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- Tasks: Support financial operations and explore funding opportunities for adult education services.
- Company: Join Surrey Adult Learning, a leading provider of diverse courses for adults.
- Benefits: Enjoy 26 days holiday, flexible working, lifestyle discounts, and a generous pension.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education while developing your finance skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Relevant financial qualification or significant experience in finance required.
- Other info: Opportunity to work flexibly and contribute to local government reorganisation.
This role has a starting salary of 22,123 per annum (pro rata to 36,873 FTE), working 21.6 hours per week.
We are hiring a new Finance & Funding Officer to join Surrey Adult Learning. This is a pivotal role supporting the financial & funding operations of a dynamic adult education service that delivers over 800 courses across seven centres and online platforms.
The team is based at Woking Adult Learning Centre although there is the option to work flexibly at another office or home for part of the week.
Rewards and Benefits
- 26 days\’ holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years\’ service and 31 days after 5 years\’ service
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Up to 5 days of carer\’s leave per year
- Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
- 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
About the Team
Surrey Adult Learning is a leading provider of diverse daytime, evening and Saturday courses and learning opportunities for adults. We offer a wide range of qualification courses, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), maths and digital skills. Our courses also cater to individuals with learning disabilities, mental health conditions and parents/carers seeking to upskill to support their children. Additionally, we provide courses for personal development in various subjects such as arts and crafts, languages and exercise. Our outreach provision is designed to assist those currently facing life challenges.
About the Role
You will assist the Head of Business Finance & IT in managing financial processes, analysing SAL\’s financial position and exploring new funding opportunities. Your work will directly support strategic planning and ensure compliance with Surrey County Council, financial and funding regulations. You will also support staff across the service by assisting in resolving pay queries.
Shortlisting Criteria
To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:
- Relevant management, business or financial qualification to at least NVQ level 4 or significant financial experience.
- Ability to organise, analyse and present date and information to support recommendations or highlight issues.
- Experience of budgeting, commitment accounting, financial forecasting plus an overall awareness of accountancy principles.
- Experience of planning, developing and managing business systems and processes.
- Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with staff at all levels of the organisation.
As part of the application process you will be asked to upload your CV and answer the following application questions:
- Give an example of a time when you organised, analysed and presented financial data to support a recommendation or highlight a key issue. What was the outcome?
- Tell us about your experience with budgeting, commitment accounting and financial forecasting. How have you applied accountancy principles in your previous roles?
- Describe how you\’ve planned, developed or managed business systems and processes. How did you ensure effective collaboration and maintain good working relationships across different levels of an organisation?
- How have you supported strategic planning or ensured compliance with financial or funding regulations in your previous roles?
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our learners and expect all staff to share this commitment. A DBS \’Disclosure and Barring Service\’ check is required for this role and will be discussed further at interview. Online searches may be carried out on applicants who are shortlisted for interview.
Contact us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.
For an informal discussion please contact Clive Banks by e-mail () or telephone at (phone number removed).
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 21st September 2025.
We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.
Local Government Reorganisation
Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.
Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.
Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!
Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation – Surrey County Council
Our Behaviours
The Surrey Way behaviours are a guide that supports our council to work together effectively and deliver our best for our customers and communities, and for each other. Discover more about our behaviours.
Finance and Funding Officer employer: Surrey County Council
Contact Detail:
Surrey County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance and Funding Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Surrey Adult Learning's mission and values. Understanding their focus on diverse learning opportunities will help you align your responses during interviews, showcasing how your experience can contribute to their goals.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Surrey Adult Learning. Engaging with them can provide insights into the organisational culture and specific challenges they face, which you can address in your application and interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare examples that demonstrate your financial analysis skills and experience with budgeting. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed financial processes in previous roles, as this will be crucial for the Finance and Funding Officer position.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the upcoming Local Government Reorganisation and its implications for Surrey County Council. Showing awareness of this change during your interview can highlight your proactive approach and understanding of the broader context in which you'll be working.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance and Funding Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant qualifications and experiences that align with the role of Finance and Funding Officer. Emphasise your financial qualifications, budgeting experience, and any relevant management skills.
Answer Application Questions Thoughtfully: When responding to the application questions, provide specific examples from your past experiences. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers clearly and effectively.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: In your application, demonstrate your ability to organise, analyse, and present financial data. Highlight any tools or methods you used in previous roles to support your recommendations or identify key issues.
Highlight Collaboration Experience: Discuss how you've successfully collaborated with different levels of staff in your previous roles. Provide examples of how you maintained good working relationships while managing business systems and processes.
How to prepare for a job interview at Surrey County Council
✨Know Your Numbers
Make sure you brush up on your financial knowledge, especially around budgeting, commitment accounting, and financial forecasting. Be prepared to discuss specific examples from your past experience where you've successfully managed these areas.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to share a detailed example of when you organised, analysed, and presented financial data. Highlight the outcome of your analysis and how it influenced decision-making within your previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration
Think of instances where you've planned or developed business systems and processes. Be ready to explain how you maintained good working relationships across different levels of an organisation while ensuring effective collaboration.
✨Understand Compliance and Strategic Planning
Familiarise yourself with financial and funding regulations relevant to adult education services. Be prepared to discuss how you've supported strategic planning in your previous roles and ensured compliance with these regulations.
