’re looking for

• Experience in working in a school finance department.
• Knowledge of school finance systems and accounting software.
• A good understanding of national and local policies, financial controls and procedures.
• Strong customer relationship skills.
• Research, analytical and interpretive skills.
• The ability to travel across a wide geographical area (Kent and Bexley) in a timely and flexible manner at various times of the day is essential.

What you’ll get in return

• Salary of £27,642 per annum
• 25 days annual leave
• Life assurance cover (4x salary)
• Pension scheme with 4% employer contribution
• Additional benefits including retail and gym discounts, health cash plan and cycle to work scheme
• Volunteer days and access to a comprehensive wellbeing programme
• Tailored learning and development support with real opportunities to progress

Why CSG?

Commercial Services Group (CSG) is the UK’s largest local authority‑owned trading company (LATCO), generating over £800 million in revenue and supporting 16,000 education and public sector customers worldwide. With more than 1,800 employees across the UK, France, Dubai and Bangkok, we are working towards becoming the global leader in education and public sector solutions.

We are expanding rapidly, with annual growth of around 25 percent, supported by a blend of organic development, acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Our 33 trading businesses deliver a wide range of services including education management, IT, HR, legal, energy, procurement and supplies.

CSG is wholly owned by local authorities, and a significant proportion of our profits is reinvested into frontline public services. Over £77 million has already been returned, reflecting our commitment to combining commercial performance with meaningful social impact.

Inclusion & Accessibility

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We encourage applications from suitably qualified people of all backgrounds.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our application and interview process; please let us know if you require any.