Finance Support Officer | Schools Finance Team | Preston

Lancashire County Council; Preston; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in the UK is seeking a Schools Finance Business Support Officer. This role involves providing financial administration support to over 500 schools, handling payments, and maintaining financial data accuracy. The ideal candidate will have GCSEs and experience in financial administration, along with strong numeracy skills. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits, and closing date for applications is 29th October 2025.

Benefits

Generous salary

Local Government Pension Scheme

26 days annual leave

Qualifications

• Experience in financial administration or ability to perform such duties effectively.
• Ability to explain financial information clearly to stakeholders.
• Can work accurately under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality financial administration support.
• Support schools with bank accounts and manage financial data.
• Assist with academy conversions and audit queries.

Skills

Financial administration

Strong numeracy skills

Proficient in Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Education

GCSE qualifications (or equivalent)

Job description

Description

Salary Per annum Permanent Full Time 37 hours per week Pro Rata

Join us as a Business Support Office r in our Schools Finance Team where you will play a vital role in supporting the financial operations of over 500 schools across Lancashire in a supportive and innovative environment.

Your Role

As a Schools Finance Business Support Officer you will :

• Provide high quality financial administration support processing journals payments purchase orders and invoices. You will generate and distribute financial system reports and be in regular communication with schools via email telephone and the Lancashire Schools Portal.
• Support schools operating their own bank accounts such as uploading transfer files into the ledger processing VAT reimbursements and managing monthly direct debits. You will act as a source of technical advice for a range of stakeholders within schools and across the council.
• Assist with key areas of work such as academy conversions financial year processes and audit queries. You will co-ordinate the collection of statutory and management information returns from schools and maintain the accuracy of school financial data through regular review.

Youll be part of a friendly approachable and collaborative team with access to excellent on-the-job training and career development opportunities.

About you

Were looking for someone who :

• Holds GCSE qualifications (or equivalent).
• Has experience in financial administration or can demonstrate the ability to perform such duties effectively.
• Possesses strong numeracy skills and is proficient in Microsoft Office particularly Excel and Word.
• Communicates clearly and confidently with the ability to build effective relationships across schools and council departments.
• Can explain financial information to a variety of stakeholders and work accurately under pressure.
• Works well both independently and as part of a team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the financial wellbeing of Lancashires schools and see the positive impact of your work across the county.

If youd like to discuss the role further please reach out to Edith Thompson Accountant at or .

Closing Date: 29th October 2025

Application review is ongoing so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this exciting opportunity.

Why join us

By joining Lancashire County Council you can shape the career path that is right for you with opportunities to gain personal and professional qualifications coaching and mentoring. Lancashire County Council truly is the place where you can have the career youve always wanted.

In return for your passion and expertise we offer a generous benefits package which includes :

A competitive salary and Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions.

A great holiday entitlement of 26 days annual leave which increases with length of service. You will also be entitled to 8 Bank Holidays 2 additional statutory Bank Holidays and have the option to buy additional leave each year.

Our staff discount scheme in partnership with Vivup allowing you to access discounts with a range of UK retailers saving on everything from weekly food shops to white goods and cars.

Access to fantastic development and career opportunities.

The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013) . If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a disclosure. Further information can be found on the Our Recruitment Process tab.

In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits which can be found on LCC Vacancies website.

We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early before the closing date if we receive sufficient applications.

Job Description and Person Specification

Required Experience

Unclear Seniority

Key Skills

Loan Processing,Fiscal Management,Accounting Software,Financial Services,Financial Concepts,Financial Report Writing,QuickBooks,Accounting,Agriculture,Financial Analysis,Budgeting,Financial Management

Employment Type

Full-Time

Experience

years

Vacancy

1

Yearly Salary

Salary : 25989 - 27694