Senior Finance Officer - Education and Schools

Civic Recruitment Limited; Enfield (CT); On-site; USD 60,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

Civic Recruitment Limited is recruiting for a Senior Finance Officer to provide high-quality financial support across Education and Schools services. You will help with budgeting, forecasting, reporting, reconciliations and year-end processes, working closely with schools and stakeholders to ensure proper financial management.

The role emphasizes statutory compliance, financial controls and continuous improvement of processes within the Education and Schools Finance Team, supporting informed

Qualifications

• Experience in finance, accounting or budget management.
• Experience supporting budget monitoring, forecasting and financial reporting.
• Experience undertaking account reconciliations and financial analysis.
• Strong numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Experience working within Local Government, Education Finance or the Public Sector.
• Ability to interpret and present financial information clearly.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial support, advice and guidance to Education and Schools Services.
• Support schools and service managers in understanding financial information and budget performance.
• Assist with the preparation, monitoring and management of budgets.
• Produce financial forecasts and assist in identifying financial risks and opportunities.
• Support monthly, quarterly and annual budget monitoring processes.
• Prepare and analyse management accounting information and financial reports.
• Coordinate financial returns and ensure submissions are completed accurately and on time.
• Undertake account reconciliations and investigate financial discrepancies.
• Support year-end closure activities, working papers and financial statements preparation.
• Analyse financial data and provide recommendations to support decision-making.
• Respond to financial queries from schools, managers and other stakeholders.
• Liaise with internal departments, schools and external bodies regarding financial matters.
• Monitor education funding allocations and expenditure.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations, accounting standards and audit requirements.
• Maintain accurate financial records and documentation.
• Assist with the development and improvement of financial systems, processes and controls.

Skills

Numerical ability

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Budgeting

Forecasting

Reporting

Education

Accounting qualification or part-qualified accountancy status

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Financial management systems

Job description

Senior Finance Officer - Education and Schools

• City Enfield
• Province Enfield
• Country United Kingdom
• Postal Code EN1

About Us

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

Permanent Opportunity With A Local Authority

Job Purpose

To provide high-quality financial support, advice and analysis across Education and Schools Services, ensuring effective financial management, budget monitoring and statutory compliance.

The postholder will support the delivery of a comprehensive finance service, contributing to budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, reconciliations and year-end processes. Working closely with schools, education services and key stakeholders, the role will help ensure education funding and resources are managed effectively and in accordance with relevant financial regulations and corporate policies.

The Senior Finance Officer will play a key role in delivering accurate financial information, supporting decision-making and contributing to the continuous improvement of financial processes within the Education and Schools Finance Team.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide financial support, advice and guidance to Education and Schools Services.
• Support schools and service managers in understanding financial information and budget performance.
• Assist with the preparation, monitoring and management of budgets.
• Produce financial forecasts and assist in identifying financial risks and opportunities.
• Support monthly, quarterly and annual budget monitoring processes.
• Prepare and analyse management accounting information and financial reports.
• Coordinate financial returns and ensure submissions are completed accurately and on time.
• Undertake account reconciliations and investigate financial discrepancies.
• Support year-end closure activities, working papers and financial statements preparation.
• Analyse financial data and provide recommendations to support decision-making.
• Respond to financial queries from schools, managers and other stakeholders.
• Liaise with internal departments, schools and external bodies regarding financial matters.
• Monitor education funding allocations and expenditure.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations, accounting standards and audit requirements.
• Maintain accurate financial records and documentation.
• Assist with the development and improvement of financial systems, processes and controls.
• Support the delivery of an efficient, customer-focused finance service.
• Contribute to service improvement initiatives and finance projects as required.

Requirements

• Experience working within a finance, accounting or budget management environment.
• Experience supporting budget monitoring, forecasting and financial reporting activities.
• Experience undertaking account reconciliations and financial analysis.
• Strong numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Experience working within a complex organisation.
• Ability to interpret and present financial information clearly.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the use of formulas, spreadsheets and financial reporting tools.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work to deadlines.
• Experience maintaining accurate financial records and supporting audit requirements.
• Experience working within Local Government, Education Finance or the Public Sector.
• Knowledge of education funding arrangements and school finance.
• Accounting qualification or part-qualified accountancy status (AAT, CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience supporting year-end accounts and statutory returns.
• Experience using financial management systems within a local authority environment.
• Knowledge of local government finance regulations and processes.