At a Glance
- Tasks: Support finance processes and maintain accurate records for schools and colleges.
- Company: Leading education and charitable organisation in South London/Surrey.
- Benefits: Competitive hourly pay, inclusive environment, and potential for permanent role.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education finance while gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: AAT qualification or studying towards it; finance experience preferred.
The predicted salary is between 20 - 24 £ per hour.
The Income and Funding Assistant is responsible for supporting the Finance Department in maintaining accurate accounting records and managing income processes for schools and college centres.
This role ensures the delivery of a robust, efficient, and effective finance function across the organisation, while working collaboratively with on-site teams to provide timely and high-quality financial and income-related support.
Client Details
Leading South London/Surrey Education and Charitable organisation are seeking an Income and Funding Finance Assistant on an initial six-month contract basis.
This job may become permanent.
- Description
- Work closely with individual schools and college centres to ensure all required Arbor MIS data is collected, validated, reviewed, and submitted within agreed timelines and in accordance with Trust Finance Regulations and Procedures.
- Conduct detailed reviews of Arbor MIS pupil and place-led data to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency, investigating and resolving discrepancies with schools and Local Authorities.
- Maintain comprehensive student-level income reconciliations, comparing funding received against pupil records, Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), place funding allocations, grant schedules, and Local Authority remittances.
- Produce monthly school-level income reconciliations and funding movement reports, highlighting variances, anomalies, and escalating potential financial risks.
- Perform detailed monthly income analysis across all income streams, including High Needs funding, grants, lettings, recoupment income, bursaries, and other traded activities.
- Analyse funding trends, pupil number movements, occupancy levels, and funding variances to identify risks, opportunities, and areas requiring management intervention.
- Prepare monthly income reports and dashboards for Finance Business Partners and senior management, providing commentary on key movements, variances, and financial performance.
- Support income forecasting and budget monitoring processes by providing accurate income projections and trend analysis.
- Utilise Sage and invoicing systems to ensure invoices are raised accurately, coded correctly, and processed in accordance with Trust procedures and timescales.
- Raise invoices for Local Authority top-up funding, Df E grants, lettings income, recoupment charges, outreach services, and other income-generating activities.
- Monitor invoice workflows and resolve invoice discrepancies promptly, ensuring compliance with financial controls and audit requirements.
- Accurately process and post all bank transactions on a timely basis.
- Maintain cashbook records and ensure all receipts and payments are appropriately coded and recorded.
- Prepare monthly bank reconciliations for schools, college centres, and the Trust, investigating and resolving any unreconciled items promptly.
- Prepare monthly income accruals, deferred income calculations, and journal postings in accordance with accounting standards and Trust procedures.
- Support month-end and year-end reporting processes by ensuring income transactions are accurately recorded and reconciled.
- Profile
A successful Interim Income And Funding Finance Assistant should have
- AAT qualified or studying towards a recognised accounting qualification (desirable).
- Proven experience in a finance role with responsibility for sales ledger, income management, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
- Experience within the education, academy, public sector, or not-for-profit environment is desirable.
- Experience working with Local Authority funding arrangements, grants, or educational funding streams would be advantageous.
- Strong working knowledge of Sage Accounting Software, Arbor MIS, and financial management systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including
- Pivot Tables
- VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP
- SUMIFS
- INDEX MATCH
- Data validation
- Power Query (desirable)
- Strong understanding of sales ledger processes, credit control, cashbook management, and bank reconciliations.
- Sound knowledge of accruals, prepayments, deferred income, journals, and financial controls.
- Ability to analyse large data sets and convert financial information into meaningful management reports.
- Strong analytical and investigative skills with the ability to identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities from financial data.
- Ability to interpret complex funding information and reconcile multiple data sources accurately.
- Experience producing financial analysis, variance reports, KPI reporting, and forecasting information.
- Ability to challenge data, identify root causes of discrepancies, and recommend practical solutions.
- Strong attention to detail with a commitment to data integrity and accuracy.
- Job Offer
- Temporary Interim Income And Funding Finance Assistant contract in Sutton.
- Hourly pay of £20 to £24, dependent on the level of experience.
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
As an inclusive recruiter we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences.
If you require any adjustments or accommodations during the recruitment process, we'll work with you to ensure you can perform at your best.
Interim Income and Funding Finance Assistant employer: ACCA Careers
Join a dynamic and supportive team at ACCA Careers in Taunton, where your expertise as a Senior Accountant will be valued and nurtured. With a clear progression path, you will have the opportunity to mentor junior staff and engage in meaningful advisory roles for a diverse range of clients, all within a collaborative work culture that prioritises professional growth and development. Enjoy the unique advantage of working in a picturesque location while contributing to the success of sole traders, partnerships, and SMEs.
