SEN Finance Officer Bexley - Admin & Clerical

Civic Recruitment Limited; Bexleyheath; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Civic Recruitment Limited is recruiting a SEN Finance Officer on a 3-month contract based in Bexley. The role oversees SEN funding, High Needs Block budgets, and related financial reporting for children and young people aged 0–25.

You will work with schools, local authorities, health services, and finance teams to ensure accurate budgeting, timely payments, and statutory compliance across the SEN funding landscape.

Qualifications

• Essential: knowledge of SEN funding arrangements, High Needs Block funding, and EHCPs.
• Desirable: knowledge of local authority finance systems and school funding regulations.
• Essential: experience in finance, education finance, or SEN finance.
• Essential: excellent financial, numerical, Excel, analytical, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and report on SEN funding and High Needs Block expenditure.
• Maintain budget information based on SEN Panel decisions and reconcile with Council finance systems.
• Produce monthly financial monitoring updates, spending profiles, and year-end reconciliations.
• Provide financial advice to managers and senior leaders and support annual budget setting.
• Verify, authorise, and arrange payment of invoices and manage payment schedules for educational providers.
• Develop and monitor High Needs Funding statements and track placement funding.
• Prepare financial reports and provide information for requests from schools, councils, and health services.

Skills

Excel skills

Financial analysis

Communication skills

Budget monitoring

Education

GCSEs including English and Maths

AAT qualification or equivalent

Tools

Local authority finance systems

Job description

SEN Finance Officer Bexley - Admin & Clerical

Bexleyheath, United Kingdom | Posted on 07/07/2026

At Civic Recruitment and Limited, we know that individuals are more than just fixed expenses; they are the cornerstone of every thriving organisation. That’s why we are passionate about transforming recruitment in the public and private sectors. In the modern job market, organisations in both public and private sectors face significant workforce challenges. Public sector entities, such as local councils and central government departments, often struggle with lengthy recruitment processes, limited access to qualified candidates, and stringent budgetary and regulatory constraints. Private sector businesses, on the other hand, encounter high turnover rates, difficulties managing a mix of permanent and temporary staff, and challenges in sourcing specialised talent for niche industries. These sector‑specific obstacles, coupled with the universal complexities of payroll management, create a pressing need for efficient workforce solutions. Civic Recruitment Limited addresses these challenges with innovative recruitment and payroll solutions tailored for diverse organisational needs. Recognising the critical hurdles organisations face, the company leverages its expertise to streamline processes, reduce recruitment times, and alleviate administrative burdens. With an extensive database of over 1 million pre‑screened candidates, Civic Recruitment Limited is well‑positioned to cater to the specific needs of both public and private sectors.

Job Description

SEN Finance Officer – 3 Month Contract

Working Pattern: Hybrid – 3 to 4 days remote, 1 to 2 days office-based

Contract: Temporary (3 Months)

• Previous local authority or council SEN Finance experience is highly desirable
• Experience working with SEN funding, High Needs Block funding, EHCPs, and school finance

Summary

This temporary 3-month contract role is crucial for overseeing, managing, and reporting on Special Educational Needs (SEN) funding and expenditure for children and young people aged 0–25. The role involves managing a budget exceeding £28 million, ensuring financial compliance, accurate budgeting, timely payments, and effective financial reporting within the Statutory Assessment Service. The successful candidate will collaborate with schools, colleges, local authorities, health services, finance teams, and senior managers to ensure efficient management of SEN funding arrangements while adhering to statutory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Financial Monitoring & Budget Management
  • Maintain accurate budget information based on SEN Panel decisions.
  • Monitor and report on High Needs Block expenditure and projections.
  • Produce monthly financial monitoring updates and spending profiles.
  • Reconcile SEN budgets with Council finance systems.
  • Support annual budget setting and year-end financial processes.
  • Provide financial advice to managers and senior leaders.
• Verify, authorise, and arrange payment of invoices.
• Create and manage payment schedules for educational providers.
• Process payments to various educational institutions.
• Challenge non-compliant charges and maintain records of jointly funded placements.
• Complete monthly and year-end reconciliations.
• High Needs Funding Management
  • Manage budget monitoring spreadsheets for various educational settings.
  • Produce High Needs Funding Statements for schools.
  • Calculate and authorise top‑up payments.
  • Monitor and record support packages and placement funding.
• SEN Equipment & Procurement
  • Liaise with schools and therapists regarding equipment requests.
  • Present equipment requests for approval and purchase approved items.
  • Monitor equipment budgets and maintain records.
• Data Analysis & Reporting
  • Prepare financial reports for senior management.
  • Produce graphs, charts, and monitoring reports.
  • Support monthly performance reporting and provide information for various requests.
• Stakeholder Management
  • Build effective relationships with educational and health services.
  • Support schools in understanding SEN funding processes and provide guidance.
• Service Development
  • Support the development and implementation of new SEN funding processes.
  • Contribute to performance management and continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

Requirements:

• Knowledge
  • Essential: Understanding of SEN funding arrangements, High Needs Block funding, and EHCPs.
  • Desirable: Knowledge of local authority finance systems and school funding regulations.
• Experience
  • Essential: Experience in finance, education finance, or SEN finance environments.
  • Desirable: Previous local authority or council SEN Finance experience.
• Essential: Excellent financial and numerical skills, advanced Excel skills, strong analytical abilities, and excellent communication skills.
• Qualifications
  • Essential: GCSEs (or equivalent) including English and Mathematics.
  • Desirable: AAT qualification or equivalent finance/accounting qualification.

Additional Information

• Opportunity to manage SEN funding in excess of £28 million within a busy Statutory Assessment Service.
• Experience with EHCP funding and High Needs Block budgets is highly desirable.