Finance Officer - Lovely Primary School

Marchant Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Marchant Recruitment is partnering with a warm Southwark primary school to appoint a Finance Officer responsible for day-to-day financial operations, budget tracking, and income management. You will support the Headteacher and School Business Manager, process transactions, manage ledgers, and ensure compliance with local authority regulations and DfE guidelines.

The role offers full-time permanent hours in London, with a DBS clearance requirement and strong IT, especially Excel, to support

Qualifications

• Experience in school finance or bookkeeping.
• Familiarity with school financial systems (SIMS FMS, PS Financials, Access Finance).
• Strong numerical accuracy and IT skills.
• DBS check Update Service (or willingness to undergo clearance).

Responsibilities

• Financial Administration: Process purchase orders, invoices, BACS payments, and petty cash using the school's software.
• Budget Tracking: Assist with reconciliations, ledger maintenance, and spend tracking against the budget.
• Income Management: Oversee collections for parent-paid activities, school meals, and trips.
• Audit & Compliance: Ensure records comply with local authority regulations and guidelines.
• General Support: Provide finance queries support and assist with front-office admin when needed.

Skills

Financial administration

Budgeting

Excel proficiency

Organizational skills

Tools

SIMS FMS

PS Financials

Access Finance

Job description

Primary School Finance Officer Vacancy – Southwark

Position: Finance Officer (Primary School)

Location: London Borough of Southwark, South London

Contract Type: Full-Time / Permanent or Long-Term

Start Date: Immediate / As Soon As Possible

About the Role

We are partnering with a warm, welcoming primary school in the London Borough of Southwark to appoint a diligent and experienced Finance Officer. This is a pivotal role working at the heart of the school's administration team, responsible for supporting the Headteacher and School Business Manager with day-to-day financial operations, budget tracking, and income management.

The successful candidate will ensure the smooth financial administration of the school, managing accounts with accuracy while fostering positive relationships with staff, parents, and external suppliers.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Administration: Process purchase orders, invoices, BACS payments, and petty cash transactions using the school's financial software.

• Budget Tracking: Assist with monthly bank reconciliations, ledger maintenance, and tracking departmental spending against the school budget.

• Income Management: Oversee collections for parent-paid activities, breakfast/after-school clubs, school meals, and trips, utilizing online payment platforms.

• Audit & Compliance: Ensure all financial record-keeping complies with local authority regulations, DfE guidelines, and internal audit standards.

• General Support: Act as a helpful point of contact for staff and suppliers regarding finance queries, while occasionally assisting with general front-office administration when needed.

Ideal Candidate Specification

• Experience: Previous finance or bookkeeping experience—ideally gained within a primary or secondary school setting, or a local authority environment.

• Knowledge: Familiarity with school financial management systems (such as SIMS FMS, PS Financials, or Access Finance) and general accounting practices.

• Skills: Exceptional numerical accuracy, advanced IT proficiency (particularly Excel), and strong organizational skills with a keen eye for detail.

• Vetting: An enhanced DBS check registered on the Update Service (or readiness to undergo clearance).