Finance Administrator | Southwark

The Opportunity

Are you a detail-oriented professional with a head for figures and a heart for education? Can you manage the vital financial operations that ensure a school can provide the best possible resources for its students?

We are seeking a diligent and methodical Finance Administrator to join a high-performing business team in Southwark . Situated along the vibrant South Bank, home to the Shard and Tate Modern, Southwark is a borough that blends historic London with cutting-edge development. We are looking for an individual who can maintain impeccable financial records while navigating the fast-paced environment of a successful urban school.

Core Responsibilities

• Purchase Ledger Management: Processing orders, matching invoices to delivery notes, and ensuring timely payments to suppliers using school finance software such as PS Financials, FMS, or Sage .

• Income & Banking: Handling the collection and reconciliation of school income, including trips, catering, and uniform sales via online platforms like ParentPay or sQuid .

• Budget Monitoring: Assisting the School Business Manager (SBM) in tracking departmental spend, highlighting variances, and providing up-to-date reports to Budget Holders.

• Payroll Support: Coordinating with the central payroll provider to ensure staff overtime, absences, and contract changes are accurately recorded and processed.

• Petty Cash & Expenses: Managing the school’s petty cash account and processing staff expense claims in strict accordance with the school’s financial handbook.

• Audit Readiness: Maintaining a clear and transparent "paper trail" for all transactions, ensuring the school remains fully compliant with internal and external audit requirements and GDPR.

Why This School?

• Southwark’s Central Hub: Work in a borough at the center of London’s financial and cultural life, providing an energetic and aspirational atmosphere for staff and students alike.

• A Strategic Business Team: Join a sophisticated administrative faculty where Finance is recognized as a key pillar in the school’s ability to deliver academic excellence.

• Modern Systems: Benefit from a school that utilizes the latest cloud-based accounting and procurement tools to streamline your daily workflow.

• Professional Growth: Access to specialist training in School Resource Management , Advanced Excel for Finance , and pathways toward Finance Manager or School Business Manager roles.

Candidate Profile

• Experience: Proven experience in a finance or bookkeeping role is essential. Previous experience within a school setting or an academy trust is a significant advantage.

• Technical Proficiency: Strong IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables) and a quick ability to master school-specific financial management systems.

• Precision & Integrity: An unwavering commitment to accuracy and the highest standards of professional ethics and confidentiality.

• Communication Skills: The ability to explain financial procedures to non-finance staff with clarity and patience.

• Character: A resilient, organized, and collaborative professional who takes pride in ensuring the school’s "back-office" is as excellent as its classrooms.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please submit your CV today.