Operational Finance Assistant - Operational Growth

Salutem Care & Education; Windsor; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Salutem Care and Education is seeking an Operational Finance Assistant to deliver dedicated financial modelling, analysis and reporting for growth programmes. You will join the Operational Finance team, supporting viability assessments for new services, schools, acquisitions, and property developments across mobilisation and operation.

Responsibilities include building robust financial models, scenario testing, and tracking performance against business cases, with emphasis on accuracy and risk

Qualifications

• Experience in accounts/finance assistant roles.
• Strong Excel and modelling skills.
• Knowledge of P&L, accruals, prepayments.
• Working towards professional accounting qualifications.
• Experience with Sage 200, Power BI or Power Query.
• Experience in social care, education, or regulated multi-site environments.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain financial models for new services and growth opportunities, covering income, staffing, operating costs and capital investment.
• Prepare scenario and sensitivity analysis to support business cases and investment decisions.
• Convert approved models into mobilisation budgets and project trackers.
• Monitor new services' performance against their business cases and explain variances.
• Provide management accounting support, including accruals, prepayments and reconciliations.

Skills

Excel skills

Financial modelling

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

AAT/CIMA/ACCA

Tools

Sage 200

Power BI

Power Query

Job description

Operational Finance Assistant - Operational Growth

The Operational Finance Assistant - Growth - will provide dedicated financial modelling, analysis and reporting support for Salutem's growth and development programme. Working within the Operational Finance team and closely with the Chief Commercial Officer, the postholder will help assess the financial viability of new services, schools, acquisitions, property developments, extensions, and major refurbishments.

The role will build and maintain clear, reliable financial models for project briefs and business cases, bringing together occupancy and referral assumptions, fee income, staffing structures, payroll costs, operating expenditure, capital investment and project timescales. The postholder will support informed investment decisions by testing different scenarios, clearly documenting assumptions and risks, and comparing approved models with actual performance as projects move through mobilization and into operation.

About The Role

Operational Finance Assistant

Salary: £28,000 – £32,000 | Location: Hybrid / Regional, with attendance at the Windsor office and project locations as required | Contract: Full-time, Permanent

About the role We're looking for an Operational Finance Assistant to provide dedicated financial modelling, analysis and reporting support for Salutem's growth and development programme. Working within our Operational Finance team, you'll help assess the financial viability of new services, schools, acquisitions and property developments. You'll then track how they perform once they're up and running. It's an ideal role for someone looking to build their career towards management accounting and business partnering.

What you’ll do

• Build and maintain financial models for new services and growth opportunities, covering income, staffing, operating costs and capital investment
• Prepare scenario and sensitivity analysis to support business cases and investment decisions
• Convert approved models into mobilisation budgets and project trackers
• Monitor new services' performance against their business cases and explain variances
• Provide management accounting support, including accruals, prepayments and reconciliations

Who we're looking for

• Experience in an accounts, finance assistant or assistant management accountant role
• Strong Excel skills, with confidence building structured calculations
• A good understanding of profit and loss, accruals, prepayments and cost drivers
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to explain findings to non-finance colleagues
• Working towards, or willing to work towards, AAT, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent
• Experience producing financial models or business cases for new services or property projects
• Experience with Sage 200, Power BI or Power Query
• Experience in social care, education, healthcare or another regulated multi-site environment

Our Core Values

• Supportive: Helping everyone reach their full potential.
• Ambitious: Striving for the best outcomes.
• Loyal: Prioritising our staff and the people we support.
• Unique: Innovating without compromising quality.
• Transparent: Fostering openness and mutual respect.
• Engaging: Partnering with everyone involved.

Why Choose Us

• Emotional Support: 24/7 Employee Assistance, mental health resources, meditation apps, and bereavement support.
• Medical Support: Free Online GP access, Health Cash Plan, Cancer Cover, and Menopause support.
• Financial Support: Flexible pay with Wagestream, utility bill savings, Money Helper, and Life Assurance.
• Physical Support: Online workouts, Cycle to Work scheme, gym discounts, and National Trust activities.

Still not convinced

• Recognised as a Top Employer United Kingdom 2026 by the Top Employers Institute.
• Named among the Top 100 Global Inspiring Workplaces by Inspiring Workplaces.
• Proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer.

Salutem Care and Education is dedicated to protecting and promoting the well-being of children, young adults, and vulnerable individuals. As part of our safer recruitment process, the successful candidate will be required to complete thorough pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS and, where applicable, overseas criminal record checks.