At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and monitor a multi-million-pound SEN budget while ensuring accurate financial reporting.
- Company: Join a supportive Local Authority Children's Services team in Bexley.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive pay, and a meaningful role.
- Other info: Great opportunity for career growth in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference for children with special educational needs.
- Qualifications: Experience in finance, especially within education or local authority settings.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Bexley (Hybrid Working)
Contract: 3 Months Initially
Working Pattern: 3–4 Days Remote | 1–2 Days Office-Based (Bexleyheath)
Rate: Competitive
Aatom Recruitment is currently recruiting for an experienced SEN Finance Officer to join a Local Authority Children's Services team on an initial 3-month contract. This is an excellent opportunity to work within a busy Statutory Assessment Service, supporting the management of a multi-million-pound Special Educational Needs (SEN) budget and ensuring the effective administration of Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) funding across a wide range of educational settings.
About the Role
As SEN Finance Officer, you will play a key role in managing and monitoring SEN expenditure exceeding £28 million, ensuring accurate financial reporting, budget monitoring, forecasting, and payment processing across a large portfolio of SEN support packages and placements. You will work closely with schools, colleges, finance teams, SEN professionals, and external agencies to ensure statutory obligations are met and funding is administered efficiently and accurately.
Key Responsibilities
- Financial Management & Budget Monitoring
- Maintain accurate budget records for SEN support packages and placements.
- Monitor and forecast SEN expenditure against budgets.
- Reconcile High Needs Block funding and relevant SEN budgets.
- Produce regular financial reports, forecasts, and budget monitoring information.
- Support annual budget preparation and year-end financial processes.
- Assist with financial modelling and analysis.
- Payments & Invoicing
- Verify, process, authorise, and monitor invoices and payments.
- Manage BACS payments and payment schedules for schools and education providers.
- Reconcile financial transactions and investigate discrepancies.
- Challenge inaccurate invoices and costs where necessary.
- Process purchase orders and specialist equipment purchases.
- SEN Funding Administration
- Administer High Needs Funding and Top-Up Funding payments.
- Produce detailed funding statements for:
- Mainstream schools
- Special schools
- Resourced provisions
- Independent schools
- Out-of-borough placements
- Liaise with schools and local authorities regarding funding claims and payment schedules.
- Data Analysis & Reporting
- Produce management information, financial reports, graphs, and performance data.
- Support monthly monitoring meetings with detailed financial analysis.
- Prepare information for senior management, government returns, audits, and Freedom of Information requests.
- Maintain accurate electronic records and financial databases.
- Stakeholder Management
- Act as a key contact for:
- Schools and colleges
- SENCOs
- Head Teachers
- NHS services
- Social Care teams
- Parents and carers
- Other Local Authorities
- Provide guidance and support on SEN funding arrangements and financial processes.
Essential Requirements
- Previous experience working within a Local Authority Finance, Education Finance, Schools Finance, or SEN Finance environment.
- Strong understanding of budget monitoring, forecasting, reconciliations, invoicing, and financial reporting.
- Experience dealing with High Needs Funding, Top-Up Funding, or education-related funding streams.
- Excellent analytical and numerical skills.
- Strong Excel skills and experience working with financial systems.
- Ability to interpret complex financial information and communicate it clearly.
- Experience producing reports and management information.
- Excellent organisational and stakeholder management skills.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice.
- Understanding of EHCP funding arrangements and High Needs Block funding.
- Experience working within Children's Services or SEN teams.
- Knowledge of Local Authority finance systems.
What's on Offer?
- Hybrid working arrangement.
- Predominantly remote working with only occasional office attendance.
- Opportunity to work within a supportive Local Authority SEN team.
- Meaningful role supporting children and young people with special educational needs.
If you have experience in SEN Finance, Education Finance, Schools Funding, High Needs Funding, or Local Authority Financial Management, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today or contact Aatom Recruitment for further information.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land SEN Finance Officer
✨Join Financial Networking Events
Jump into local finance meetups and conferences — they’re a goldmine for temporary roles in banking and financial services. You can chat with industry professionals and even get leads on upcoming opportunities that might not be posted online yet.
✨Utilise Temp Agencies Specialised in Finance
Reach out to temp agencies that focus on the banking sector. They often have strong ties with various firms and can help you secure short-term gigs that can help beef up your CV and get your foot in the door at firms like Aatom Recruitment.
✨Connect with Alumni from Your Uni
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Keep your eyes peeled on job boards specifically for finance roles. Companies like Aatom Recruitment might post temporary positions directly on their sites, so make sure to apply there too. Set alerts to catch those roles the moment they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace SEN Finance Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Academic Achievements:In banking and financial services, your academic record can really make you stand out. List relevant grades, certifications, or coursework on your CV, especially if you've taken finance-related modules. This is particularly important for a temporary role where qualifications can help you shine even brighter!
Highlight Relevant Experience:If you’ve done any internships, part-time roles, or even coursework that aligns with banking or finance, make sure you include those! Showcase specific tasks where you used quantitative skills or analytical thinking, as this is what the hiring managers at Aatom Recruitment will be keen to see in your application.
Tailor Your Cover Letter Purposefully:When writing your cover letter, focus on why you’re interested in a temporary position at Aatom Recruitment. Let them know how you can quickly adapt to the team's needs and how eager you are to learn the ropes of the banking sector during this short stint. Your motivation and enthusiasm could really set you apart!
Be Prepared with References:For temporary roles, references can play a crucial role in your application. Make sure you’ve got a couple of references lined up who can vouch for your skills and work ethic. This helps to give Aatom Recruitment confidence in your short-term commitment to the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Aatom Recruitment
✨Brush Up on Financial Regulations
Since this is a role in banking and financial services, be ready to discuss key regulations like MiFID, Basel III, or GDPR. These are hot topics, and your awareness of how they impact daily operations can give you a significant edge during your interview with Aatom Recruitment.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare for interview questions that assess your analytical abilities. You might need to tackle hypothetical scenarios involving risk assessment or financial forecasting. Bringing examples of relevant projects or coursework can emphasise your practical understanding of these concepts.
✨Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability
For a temporary role, showing that you can quickly pick up new processes and tools is crucial. Be ready to discuss previous experiences where you had to adapt to changing requirements or tight deadlines, as this will reassure Aatom Recruitment that you’re a reliable team player.
✨Demonstrate a Willingness to Learn
In a temporary position, leaning into your eagerness to learn can really set you apart. Be prepared to share how you’re staying updated on industry trends or any additional training you've pursued. Employers appreciate candidates who are proactive about their development—even for short-term roles.
