The Fernwood Academy Trust is seeking an experienced and proactive Finance Officer to join our friendly and close-knit Finance Team in this role based on-site at the Fernwood School in Wollaton, Nottingham.
As a member of the finance team, you will help in the delivery of a high-quality finance service for the Trust, ensuring that financial information is accurate, reliable, and timely, enabling resources to be used effectively in support of pupils and staff.
We are looking for an experienced, organised and detail-oriented finance professional with strong reconciliation skills and a good grounding in all accounting processes. You will already understand the accounting principles behind the financial transactions, be confident applying appropriate accounting treatment where required, and enjoy taking ownership of your work while contributing positively to a collaborative team environment.
This is a varied and rewarding role where you will support key financial processes including reconciliations, payroll, VAT 126, month-end procedures, and audit requirements, helping to maintain accurate records and strong financial controls across the organisation.
Working alongside an experienced Chief Financial Officer, this role offers the opportunity to gain wider exposure to academy trust finance and strengthen your technical expertise, helping you to further develop your career within a supportive and professional environment.
Who We Are Looking For
- AAT Level 4 or equivalent finance qualification or be working towards a recognised accounting qualification with relevant work experience or be qualified by experience with substantial experience in a similar finance role.
- A good understanding of accounting processes and double-entry bookkeeping principles.
- Strong numerical and analytical skills.
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
- Experience of month end processes, preparing journals, reconciling control accounts, and maintaining financial records.
- The knowledge and ability to apply appropriate accounting treatment to financial transactions.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Good communication skills and the confidence to work effectively with colleagues and external stakeholders.
- A proactive approach and commitment to high standards.
Experience within an academy trust, school or public sector finance environment would be advantageous but is not essential.
Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role and responsibilities.
About The Fernwood School
Following a recent expansion from 1000 to 1500 pupils, with staffing growing to over 200 colleagues across teaching and support roles, we continue to strengthen our infrastructure to support both pupils and staff to succeed. We are an oversubscribed and popular 11-16 school within Nottingham City and had over 800 applications for our 300 places this year.
We are a proudly diverse school and have children with heritage from all corners of the world. We celebrate our different cultures through our curriculum and special events like ‘Culture Day’ and ‘Diversity Week’ and have our own EDI (Equity Diversity and Inclusion working party) made up of parents, staff and our EDI student ambassadors. We welcome applications from people who will embrace the diversity of our school community.
In our annual staff survey, the most common response to what staff value most about working at Fernwood was ‘being part of a welcoming staff body who look out for and support each other’. The vast majority of staff would recommend working here to a friend, and all staff agreed that children are ‘happy’ and ‘safe’ at Fernwood. Our unique culture and ethos mean we have strong staff retention statistics and a stable team of staff. We are a popular employer to potential applicants and have a strong track record of attracting and retaining high-quality staff.
We value and prioritise our staff and have a comprehensive programme of support, both in terms of professional development and personal support. All staff have access to our comprehensive EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) which includes benefits like free physiotherapy appointments, telephone GP access, counselling and financial advice to name a few. We have several staff social groups including an LGBTQ+ group, a theatre group, and staff yoga. We also have several staff social events each year. We are part of the ‘cycle to work’ scheme and provide staff with free flu jabs and eye tests and a voucher for purchasing glasses for staff using display screens.
We are an open school and are always keen to work with other organisations and networks as we believe in community and sharing support and expertise. We are currently supporting another local secondary school through the RISE (DfE) programme and have strong working relationships with both of our local universities too. We are an ambitious school and are continually developing and improving our provision and approaches to ensure we can provide our children with the best education possible.
Professional Development & Excellence
- An ethos of ‘High Achievement with Care and Discipline for All’
- Excellent CPD Opportunities
- An Outstanding Ofsted Judgement
- A strong Progress 8 score
- Leading Edge Status
Wellbeing & Support
- Mental health and wellbeing services such as access to a 24/7 confidential employee assistance programme
- Healthcare schemes such as Specsavers Eyecare vouchers for DSE users
- Cycle to Work Scheme
Financial Benefits
- Incremental Pay Progression
- Generous Occupational Pension Scheme
- Blue Light Card
The Fernwood School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Therefore, this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
An online search will be undertaken on all shortlisted candidates. This search does not form part of the shortlisting process, and you will have the opportunity to discuss any issues of concern that may arise from this search at the interview.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Any information found to be misleading or not representative of the applicant's own abilities may affect the outcome of the application.
Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.
Equality Statement
Fernwood School is a richly diverse and inclusive community where equality, respect and belonging are at the heart of our values. We are committed to creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of our students and wider community, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities and experiences. We value the different perspectives, skills and qualities that staff bring to our school and are committed to providing an inclusive working environment where everyone is supported to thrive and succeed.
School Visits
We warmly welcome prospective applicants to visit our school prior to submitting an application. A visit will give you the chance to experience our ethos first-hand, meet our dedicated team, and see our learning environment in action. To arrange a visit, please do not hesitate to contact recruitment@fernwood.school
Finance Officer employer: Fernwood School
Fernwood School in Nottinghamshire is an exceptional employer that prioritises the professional development of its staff while fostering a supportive and inclusive work culture. With a focus on personalised education for students with special educational needs, employees benefit from collaborative teamwork, ongoing training opportunities, and a commitment to making a meaningful impact in the lives of young learners. Join us to be part of a dedicated community that values innovation and compassion in education.
