Apprentice Finance Assistant

This is an exciting opportunity to work within the finance team at Kirklees College. You will support the Income Manager and the Payments Manager with timely collection and processing of college income, processing of supplier invoices, payments and related queries.

In your role, you will be accountable for:

• Prepare and issue invoices, reminder and exclusion letters and monthly statements
• Check and bank cash received from across college
• Update income to Open Accounts ensuring that VAT is correctly applied on each category of income
• Request and process credit notes where needed on receipt of appropriate authorisation
• Create products on the college online store
• Undertake credit control through to recommendation for legal action for an agreed range of customers accounts
• Work with curriculum areas to resolve customer account issues
• Assist in the monitoring of Advanced Learner Loans and Student Loans
• Maintain records of any debt collection action taken in the finance system
• Liaise with audit teams if required
• Work as part of the enrolment team covering finance elements of the process
• Open and distribute incoming mail and email on a rota basis
• Update job manuals in area of responsibility on a regular basis
• Support the Income Manager with ad hoc requests as they arise
• Work within the Purchase Ledger function as required, supporting the accurate and timely processing of supplier invoices, payments and related queries
• Assist in general finance office cover where required
• Build effective working relationships with managers and advise on processes within the postholder's remit, to facilitate the best outcomes for the college
• Any other duties commensurate with the level of the post that may be required from time to time

There are things that we are all accountable for, whatever your role, these are:

• Embedding safeguarding into your/your team's working practices and escalating any safeguarding concerns immediately in line with the college’s safeguarding policy
• Embedding Health and Safety best practices and ensuring a safe working environment for everyone within your area of responsibility, according to the Health and Safety at Work Act
• Being a champion and advocate for Equality and Diversity throughout college
• Behaving in a manner that displays British values
• Being committed to reviews of your performance and your own Continuous Professional Development

To be successful in this role you will have the following:

• Ability to use initiative and be innovative in resolving issues quickly and decisively
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to handle and prioritise multiple tasks and deadlines
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal and to a wide range of audiences
• Ability to work well as part of a team
• Flexible attitude to work and working hours
• Demonstrable record of success in a customer service working environment, and a commitment to providing a first-class service
• It would be desirable if you have an understanding of accounting processes, and how the different process streams interact
• It would be desirable if you have evidence of working with others to improve practice

College values and behaviours:

• Evidence of being able to demonstrate our college values in action: Kindness, Unity

DBS Advanced check is required. We are committed to exploring opportunities for flexible working and ensuring the work-life balance and wellbeing of our workforce. Please note that any job offer is subject to pre-employment checks, including a DBS check, online searches and references from former employers, in line with guidance from the Department for Education.

There are good transport links by bus/train. Please check the cost and time it will take to travel. There will be a requirement to work evenings and weekends for enrolment and other events at any of our other sites throughout the academic year.

About the employer: Kirklees College. Our mission is creating opportunities, changing lives and this is at the heart of everything we do. The college has a common set of values for both students and staff: Kindness, Unity and Excellence, and they define how we behave and interact with each other. Kirklees College is a uniquely vocational college whose student community reflects the diversity of the local area. We offer inspirational teaching in industry standard, state-of-the-art facilities and ensure curriculum is developed with employers to enable students to progress. At Kirklees College we aim to foster an honest and compassionate approach to ourselves, our people and environment, develop a shared purpose across our community, and set a culture of high aspiration, expectation and success. We strive to be ahead of the curve in our approach to teaching and learning and be a first-choice provider for students and industry alike. With over 10,000 students on full-time and part-time courses, and apprenticeships, we provide seven bespoke centres across the Kirklees region, from two main centres based in Dewsbury and Huddersfield, and dedicated learning centres for Animal Care, Construction, Engineering, Process Manufacturing and Higher Education.