Primary Compliance Finance Administrator

Harris Federation; Croydon; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual loyalty bonus

Pension scheme (Teachers' or LGPS)

26 days annual leave + holidays

Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

Discounts on lifestyle benefits

Hybrid working: 2 days from home

Job summary

The Harris Federation is seeking a Primary Compliance Assistant to support financial administration for nursery and wraparound care across its academies. You will handle payments, maintain accurate records and ensure robust controls, reporting to school leaders from its East Croydon-based offices.

You will join a collaborative, values-driven team with a focus on safeguarding, equity and high-quality service to families and academies.

Qualifications

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Good ICT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel and management information systems.
• Experience of working effectively with colleagues, parents and carers.
• The ability to work independently, use initiative and solve problems.
• A flexible and adaptable approach to changing demands.
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in your work.

Responsibilities

• Reconciling payments received through ParentPay and other approved payment systems, ensuring accurate allocation across parent, pupil and service accounts.
• Investigating and resolving payment discrepancies, refunds and account queries in collaboration with academy colleagues and families.
• Maintaining accurate financial records, producing income reports and monitoring outstanding balances.
• Following financial procedures and maintaining clear audit trails for all transactions.
• Creating, checking and issuing nursery and wraparound care invoices accurately and on time.
• Applying funded hours, discounts and fee adjustments using attendance and booking information.
• Managing parent and carer accounts, including setting up new users and maintaining accurate records.
• Communicating clearly with parents and carers regarding charges, invoices, payments and account balances.
• Processing booking amendments and updating charges promptly and accurately.
• Monitoring outstanding nursery and wraparound care balances and maintaining debt recovery records.
• Contacting parents and carers regarding overdue payments in a professional, sensitive and consistent manner.
• Managing agreed payment plans and monitoring adherence to arrangements.
• Escalating outstanding arrears in line with academy procedures and providing supporting information to leaders.

Skills

Strong organisational skills

Excellent communication

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Management information systems

Independent problem solving

Team collaboration

Time management

Attention to detail

Job description

We are looking for a Primary Compliance Assistant to support the effective financial administration of nursery and wraparound care provision, delivering an excellent service to academies, parents and carers while ensuring accuracy, compliance and strong financial controls.

The actual salary for this role will be £25,541 (37.5 hours per week, 40 weeks per year).

WORKING WITH US

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.

We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.

Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.

To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the Why Work For Us page.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Working across our primary academies, your responsibilities will include:

• Reconciling payments received through ParentPay and other approved payment systems, ensuring accurate allocation across parent, pupil and service accounts
• Investigating and resolving payment discrepancies, refunds and account queries in collaboration with academy colleagues and families
• Maintaining accurate financial records, producing income reports and monitoring outstanding balances
• Following financial procedures and maintaining clear audit trails for all transactions
• Creating, checking and issuing nursery and wraparound care invoices accurately and on time
• Applying funded hours, discounts and fee adjustments using attendance and booking information
• Managing parent and carer accounts, including setting up new users and maintaining accurate records
• Communicating clearly with parents and carers regarding charges, invoices, payments and account balances
• Processing booking amendments and updating charges promptly and accurately
• Monitoring outstanding nursery and wraparound care balances and maintaining debt recovery records
• Contacting parents and carers regarding overdue payments in a professional, sensitive and consistent manner
• Managing agreed payment plans and monitoring adherence to arrangements
• Escalating outstanding arrears in line with academy procedures and providing supporting information to leaders

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Good ICT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel and management information systems
• Experience of working effectively with colleagues, parents and carers
• The ability to work independently, use initiative and solve problems
• A flexible and adaptable approach to changing demands
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
• Strong time management skills and the ability to meet deadlines
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in your work

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
• Annual loyalty bonus
• Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
• 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
• Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
• 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
• Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans

For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.