Finance Support Officer Purchase Ledger

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A Multi-Academy Trust in Suffolk is looking for a finance professional to manage purchase ledger operations in a hybrid role. Responsibilities include processing invoices and preparing payments. Candidates should have strong Purchase Ledger skills and ideally experience in the education sector. Competitive salary offered, plus commitment to professional development and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Commitment to professional development

Flexible approach to working

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Experience in an Accounts Payable function and understanding of end-to-end Purchase Ledger.
• Strong financial and organisational skills.
• Experience working in the education sector is ideal.

Responsibilities

• Processing all purchase invoices for the trust.
• Adding scanned invoice documents to the finance system.
• Processing purchase invoices and credit notes, matching to purchase orders.
• Preparing supplier payments and uploading to the banking system.
• Reconciling supplier statements and resolving queries.
• Maintaining accurate purchase ledger records.
• Managing supplier queries.
• Assisting in preparing working papers for the Auditors.

Skills

Strong Purchase Ledger skills

Good IT skills, particularly MS Excel

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

High attention to detail and accuracy

Job description

• The Tilian Partnership
• Location: Bardwell, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 1AD
• Salary: £13.05 - £14.59 per hour, depending on experience
• Hours: 15 hours per week, 42 weeks per year
• Contract: Permanent, required as soon as possible
• Reference: 8049

Due to the recent growth of our Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), The Tilian Partnership are seeking a highly motivated finance professional, with excellent communication and IT skills to join our busy and expanding central MAT team on the Norfolk/Suffolk border.

The Tilian Partnership is a trust that is passionate about ensuring that every child reaches their potential, whilst developing their excitement for learning and exploring the world around them, creating opportunities and experiences designed to help them discover and flourishp>

Reporting to the Chief Finance Officer and working in tandem with the trust's Finance Officers you will have responsibility for the purchase ledger operations for our primary schools. You will work as part of a close-knit finance team and closely with the schools, as a key member of a high-quality finance support service.

You will already have purchase ledger experience and ideally have worked in the education sector. You will have strong financial and organisational skills to ensure prompt and accurate purchase ledger accounting. You will support our schools in maximising efficiency and best value for money.

This is a flexible hybrid role, combining remote working with regular attendance at the Central MAT office based at Bardwell, near Bury St Edmunds as the work requires.

Your responsibilities will include:

• processing all purchase invoices for the trust
• adding scanned invoice documents to the finance system
• processing purchase invoices and credit notes on the finance system, matching to purchase orders where relevant
• preparing supplier payments and uploading to the banking system
• reconciling supplier statements and resolving any queries arising therefrom
• ensuring maintenance of accurate purchase ledger records and compliance with trust policies and procedures
• managing supplier queries
• adding new suppliers to the finance system
• assist in preparing the working papers and information required by the trust's Auditors.

You will be expected to demonstrate:

• strong Purchase Ledger skills, having already worked in an Accounts Payable function previously and have a good understanding of end-to-end Purchase Ledger and general accounting principles
• good IT skills, particularly MS Excel.
• ability to work independently and as part of a small team
• high attention to detail and accuracy.

We can offer you:

• A unique rewarding opportunity to be part of a growing, friendly, and supportive team, with the ability to help shape future strategy, processes, and procedures
• A commitment to your professional development.
• A flexible approach to working
• A commitment to your personal well-being

For more information

Please read the Job Description (Word).

To find out more about us, please visit our website.

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Louise Bartrum by either emailing [e-mail] or by calling 07949 312170.

How to apply

Please submit your completed Application Form (Word) by email to Louise Bartrum, at [e-mail] .

Covering letters are acceptable but CVs are not.

Closing date: 12pm, 20 November 2025.

Interview date: 24 November 2025.

The Tilian Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In our schools we create a culture of safeguarding which is the responsibility of all staff.

When applying for a post at one of our schools you will be subject to a safer recruitment process as follows:

If you are shortlisted, you will be required to complete a self-disclosure, which you will need to bring with you to the interview (in an envelope marked confidential).

During the interview process, the interview panel will explore your skills, experience and attitudes and the questions asked will include questions about safeguarding of children.

If you accept a post at one of our schools, you will be required to complete an enhanced DBS.

Please read the following documents: Safeguarding Policy (Word), Child Protection Procedure (included in appendix 2 of Safeguarding Policy) (Word), Tilian Code of Conduct for Staff (Word) and Staff Induction Policy (Word).