Finance and Payroll Officer in Kent

Welcome to Future Schools Trust. Our Trust consists of two secondary schools, one primary school and one nursery at the heart of our local community in the Maidstone and Malling area of Kent. FST was legally established as a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) in September 2007.

All our schools have a strong and inclusive ethos, reflecting our vision. Staff and students embrace our values, and they share our belief that schools are stronger when they work together whilst being proud and respectful of the unique identity of each of our schools.

FST's central team support our schools with core functions such as Finance, HR, Facilities, IT, Marketing and Governance.

At Future Schools Trust, we are committed to building a workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those who are differently abled, neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, and from different religious or belief backgrounds. We value the unique perspectives and experiences that individuals bring and believe they make our organisation stronger. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, we are happy to support you.

What's in it for you?

• A vibrant and exciting place to work
• A friendly and supportive environment
• An excellent CPD programme, with opportunities for action research and nationally accredited qualifications
• The support of a Trust that currently encompasses two Secondary Schools and one Primary School. Alongside Tiger Cubs, our term time only Day Nursery, for children aged 3 months to 4 years, with great benefits to education staff.
• A well-resourced department with schemes of work and resources available.
• An opportunity to join various schemes such as the Benenden corporate healthcare scheme

Click here to view all our employee benefits.

Future Schools Trust are seeking a Finance and Payroll Officer to join the Finance Team who will be based at the Central Services Office but may also be required to work across all Trust sites. The working hours for the role are 37 per week, Monday-Thursday 8:00am-4:00pm and Friday 8:00am-3:30pm. Following training, there will be hybrid working, with up to 2 days per leave worked from home.

This role will be assisting the Finance Manager in the maintenance of the sales and purchase ledgers ensuring the processing of payments in accordance with school procedures and in compliance with Financial Regulations. This role will also assist in payroll and HR finance processes, voluntary fund management, and compliance with financial procedures and policies.

Future Schools Trust is a forward thinking, supportive organisation that is keen to develop staff to their full potential. This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to progress their career in the finance industry.

Person Specification:

• Previous experience of Sales/Purchase ledger maintenance
• Good working knowledge of sales/purchase ledgers and financial regulations ideally in the Academies/Education sector
• Ideally knowledge of Iris Financials and Parent Pay
• Ideally knowledge of payroll administration and reconciliation
• Good oral and written communication skills with clear spoken and written English
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to deal with people tactfully and confidentially.
• Ability to work on own initiative and prioritise work
• Experienced in using MS Excel, Outlook and Word or similar
• Able to understand the importance of confidentiality in the workplace
• Proven ability to work as part of a team
• Minimum 5 GCSE’s A-C including Mathematics and English (or equivalent)
• AAT or equivalent qualification or working towards or qualified by experience.

To apply please complete an application through our portal. Please note that applications submitted after 12:00pm on the day of the deadline will not be accepted.