Finance Assistant

Royal Alexandra and Albert School; Reigate; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Alexandra and Albert School is seeking a proactive Finance Assistant to join our busy Finance Team. You will support income processing, bank reconciliations, budgeting and invoicing across the school, ensuring accurate records and timely financial administration.

Working closely with the Head of School Finance and Senior Credit Controller, you will help manage direct debit collections, monitor budgets, and contribute to audits and financial controls in a school environment.

Qualifications

• Essential: GCSE English and Mathematics (Grade C/4 or above) or equivalent.
• Essential: At least three years' experience in a finance, accounts or bookkeeping environment.
• Essential: Experience of bank reconciliations, income allocation and invoicing.
• Essential: Strong Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• Essential: Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Essential: Strong organisational and communication skills.
• Essential: The ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Essential: A professional, customer-focused approach.
• Desirable: AAT qualification or currently studying towards AAT or similar qualification.
• Desirable: Experience of Sage 200, SIMS, Wisepay or FMS.
• Desirable: Experience within a school or educational setting.
• Desirable: Knowledge of Direct Debit processing and income management.
• Desirable: Experience monitoring budgets and producing financial reports.

Responsibilities

• Process and allocate daily income receipts, bank transfers and online payments.
• Complete bank reconciliations and investigate allocation queries.
• Support the administration of Direct Debit collections and mandates.
• Transfer and reconcile financial data between SIMS and Sage 200.
• Monitor departmental budgets and prepare monthly budget reports.
• Maintain financial records for boarding, educational and co-curricular trips.
• Raise ad-hoc invoices and support sales ledger activities.
• Provide administrative support to credit control processes.
• Reconcile corporate credit card expenditure.
• Assist with audit requirements and ensure compliance with financial procedures and controls.

Skills

Excel

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Multi-tasking

Customer-focused approach

Bank reconciliations

Income allocation

Invoicing

Education

GCSE English and Mathematics

AAT qualification or studying towards AAT

Tools

Sage 200

SIMS

Wisepay

FMS

Job description

Your Role

The Royal Alexandra and Albert School is seeking an enthusiastic and proactive Finance Assistant to join our busy Finance Team.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting the financial operations of our unique state boarding school. Working closely with the Head of School Finance and Senior Credit Controller, you will help ensure the smooth management of income, banking, budgets, trip finances, invoicing and financial administration across the school.

From processing income and reconciling accounts to supporting budget holders and maintaining accurate financial records, you will be part of a collaborative team that contributes directly to the school's success.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Process and allocate daily income receipts, bank transfers and online payments.


2. Complete bank reconciliations and investigate allocation queries.


3. Support the administration of Direct Debit collections and mandates.


4. Transfer and reconcile financial data between SIMS and Sage 200.


5. Monitor departmental budgets and prepare monthly budget reports.


6. Maintain financial records for boarding, educational and co-curricular trips.


7. Raise ad-hoc invoices and support sales ledger activities.


8. Provide administrative support to credit control processes.


9. Reconcile corporate credit card expenditure.


10. Assist with audit requirements and ensure compliance with financial procedures and controls.

The Successful Candidate

We are looking for someone who has:

Essential

1. GCSE English and Mathematics (Grade C/4 or above) or equivalent.


2. At least three years' experience in a finance, accounts or bookkeeping environment.


3. Experience of bank reconciliations, income allocation and invoicing.


4. Strong Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office skills.


5. Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.


6. Strong organisational and communication skills.


7. The ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.


8. A professional, customer-focused approach.

Desirable

1. AAT qualification or currently studying towards AAT or similar qualification


2. Experience of Sage 200, SIMS, Wisepay or FMS.


3. Experience within a school or educational setting.


4. Knowledge of Direct Debit processing and income management.


5. Experience monitoring budgets and producing financial reports.

Why Join Us?

The Royal Alexandra and Albert School is a thriving state boarding school set within beautiful parkland grounds in Surrey. We offer a supportive and collaborative working environment where staff are valued and encouraged to develop professionally.

Benefits include:

1. Generous annual leave entitlement


2. Free on-site parking


3. Employee Assistance Programme


4. Ongoing professional development opportunities


5. The opportunity to make a direct impact on the school's financial sustainability and future success

The school reserves the right to appoint to the closing date.

Safeguarding Information

The Royal Alexandra and Albert School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post if successful, including an Enhanced DBS check. Staff must be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health and safety regulations, security and confidentiality, reporting all concerns as appropriate. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

At The Royal Alexandra and Albert School we strive to be inclusive and value the positive impact of diversity and equality within our school. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, and particularly encourage those from ethnic minority groups who reflect the diversity, and varied cultural and ethnic backgrounds, of our student community / boarding community.