Finance Officer

Since opening in 2011, Harris Academy Beckenham has gone from strength to strength. We have been oversubscribed for the last three years, rapidly becoming the school of choice in the local area. Our GCSE and A Level results have improved each year, with our English and Maths combined score in 2016 reaching an outstanding 80% A*-C. Our ambition and aspiration will ensure that we continue to focus on the success of all of our students, irrespective of background. Since converting, results have dramatically improved and we secured a judgment of ‘Outstanding’ from Ofsted in 2017.

Why work at Harris Academy Beckenham?

‘The school’s culture of aspiration and ambition is clearly demonstrated in classes. Teachers are aspirational for their pupils and set high expectations for them. Pupils respond positively. They are determined to do their best and are confident about meeting ambitious targets set by their teachers.’ (OFSTED 2017)

We invest in training and resources for our staff to help them make lessons fun, interesting and engaging. Class sizes are kept as small as possible and we place a firm emphasis on good behaviour so that students can learn in a calm and orderly environment.

It is our ethos of "Aspire, Discover, Achieve" that was recognised and praised in our recent inspection, and which contributed to Harris Academy Beckenham being judged as ‘outstanding’ in every category. In addition, the outstanding progress made by our students, placing us as the most successful school in Bromley (Progress 8 2016), vastly impressed the inspectors.

We have a harmonious community with excellent relationships between students and staff, and our students have a focused and mature attitude towards their academic studies.

Your responsibilities will include

• Creating purchase orders
• Management of purchase ordering
• Management of purchase invoices and staff expenses
• Raising BACS for purchase invoices and staff expenses and completing BACs run
• Ensuring all relevant academy bank reconciliations are processed
• Managing all credit card payments, after obtaining authorisation as appropriate 
• Reconciling petty cash and processing Academy banking for cash and cheques where necessary
• Processing of bursary claims into the finance system and completion of bursary spend tracker monthly
• Raising of invoices, ensuring the collection on all sales revenue are received in a timely manner
• Liaising with cost centre budget holders in respect of their monitoring and reporting procedures
• Managing ParentPay system
• Providing finance reports as appropriate
• Dealing with internal and external finance related queries
• Ensuring an appropriate finance filing system is maintained
• Ensuring the academy’s finance procedures operate in accordance with relevant regulations and guidance
• Reading and understanding the Academies Financial handbook and the Federation Scheme of Delegation to ensure the Academy is compliant
• Overseeing the contracts register at the Academy, ensuring all information is kept up to date
• Supporting in any tendering process
• Working with the Federation Business Partner when contracts are due for renewal and ascertain value for money and quality of service are in line with expectations
• Working with Federation Business Partner and Principal in understanding priorities for expenditure and promoting effective spend of resources and ensuring value for money
• Assisting Finance Business Partner with internal and external audit requirements

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Educated to A level or equivalent
• Knowledge of school finance systems 
• Knowledge of a variety of financial recording systems 
• Knowledge of the budget setting process 
• Understanding of the role and function of external audit
• At least 3 years’ experience working in a finance department Experience of working within financial controls

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan including access to a virtual GP, electric car scheme, 26 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays) for staff who work across the full year, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.