Finance Officer - Part Time

Jigsaw Specialist Recruitment Limited; Poole; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 18,000; Part time

Job summary

Jigsaw Specialist Recruitment Limited seeks a proactive Finance Officer to join the finance team on a permanent part-time basis (20 hours per week) in an established setting, focusing on financial administration, ledgers, reconciliations and accurate record-keeping for education environments.

You will work with the Finance Manager and team to ensure compliant, efficient processes across purchase and sales ledgers, cash handling and reporting.

Qualifications

• Experience in a finance administration or finance officer role, ideally within an education, charity or public-sector environment.
• Good understanding of purchase and sales ledger processes.
• Experience of invoice processing, reconciliations, cash handling and maintaining accurate financial records.
• Strong numerical skills and excellent attention to detail.
• Good IT skills, including confidence using financial management systems, spreadsheets and Microsoft Office applications.
• The ability to organise workloads effectively, prioritise competing deadlines and work both independently and as part of a team.
• A methodical and proactive approach to identifying discrepancies and resolving financial queries.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work professionally with colleagues, suppliers and other stakeholders.
• An understanding of financial controls, confidentiality and the importance of maintaining accurate audit trails.

Responsibilities

• Process purchase orders and supplier invoices; verify VAT treatment.
• Support procurement in line with procedures and approvals.
• Raise invoices for fees, lettings, and services; monitor receipts and credit control.
• Review expenditures for internal controls and regulatory compliance.
• Manage cash handling, banking reconciliations, and petty cash.
• Record and reconcile corporate card transactions; maintain audit trails.
• Prepare financial records and supporting documentation for reporting.
• Assist with internal/external audits; ensure timely financial returns.
• Support cost-effective purchasing through supplier evaluation.

Skills

Finance administration

Purchase ledger processing

Sales ledger processing

Reconciliations

Financial record-keeping

Numerical skills

Attention to detail

IT skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Tools

Financial management systems

Spreadsheets

Microsoft Office

Job description

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a proactive, organised and detail-oriented Finance Officer to join the finance team of an established organisation on a permanent part time basis, 20 hours per week.

This is an excellent opportunity for an individual with experience in financial administration, purchase and sales ledger processing, reconciliations and financial record-keeping to play a key role in supporting the effective financial management of a school or college environment.

Working closely with the Finance Manager and wider business support team, you will help ensure that financial processes are accurate, efficient and compliant with relevant financial procedures and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Purchase Ledger Management: Process purchase orders, record deliveries, check and process supplier invoices, ensure expenditure is coded correctly and verify VAT treatment.
• Purchasing and Procurement: Support the procurement of goods and services in line with internal procedures, authorisation limits and value-for-money requirements.
• Sales Ledger Management: Raise invoices for fees, lettings and other services, allocate receipts, monitor outstanding debts and support effective credit control and debt recovery.
• Financial Compliance: Review expenditure to ensure compliance with internal financial controls, relevant sector funding requirements and applicable financial regulations.
• Cash and Banking: Manage the collection, reconciliation and banking of monies received, including cash and electronic payments.
• Petty Cash and Expenses: Maintain accurate petty cash records, process transactions, reconcile balances and prepare regular financial returns.
• Corporate Card Administration: Record and reconcile credit or purchasing card transactions, monitor balances and complete scheduled returns.
• Financial Reporting: Maintain spreadsheets, financial records and supporting documentation to assist the Finance Manager and wider business support team.
• Audit and Record-Keeping: Ensure paper and electronic records are accurate, organised, securely maintained and readily available for internal and external audit.
• Value for Money: Support cost-effective purchasing decisions by reviewing supplier options and ensuring appropriate approvals are obtained.
• General Finance Support: Provide flexible and proactive support across the finance function, undertaking other reasonable duties appropriate to the role.

About You

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Experience in a finance administration or finance officer role, ideally within an education, charity or public-sector environment.
• A good understanding of purchase and sales ledger processes.
• Experience of invoice processing, reconciliations, cash handling and maintaining accurate financial records.
• Strong numerical skills and excellent attention to detail.
• Good IT skills, including confidence using financial management systems, spreadsheets and Microsoft Office applications.
• The ability to organise workloads effectively, prioritise competing deadlines and work both independently and as part of a team.
• A methodical and proactive approach to identifying discrepancies and resolving financial queries.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work professionally with colleagues, suppliers and other stakeholders.
• An understanding of financial controls, confidentiality and the importance of maintaining accurate audit trails.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will be trustworthy, conscientious and committed to maintaining high professional standards. You will demonstrate integrity, accountability and discretion when handling confidential financial and personal information.

You will also be committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to building positive working relationships that support an effective and collaborative team environment.