Apprentice Finance Assistant in Huddersfield

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.

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.

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 postholders 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 teams 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, Excellence.

Training Outcome: Whilst there will be no guarantee of a substantive position with the college at the end of the period, the college will guide, support and encourage suitable apprentices to apply for appropriate vacancies as and when they arise. The college has a very good record of supporting workers through in-house apprenticeships, and many apprentices have secured employment with the college beyond their apprenticeship. There may be a full-time position for the candidate to apply for, subject to successful completion of the apprenticeship and employment targets.

Skills Required:

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Microsoft Office

Qualifications:

• Essential - GCSE - Maths and English - 4 or C or Functional Skills
• Essential - Microsoft - Word and outlook - PASS, MERIT OR DISTINCTION

Course Information:

• Course: Accounts or finance assistant (level 2)
• Level: 2
• Route: Legal, finance and accounting
• Apprenticeship Level: Intermediate

Working Arrangements:

• Working Week: Monday to Thursday - 8.30am until 5pm, Friday 8.30am until 4.30pm. Predominantly based at Waterfront Centre with requirement to travel to other sites.
• Expected Duration: 1 Year 3 Months
• Training Provider: KIRKLEES COLLEGE

This employer is part of the Disability Confident scheme, committed to employing disabled people.