Senior Finance Officer in Swindon

Senior Finance Officer

Location: Swindon
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

About Happy Days

Happy Days is growing, and we're opening a second support hub in Swindon. This new location will help us support our nurseries and early years teams as we continue to expand.

We're looking for a Senior Finance Officer to join our Finance team and take ownership of our sales ledger, credit control, banking processes, and Early Years funding activities. This is a varied and rewarding role where you'll work closely with managers, finance colleagues, and local authorities to ensure accurate financial processing and excellent support across the business.

What you'll be doing

As Senior Finance Officer, you'll:

• Lead and support the day-to-day activities of the Finance Officer team.
• Oversee the claiming and reconciliation of Early Years funding, ensuring all local authority deadlines are met and supporting managers with system and finance-related queries
• Ensure bank, cash, childcare voucher, and Tax-Free Childcare transactions are processed and reconciled accurately.
• Oversee the sales ledger process, including invoicing, direct debits, reconciliations, and customer account queries.
• Support credit control processes, monitoring outstanding debt, and support debt recovery activities.
• Provide training and guidance to colleagues on financial systems and processes.
• Assist with onboarding new nurseries and acquisitions into the business.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, controls, and efficiency across the finance function.

What we're looking for

You'll be someone who enjoys working with detail, supporting others, and building strong relationships across the business.

About You

You'll be organised, accurate and enjoy working with numbers and systems.

You'll also:

• Have experience with Early Years funding claims and reconciliations.

• Experience in a finance or accounts role.
• Knowledge of sales ledger, banking, and reconciliations.
• Experience supporting or leading a team.
• Strong Excel and accounting systems skills (e.g. Sage).

It Would Be Great If You Also Have

• Experience of inter-company transactions.
• Familiarity with Famly or a similar nursery management system.

What We Offer

We're proud to offer a supportive and collaborative working environment where people can develop and thrive.

Flexible Working

Once our new hub is established (typically after around six months), you'll be able to work in a hybrid way, with around three days in the office and two days from home.

Learning and Development

• Ongoing professional development.
• Support with accounting CPD requirements.
• Opportunities to grow your career.

Health and Wellbeing

• Mental health and wellbeing support.
• Generous annual leave from day one.

Financial Benefits

• People's Pension.
• Life assurance.

Ready to Apply?

Closing Date:

If you'd like to join a growing organisation where you can make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Interview Dates (onsite): 21st September to 25th September

Inclusion and Safeguarding

Happy Days is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Happy Days Nurseries is committed to safeguarding children. All offers of employment are subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including verification of your right to work in the UK.