Finance Officer

Regional Finance Officer

Reports to: Finance Manager

Location: West London (home school to be agreed with time splits across other schools in the region)

Contract: Permanent

Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm)

Closing date: 06/03/2024

Interviews: w/c 11/03/2024

Salary: £27,000 to £32,000 (depending on experience)

About the role:

As Regional Finance Officer your role is an integral part of the schools in the region, responsible for ensuring high standards of financial integrity. Depending upon which school you are supporting, you will manage the daily and monthly financial processes in the school, ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Academies Financial Handbook.

This is a regional position to support Ark Primary academies primarily across West London.   This regional role will involve travel within London where we have schools based in Westminster, Hammersmith, Ealing, Brent and Wandsworth.  You will be based over 2-3 home schools where you will spend c.80% of your time with the remainder of time supporting regional working from our Central Office central office near White City.  Your home school may vary on an annual basis.  You will work closely with (and report to) the Finance Manager and will also work with the relevant Principal and Operations leads at the school(s) you are supporting. You will be expected to be part of the school community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the Finance Manager and Operations Leads to ensure the continuing financial stability of the school
• Ensuring accurate and timely processing of purchase invoices and other documents using Concur and PS Financials accounting software, reconciling supplier statements, and preparing payment runs for authorisation
• Reconciling schools bank accounts, credit card statements and financial ledgers
• Working with the Operations Leads to ensure goods and services are processed in compliance with current and relevant procurement legislation, ensuring best value is achieved
• Assist with the administration of school’s ParentPay (or equivalent) system
• Support other schools in the region as necessary

Key Requirements:

• Right to work in the UK
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially excel; PSF financials and Concur desirable
• Experience using financial databases and confidence and interest in learning new technologies
• Deep commitment to Ark’s mission of providing an excellent education to every student, regardless of background
• Strong organisational and time-management skills and the ability to delegate appropriately
• High standards and a keen eye for detail

About Ark

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 30,000 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

You’ll be joining a group of like-minded, ambitious individuals who work collaboratively and are all committed to our core mission, that every child has the potential to succeed. Having just celebrated our 20^th anniversary, we are shaping our goals for the next 20 and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• A flexible approach to working with understanding and consideration for work life balance and personal commitments
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and cover letter on our online recruitment portal. Applications to be submitted by Monday 6^th March 2024 at 10am but please note: we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.

This ATS application form should take no longer 20 minutes to complete. At any time, you can pause, save, and log back in. If you have any difficulty with meeting the deadline for application, please contact recruitment@arkonline.org

Interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. 

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link