Finance Manager

Prospero Teaching; Bushey Heath; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Prospero Teaching is recruiting an experienced School Finance Manager for a specialist secondary school in Bushey. The role is permanent with immediate start and involves managing income, expenditure and reporting through Arbor Finance while supporting school procedures.

You will work with the School Operations Manager, handle purchasing, invoicing, reconciliations and budget holder queries, ensuring accurate records and timely financial transactions in a busy SEN environment.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a school finance or school business support role involving financial responsibilities.
• Practical experience using Arbor Finance and familiarity with school information systems.
• An understanding of purchasing, invoicing, reconciliations and accurate financial record keeping.

Responsibilities

• Recording income and expenditure through Arbor Finance.
• Processing purchase orders, supplier invoices and online purchases.
• Reconciling purchasing-card statements and petty cash.
• Helping budget holders resolve queries about orders and available funds.
• Preparing invoices for local-authority-funded provision and resources.
• Following up overdue payments and resolving financial queries.
• Maintaining accounting records in line with retention requirements.
• Supporting reporting and the effective use of school resources.
• Liaising professionally with colleagues, suppliers and external contacts.

Skills

Numeracy

Organisation

Communication

Attention to detail

Tools

Arbor Finance

Excel

Job description

School Finance Manager - Permanent - Immediate Start

Location: Bushey, Hertfordshire
Salary: 25,989- 29,540 per annum, full-time equivalent; actual salary subject to contracted working weeks.
Contract: Permanent
Start date: Immediately, subject to recruitment checks

Prospero Teaching is recruiting an experienced school finance professional for a specialist secondary school in Bushey. This opportunity would suit someone who combines accurate financial administration with a practical understanding of school procedures and confidence using Arbor Finance.

Previous experience working in a school finance role and using school financial systems is essential.

About the school

The school supports secondary-aged pupils with special educational needs, including social, emotional and mental health needs. Its support staff play an important part in ensuring that colleagues have the resources they need and that the school runs effectively.

You will join a collaborative office team, working with the School Operations Manager and supporting staff with financial queries, purchasing and record keeping.

The role

You will help maintain accurate school accounts and ensure that financial transactions are processed promptly and correctly. This is a hands‑on position requiring organisation, discretion and the ability to manage competing priorities in a busy school environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Recording income and expenditure through Arbor Finance.

• Processing purchase orders, supplier invoices and online purchases.

• Reconciling purchasing-card statements and petty cash.

• Helping budget holders resolve queries about orders and available funds.

• Preparing invoices for local-authority-funded provision and resources.

• Following up overdue payments and resolving financial queries.

• Maintaining accounting records in line with retention requirements.

• Supporting reporting and the effective use of school resources.

• Liaising professionally with colleagues, suppliers and external contacts.

Essential experience and skills

• Previous experience in a school finance or school business support role involving financial responsibilities.

• Practical experience using Arbor Finance and familiarity with school information systems.

• An understanding of purchasing, invoicing, reconciliations and accurate financial record keeping.

• Confidence using Microsoft Excel, Word, email and databases.

• Strong numeracy and a careful, methodical approach.

• The ability to organise workloads independently, meet deadlines and adapt when priorities change.

• Clear communication and a professional approach to sensitive information.

• A willingness to contribute to a specialist school community and work constructively with colleagues.

Experience in a school setting would be helpful. Applicants should be comfortable working in an environment supporting pupils with additional needs and understand the importance of confidentiality and safeguarding.