FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANT

St Peter's School; Cambridge; On-site; NZD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

St Peter's School in Cambridge, North Island, seeks an experienced Financial Accountant to join our Finance team. You will share responsibility for accounts receivable, general ledger reporting, fixed assets, and the annual audit.

A Bachelor's degree in Finance or related discipline with at least three years' experience is required, along with strong knowledge of accounting standards and Excel. CPA preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.
• CPA qualification preferred.
• At least three years of progressive financial management experience.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, financial regulations, reporting, budgeting, and risk management.
• Payroll processing knowledge and payroll legislation.

Responsibilities

• Accounts Receivable Management: billings, receipts, debt collection, and records maintenance.
• General Ledger Reporting: month-end close, journal entries, cost centre reconciliations, and balance sheet accuracy.
• Fixed Asset Management: asset register, depreciation, and asset reconciliations.
• Year-end Audit: assist with year-end close and external audit readiness.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Business Admin or related

CPA preferred

Tools

Accounting software

Microsoft Excel

Job description

St Peter's School – Cambridge, North Island

St Peter's Cambridge is seeking an experienced Financial Accountant to join our Finance team. This is an exciting opportunity for a finance professional to play a key role in supporting the School's financial operations by sharing responsibility for managing the accounts receivable process, cost centre reporting, fixed assets, and the annual audit.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across the School, you will help ensure our financial processes are accurate, efficient, and compliant while providing high-quality financial support and expertise.

About the role

As Financial Accountant, your responsibilities will include:

Accounts Receivable Management

• Share responsibility for the accounts receivable process, ensuring the timely and accurate billing of student fees and receipting of payments.
• Maintain and update student and debtor records, ensuring all charges and concessions are recorded correctly.
• Calculate tuition and boarding charges for students starting and leaving during the year.
• Process monthly student on-charges from departments across the School.
• Follow up overdue accounts and manage the collection process to minimise outstanding debts.
• Respond to enquiries and resolve issues from debtors and staff.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with debtors to facilitate smooth payment processes.

General Ledger Reporting and Financial Accounting

• Maintain and review general ledger accounts to ensure they are accurate and support monthly reporting.
• Complete cost centre reconciliations, identifying missing transactions and following up outstanding on-charges.
• Support managers with financial enquiries and provide accounting expertise where required.
• Conduct detailed financial analysis when requested.
• Complete general ledger reconciliations and identify transactions requiring journals.
• Process monthly journals, including tuition fee and state funding revenue recognition.
• Perform month-end and year-end processes.
• Ensure monthly balance sheet reconciliations are complete and accurate.
• Review bank reconciliations for completeness and accuracy.
• Calculate and submit GST and FBT returns.
• Support the Management Accountant with daily cashflow, drawdowns, and cashflow management.

Fixed Asset Management

• Maintain the Fixed Asset Register, ensuring accurate reporting of assets, additions, and depreciation.
• Regularly review depreciation rates to ensure compliance and accurate reporting.
• Reconcile the Fixed Asset Register to the General Ledger.

Year-end Audit

• Perform the year-end close process.
• Prepare statutory accounts, including reconciliations and balance sheet accounts for the School, Alumni, and PTA.
• Act as a key technical lead during the annual external audit, preparing workpapers and responding to audit queries.

Process Improvement

• Identify and implement improvements to the accounts receivable and payable processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with School policies and accounting standards.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and internal policies.
• Identify high-risk debtors with payment disputes or regular non-payment of accounts.

This is a varied role that requires a collaborative mindset, a willingness to support colleagues across the School, and the flexibility to work additional hours during peak periods when required.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related discipline. CPA qualification is preferred.
• At least three years' progressive experience in financial management.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, financial regulations, reporting, budgeting, and risk management.
• A sound understanding of payroll processing and payroll legislation.
• Experience using accounting software and advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.
• Excellent analytical, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Why Join St Peter’s?

• Be part of a supportive, professional, and values-led school community
• Engage in meaningful work that supports students, staff, and school operations

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a school that values innovation, excellence, and a strong sense of community.

We offer a competitive salary, professional development and other benefits. This is an important role for the school and is required to work on-campus Monday to Friday, including during term breaks. Position to commence as soon as possible.

St Peter's, Cambridge is a child safe school.