Finance Assistant (30-Hours Per Week)

The Great Schools Trust; Warrington; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 23,000; Part time

Job summary

Great Schools Trust is seeking a diligent Finance Assistant to join our central Finance team at King’s Leadership Academy Warrington. You will support day-to-day financial operations, including purchase ledger and supplier queries, delivering a professional service to our schools.

Reporting to the Management Accountant, you will assist with month-end tasks, VAT, budgeting and audits, maintain contracts records and help improve Trust-wide finance processes.

Qualifications

• Experience in a finance or accounts setting, ideally including purchase ledger work.
• Experience in education or a multi-site organisation would be helpful, but is not essential.
• We are looking for someone who combines strong attention to detail with good organisational skills and a practical approach to solving problems.
• You will be comfortable following financial procedures, meeting deadlines and handling confidential information.
• You will also communicate clearly, build positive working relationships and enjoy providing a helpful, responsive service as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Processing purchase orders, invoices and sales ledger transactions, ensuring accurate coding and appropriate authorisation.
• Supporting supplier payment runs, recording income and resolving queries from schools, colleagues and suppliers.
• Reconciling debtor, creditor and Trust business accounts, and investigating discrepancies.
• Supporting month-end work, VAT returns, budget setting, year-end and audit processes.
• Maintaining the Trust-wide contracts register, monitoring renewal dates and providing procurement administration.
• Helping colleagues follow routine finance procedures and systems.
• Maintaining accurate, confidential records and contributing to improvements in finance processes.

Skills

Finance experience

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Job description

Finance Assistant — Great Schools Trust

Location: King’s Leadership Academy Warrington
Contract: Permanent, part-time, all year round
Hours: 30 hours per week across five days; six hours a day, flexible between 8am and 4pm
Start date: As soon as possible / negotiable

Great Schools Trust is seeking an organised, capable and solutions-focused Finance Assistant to join our supportive central Finance team.

We are a family of eight ambitious academies committed to helping every student flourish, be happy and achieve their full potential. Our ASPIRE values—Aspiration, Self-awareness, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect and Endeavour—shape our approach to education and how we work together.

About the role

Based at King’s Leadership Academy Warrington, you will help keep the Trust’s day-to-day financial operations running smoothly, providing an accurate, efficient and professional service to our schools.

Reporting to the Management Accountant, your responsibilities will include:

• Processing purchase orders, invoices and sales ledger transactions, ensuring accurate coding and appropriate authorisation.
• Supporting supplier payment runs, recording income and resolving queries from schools, colleagues and suppliers.
• Reconciling debtor, creditor and Trust business accounts, and investigating discrepancies.
• Supporting month-end work, VAT returns, budget setting, year-end and audit processes.
• Maintaining the Trust-wide contracts register, monitoring renewal dates and providing procurement administration.
• Helping colleagues follow routine finance procedures and systems.
• Maintaining accurate, confidential records and contributing to improvements in finance processes.

About you

You will have experience in a finance or accounts setting, ideally including purchase ledger work. Experience in education or a multi-site organisation would be helpful, but is not essential.

We are looking for someone who combines strong attention to detail with good organisational skills and a practical approach to solving problems. You will be comfortable following financial procedures, meeting deadlines and handling confidential information.

You will also communicate clearly, build positive working relationships and enjoy providing a helpful, responsive service as part of a team.

Why join us?

You will join a supportive central Finance team whose work helps our academies make the best use of resources for students. The role offers flexible daily working times within the stated window and opportunities for training and professional development relevant to your responsibilities.