Early Education Finance Officer

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council; Brierley Hill; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

The Integrated Early Years Service at Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking an Early Education Finance Officer to administer and monitor Early Education Funding to support national expansion. This full-time, 37-hour role is based in agile and office-based settings, with a 12-month fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave.

The role involves processing payments, advising providers, handling online portal queries, and preparing financial reports while maintaining auditable records.

Qualifications

• Finance or accountancy experience, including preparing reports for senior managers.
• Experience of maintaining auditable financial and record-keeping systems.
• Knowledge of financial regulations, data protection, information security, UK GDPR and audit requirements.
• Confidence using finance software, databases and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication, customer service and organisational skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work independently or in a small, fast-paced team.
• Understanding of the early years and childcare sector.

Responsibilities

• Process accurate, timely payments for eligible children aged nine months to four years, including Early Years Pupil Premium, Disability Access Fund and Early Years Inclusion Fund.
• Support provider compliance with statutory guidance, the Dudley Code of Practice and Provider Agreement.
• Advise providers on the online portal, termly headcounts and funding requests.
• Explain early years entitlements to parents and carers through the service helpline.
• Prepare financial reports, maintain auditable records and support provider audits.

Skills

Finance software

Auditable record-keeping

Microsoft Office

Data protection knowledge

Communication skills

Independent work

Tools

Finance software

Job description

Early Education Finance Officer

Children’s Services – Integrated Early Years Service

Contract:Full-time, 37 hours per week | 12-month fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave.

Location:Agile and office-based working

Salary:Grade 7, SCP 18–23 | £32,578–£35,570

The Integrated Early Years Service is seeking an Early Education Finance Officer to join our small team to administer and monitor Early Education Funding (EEF) to support and deliver continuing national expansion.

What you will do

• Process accurate, timely payments for eligible children aged nine months to four years, including Early Years Pupil Premium, Disability Access Fund and Early Years Inclusion Fund.
• Support provider compliance with statutory guidance, the Dudley Code of Practice and Provider Agreement.
• Advise providers on the online portal, termly headcounts and funding requests.
• Explain early years entitlements to parents and carers through the service helpline.
• Prepare financial reports, maintain auditable records and support provider audits.

What we are looking for

• Finance or accountancy experience, including preparing reports for senior managers.
• Experience of maintaining effective, auditable financial and record-keeping systems.
• Knowledge of financial regulations, data protection, information security, UK GDPR and audit requirements.
• Confidence using finance software, databases and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication, customer service and organisational skills.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and work independently or within a small, fast-paced team.
• An understanding of the early years and childcare sector.

Additional information

This public-facing role includes contact with providers and schools and may involve audit visits. An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is required.

Find out more

Sam Orford, Early Education Funding Co-ordinator
[e-mail]
01384 814291

Donna Farnell, Team Lead – Early Years and Childcare
[e-mail]
01384 814373

Workplace Attendance

Working in the office 3+ days a week (pro-rata)

So that we can demonstrate Dudley’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and to improve bias in the recruitment process that could create barriers for candidates.

All applicants must be able to provide documentation to prove their right to work in the UK.

Please note: Dudley MBC does not currently offer sponsorship for candidates without the Right to Work in the UK.

Dudley Council will check the information that you have provided against any details already held for accuracy and completeness. The Council will check, share and cross match your information both internally within the council and with external organisations to protect public funds and prevent or detect crime, only where the law allows us to do so.

The Council’s full Privacy and Disclaimer Statement can be accessed on the website at https://www.dudley.gov.uk/privacy-disclaimer-statement/

N.B. We reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications

#LI-DMBC2019

Attached documents

• Job Description and Person Specification for FT EEF Officer
• Employee Benefits List.pdf