Finance Officer in Oxford

Do you want to be part of an education charity that supports schools and has a positive impact on education and opportunities for young people?

The organisation:

NACE (the National Association for Able Children in Education) is looking for a Finance Officer to join its team in Oxfordshire to do just that. NACE is the UK's leading membership charity supporting schools to provide high-quality education and opportunities for more able learners. We support schools across the UK and internationally through membership, accreditation, CPD and events.

We are looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Finance Officer to support the day-to-day financial operations of the charity. This is a varied and hands-on role, ideal for someone who enjoys working with financial data, supporting colleagues and customers, and ensuring that systems and processes run efficiently.

The role:

The Finance Officer is responsible for the effective day-to-day administration of NACE's finances, maintaining accurate records within Xero and supporting financial reporting, budgeting and compliance activities. The postholder will play a key role in managing income and expenditure, processing transactions, supporting membership and customer invoicing, undertaking reconciliations, and providing excellent support to colleagues, schools and suppliers.

Working closely with the CEO and colleagues in our close-knit operations team, the Finance Officer will help ensure that NACE's financial systems, controls and reporting processes support the organisation's strategic objectives and growth.

The role is based at NACE’s head office in Oxfordshire.

Purpose of the role and main responsibilities:

• Maintain accurate financial records and ledgers using Xero.
• Process purchase invoices, supplier payments, expenses and credit notes in a timely manner.
• Raise invoices for membership and other services.
• Record and allocate customer payments accurately within Xero and NACE’s CRM system.
• Monitor outstanding debtor balances and undertake credit control activities where required.
• Process and reconcile direct debit and recurring income transactions.
• Ensure all financial transactions are appropriately authorised, coded and recorded.
• Maintain records of deferred income, accruals and prepayments as required.
• Act as a first point of contact for finance-related queries from staff, schools and suppliers.

Membership and income management

• Monitor and reconcile membership subscription income.
• Support the administration of membership renewals and associated invoicing processes.
• Ensure membership renewals, subscriptions and associated invoices are correctly recorded and tracked through the CRM and reflected accurately within Xero.
• Support the accurate processing and reporting of recurring income streams.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies relating to membership income and customer accounts.

Reconciliations and financial control

• Perform regular bank reconciliations within Xero.
• Reconcile credit card accounts and other balance sheet control accounts.
• Assist in maintaining records of accruals, prepayments and deferred income.
• Ensure financial records are complete, accurate and maintained to a high standard.
• Support the maintenance of robust financial controls and procedures.
• Produce routine financial reports and analysis from Xero and Excel.
• Support budget monitoring and financial planning activities.
• Assist with the preparation of management accounts and Board reports.
• Provide financial information and analysis to support organisational decision-making.
• Assist with the preparation of information required for year-end accounts and annual audit processes.

Systems and process improvement

• Maintain accurate financial data within Xero and related organisational systems.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of financial processes and systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, automation and reporting through the effective use of Xero and other digital tools.
• Assist with the reconciliation of data between Xero and other organisational platforms where required.

General responsibilities

• Contribute proactively to the achievement of NACE's strategic objectives.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with data protection requirements.
• Participate in meetings, training and professional development activities as required.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with the level and responsibilities of the role.

Experience

• Experience working in a finance, accounts, bookkeeping or financial administration role.
• Experience of sales ledger and purchase ledger processes.
• Experience of raising invoices and processing payments.
• Experience of bank reconciliations and financial record keeping.
• Experience of using accounting software to manage financial transactions and reporting.
• Experience working with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience of handling financial queries and providing excellent customer service.
• Experience working within a charity, membership organisation, professional body or education setting.
• Experience administering membership, subscription or recurring income streams.
• Experience supporting payroll administration and reconciliation.
• Experience supporting year-end accounts preparation and external audits.

Knowledge and skills

• Strong numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of tasks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis and reporting.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Understanding of charity accounting principles.
• Knowledge of VAT and financial compliance requirements.
• Familiarity with membership-based organisations and subscription income models.
• Advanced knowledge of Xero reporting and reconciliation functions.

Personal attributes

• Professional, reliable and trustworthy.
• Positive and proactive approach to work.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and learning.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Collaborative and supportive team member.
• Customer-focused and service-oriented.
• Commitment to NACE's mission of improving educational opportunities for more able learners.

NACE is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

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