Finance and Contracts Officer

The Academies For Character And Excellence; Totnes; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The Academies for Character and Excellence is seeking a proactive Finance and Contracts Officer to join our central Finance Team. You will manage the contracts register, coordinate renewals and support procurement while handling purchase orders, budget checks and approvals.

You will contribute across finance processes including purchase/sales ledgers, trips, lettings and donations, while adopting iPlicit and Excel to improve controls and reporting across the Trust.

Qualifications

• You may work in finance, procurement or contracts or a related operational role.
• You do not need to be a qualified accountant or procurement specialist.

Responsibilities

• Own the day-to-day accuracy of the contracts register, with key dates, values and documents up to date.
• Plan renewals with contract owners, gather requirements and set procurement timelines.
• Administer quotation exercises, tenders and framework call-offs with clear records and audit trails.
• Coordinate contract-related purchase orders, budget checks and approvals, monitoring commitments and expenditure.
• Support supplier onboarding, contract mobilisation, performance reviews and variations as needed.
• Utilise iPlicit and Excel across finance processes to improve controls and reporting.

Skills

Organisation

Attention to detail

Excel

Business systems

Education

AAT

CIPS

Tools

iPlicit

Job description

Doyou enjoy bringing order to complex information, keeping important deadlines ontrack and helping colleagues get things right? This new role offers theopportunity to combine contract administration with a broad range of financework in a growing multi-academy trust.

Weare looking for a proactive and adaptable Finance and Contracts Officer to joinour central Finance Team. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, you willtake day-to-day responsibility for the Trust’s contracts register, coordinaterenewals and support procurement activity, while ensuring associated purchaseorders, budget checks and approvals are in place. You will also contributeacross a range of financial processes including purchase ledger, sales ledger,trips and visits, lettings, projects and donations. As we introduce iPlicit,our new financial management system, you will help shape efficient andconsistent ways of working at an exciting point in the Trust’s development.

Whatyou’ll be doing

• Take ownership of theday-to-day accuracy of the Trust contracts register, ensuring key dates,values, responsibilities and supporting documents are complete and up to date.
• Work with contractowners to plan renewals, gather requirements, agree timescales and flag actionearly enough for effective procurement decisions.
• Administer quotationexercises, tenders and framework call-offs under appropriate direction,maintaining clear records and a compliant audit trail.
• Coordinatecontract-related purchase orders, budget checks, authorised budget changes andapprovals, and help monitor commitments and expenditure.
• Support supplieronboarding, contract mobilisation, performance reviews, variations andclosures, escalating concerns when specialist or senior input is needed.
• Contribute flexibly tothe finance function working across purchase ledger, sales ledger, trips andvisits, lettings, projects, donations, reconciliations and other centralfinance activities.
• Use iPlicit, Excel andother Trust systems to maintain accurate information, produce routine reportsand improve controls and processes.
• Provide responsive andpractical support to schools, contract owners, suppliers and colleagues,following actions through and adapting as priorities change.

Whowe’re looking for

Youmay already work in finance, procurement or contracts, school or businessadministration, or another operational support role. You do not need to be aqualified accountant or procurement specialist. What matters most is relevantexperience, excellent organisation, strong attention to detail, confidence withExcel and business systems, and the ability to keep several workstreams moving.You will communicate clearly, follow actions through and exercise goodjudgement about when to elevate an issue. Experience of purchase or salesledger work, contracts registers, tenders, education or the public sector wouldbe useful but is not essential. AAT, CIPS or contract management training wouldalso be welcomed, including candidates keen to work towards a relevantqualification. You must also be able to travel between Trust sites whenrequired.

Health and Safety:

As an employee of the Academies for Character and Excellence, you have a responsibility toprioritise the health and safety of yourself, your colleagues, and any individuals who may beaffected by your work activities. In accordance with our commitment to maintaining a safeand healthy work environment, you are required to adhere to the Trust's health and safetyresponsibilities.

Safeguarding:

To be aware of, and follow, the Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy to ensurethat children are safeguarded.

Safer recruitment:

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children andyoung people and expects all staff to share this commitment. We will ensure that all ourrecruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.The post holder will be required to undertake a DBS Enhanced Disclosure.

Further information about Disclosure & Barring is available from www.homeoffice.gov.uk/dbs.