Finance Officer

Ark; Greater London; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Ark pension scheme

Staff travel across Ark network

Professional learning

Job summary

Ark is seeking a Regional Finance Officer in South London with travel across Ark schools in the network. The role is permanent and full-time, with standard hours 9am - 5.30pm.

Salary ranges from £27,000 to £34,000 depending on experience, with first round virtual interviews on 11/09/2026 and second round in-person on 18/09/2026. The post reports to the Finance Manager and involves managing daily financial processes in line with the Academies Financial Handbook.

Qualifications

• Experience running financial systems, ideally in a school environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Right to work in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Finance Manager and Operations Director to maintain financial stability.
• Place orders, receive goods, and manage supplier relationships.
• Process purchase invoices and reconcile supplier statements using Sage Intacct.
• Assist with month-end and year-end accounts including reconciliations and reporting pack.
• Support change initiatives to promote value for money and best practices across the network.
• Provide support to other Ark schools in the South London region as required.

Skills

Financial administration

Sage Intacct

Invoice processing

Microsoft Excel

Education

GCSE English and Maths (A-C)

Tools

Sage Intacct

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Location: South London with travel across our Ark schools in the network

Contract: Permanent

Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am - 5.30pm)

1st round interviews (virtually): 11/09/2026

2nd round interviews (in-person): 18/09/2026

Salary: £27,000 to £34,000 (depending on experience)

About The Role:

As the Regional Finance Officer you will be an integral part of the school, responsible for ensuring high standards of financial integrity. You will manage the daily and monthly financial processes in the school, ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Academies Financial Handbook.

The Regional Finance Officer will report into Finance Manager. This role is in South London with travel across our Ark schools in the network on a permanent working full time.

1st round interviews will be taking place virtually on Friday 11th September with 2nd round interviews taking place in person on 18th September.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the Finance Manager and Operations Director to ensure the continuing financial stability of the school
• Placing orders, receiving goods and maintaining a professional relationship with suppliers
• Ensuring accurate and timely processing of purchase invoices and other documents using Sage Intacct accounting software, reconciling supplier statements, and preparing payment runs for authorisation
• Assisting the Finance Manager with the preparation of month end and year end accounts including Bank, Petty Cash and Credit Card reconciliations and completion of month end reporting pack
• Support the Finance Manager in driving forward change and initiatives which promote regularity, propriety, value for money and best standards
• Support other schools in the South London region where necessary

Key Requirements:

• Right to work in the UK
• English and Maths GCSE grade A-C, or equivalent
• Experience of running effective administrative and financial systems, ideally within a school environment
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially excel, Sage Intacct desirable
• Strong organisational and time-management skills and the ability to delegate appropriately
• Ability to skillfully manage and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and other stakeholders
• Helpful, approachable, and positive nature
• High standards and a keen eye for detail
• Keen to learn and further develop own skills
• Exercises sound judgment, especially relating to confidentiality and discretion
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

About Us:

Ark is an education charity that exists to make sure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to a great education and real choices in life. Our network of 39 schools reaches traditionally underserved communities in Birmingham, Hastings, London and Portsmouth. We educate 30,000 pupils and have nearly 3,000 teaching staff across our network. We also incubate and scale innovative ventures, which we roll out beyond our network of schools for the benefit of teachers, pupils and the education system as a whole. Current Ventures include Ark Curriculum Plus, which equips teachers with the subject expertise needed to ensure students succeed, and Ark Start, a growing chain of nurseries offering affordable, high-quality early years education.

Recently, Ark moved to new offices at EdCity – a unique not-for-profit development in West London, in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham council. EdCity is designed to bring mission-aligned organisations together to focus on improving the lives of children, especially through education. It offers leased offices, a range of venues for training and events, and an innovation hub for the education sector to connect, collaborate and learn together.

Diversity and Inclusion:

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.

Safeguarding Statement:

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.

For any questions, please contact [e-mail].