Senior Finance Officer

St Mary's Church of England High School (VA); Churchgate; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

St Mary’s Church of England High School (VA) is seeking an experienced Senior Finance Officer to join the Finance Team. Working with the Chief Financial Officer, you will own core accounting processes, ensure timely financial information, and support month-end close and year-end activities.

The role requires strong double-entry bookkeeping, trial balances, and advanced Excel skills. AAT, ACCA or equivalent qualifications are desirable, and experience in education finance is a plus; flexible

Qualifications

• Experience with month-end journals, accruals, prepayments and reconciliations.
• Ability to handle trial balances and double-entry bookkeeping.
• Strong Excel skills and financial systems experience.
• Experience in a school or academy environment is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Own core accounting processes and ensure accurate financial information.
• Manage month-end journals, accruals, prepayments and reconciliations.
• Perform bank and control account reconciliations and payroll reconciliations for CFO review.
• Support management accounts, budget monitoring, cashflow reporting, year-end accounts and audit preparation.
• Help improve financial systems, procedures and controls.

Skills

Proactive

Highly organised

Attention to detail

Deadline-driven

Education

AAT qualification

ACCA or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Access Finance

Job description

We are seeking an experienced, proactive and highly organised Senior Finance Officer to play a key role in our Finance Team at St Mary’s CE High School.

Working closely with the Chief Financial Officer, you will take ownership of core accounting processes and help ensure that financial information is accurate, timely and reliable. This is a varied, hands‑on role for someone who understands the figures, investigates discrepancies and follows tasks through to completion.

Your responsibilities will include month‑end journals, accruals, prepayments, accrued and deferred income, bank and control account reconciliations, and payroll reconciliations for the CFO’s final review. You will also support management accounts, budget monitoring, cashflow reporting, year‑end accounts and audit preparation.

As a senior member of the team, you will provide practical guidance to colleagues, check financial work and help coordinate day‑to‑day operations. You will also contribute to improvements in our financial systems, procedures and controls. The role does not carry formal line management responsibility.

You will need sound practical accounting experience, confidence working with trial balances and double‑entry bookkeeping, and good Excel skills. Accuracy, initiative and the ability to manage deadlines are essential, alongside an approachable manner and a willingness to support colleagues.

An AAT, ACCA or equivalent qualification, completed or in progress, would be desirable. Applicants with strong relevant practical experience are equally welcome. Experience in a school or academy trust, or with Access Finance software, would be advantageous.

Applications are welcomed from suitably experienced candidates seeking reduced hours. Working arrangements can be discussed, with attendance required during the last week of August as part of the additional working weeks.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks, including references, enhanced DBS, online searches and other checks required by Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE 2026).

St Mary’s is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Closing date: 12pm on 23rd November 2026

Interview date: TBC

We reserve the right to interview and appoint suitable candidate before the application deadline.