At a Glance
- Tasks: Support financial functions for schools and assist with various financial tasks.
- Company: Join the Lancashire County Council's Schools Statutory Team.
- Benefits: Flexible working, 26 days annual leave, staff discounts, and career development.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on schools while gaining valuable finance experience.
- Qualifications: GCSEs or equivalent, financial admin experience, and strong communication skills.
- Other info: Dynamic role with potential for permanent position and great team environment.
The predicted salary is between 22000 - 25000 £ per year.
Salary £25,989 - £28,142 per annum | 37 hours per week | Fixed term, Full time | Preston, Lancashire
We are currently recruiting to the post of Finance Support Officer within the Schools Statutory Team, Financial Management. This role provides a unique opportunity to contribute and support the statutory financial functions of the county council. This is a fixed term post with the possibility to become permanent.
As The Finance Support Officer, You Will:
- Have a varied workload supporting the statutory functions of the team.
- Provide support to Lancashire schools and academies and to the team. This includes assisting with various financial tasks: processing journals and payments, raising invoices and reconciliations.
- Provide administrative and customer support to help the running of the staff supply scheme for schools.
- Arrange meetings, facilitate events, and provide general administrative support.
- Assist in the operations of the Lancashire Schools Forum and its working groups.
- Collect and record data from schools, maintain records, and ensure compliance with relevant policy and procedures.
About You:
- Holds GCSE's Qualifications or equivalent.
- Has experience in financial administration.
- You’ll have great communication skills with the ability to communicate both written and verbally.
- You’ll have good customer service skills.
- You will be able to work well in a team but also have the ability to work without close supervision.
- Have the ability to use Microsoft Office, in particular Excel and Word and can adapt to working with new financial systems.
- You are self‑motivated and organised.
Closing date: 25 February 2026
Reasons to join us?
- We offer flexible working opportunities.
- Great annual leave entitlement of 26 days per financial year, which increases with length of service.
- You will also be entitled to 8 bank holidays, 2 additional statutory bank holidays during the Christmas period and you also have the option of purchasing additional leave each year.
- Our staff discount scheme in partnership with Vivup, allowing you to access a range of discounts with UK retailers.
- Great career development.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join the Schools Finance Team in a unique and varied role and see the positive impact of your work on the team, schools and academies within Lancashire.
If you would like to discuss the role further, please contact Millie Parkinson on 01772 534844 or email Millie.Parkinson@lancashire.gov.uk. Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for this role. The panel will be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this exciting opportunity. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.
Finance Support Officer | Full time | Preston, Lancashire employer: Lancashire County Council
Contact Detail:
Lancashire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Support Officer | Full time | Preston, Lancashire
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the finance sector, especially those working in schools or local councils. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to financial administration. We recommend role-playing with a friend or using online resources to boost your confidence and communication skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Bring along examples of your work or projects that highlight your financial admin experience. This will help you stand out and demonstrate your ability to handle the varied workload.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and eager to join our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Support Officer | Full time | Preston, Lancashire
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure to customise your supporting statement to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Finance Support Officer. Use specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your financial administration skills and customer service abilities.
Show Off Your Communication Skills: Since great communication is key for this role, don’t shy away from showcasing your written and verbal skills in your application. Keep your language clear and professional, but let your personality shine through!
Highlight Your Tech Savvy: Mention your proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Word, as well as any experience with financial systems. We want to see that you can adapt quickly to new tools and processes, so give us the details!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Don’t forget to double-check everything before hitting submit – we’re excited to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lancashire County Council
✨Know Your Numbers
Brush up on your financial administration skills before the interview. Be ready to discuss your experience with processing journals, payments, and reconciliations. This will show that you understand the core responsibilities of the Finance Support Officer role.
✨Show Off Your Communication Skills
Since great communication is key for this position, prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated in previous roles. Think about times when you provided customer support or collaborated with a team, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Get Familiar with Microsoft Office
Make sure you're comfortable using Excel and Word, as these tools are essential for the job. If you can, practice some common tasks like creating spreadsheets or documents that might be relevant to the role. This will demonstrate your readiness to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare Your Supporting Statement
Don’t forget to upload a strong supporting statement that highlights how you meet the criteria for the role. Tailor it to reflect your skills and experiences that align with the job description, as this is crucial for getting shortlisted for an interview.