Finance Officer – Progressive School in Stevenage

Job Title: Finance Officer

Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire

School Type: 11–18 Secondary School & Sixth Form

Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Start Date: ASAP

Salary: Competitive (Fringe local authority pay scale, depending on experience)

Role Overview

A progressive secondary school in Stevenage is seeking a meticulous, self-motivated, and organized Finance Officer to join their central finance team ASAP. Working alongside the School Business Manager, you will take day-to-day responsibility for maintaining accurate financial records, processing transactions, and supporting budget management across all departments. This is a brilliant opportunity for a detail-oriented finance professional looking to deliver high-quality financial administration within a supportive educational environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Process purchase orders, supplier invoices, sales ledger transactions, and BACs payment runs efficiently.

• Perform daily banking procedures, petty cash allocations, and routine bank reconciliations using school finance systems (e.g., FMS, PS Financials, Civica).

• Assist the School Business Manager with monthly budget monitoring, variance analysis, and departmental expenditure reports.

• Manage parent payment portals (e.g., ParentPay, SchoolGateway) for catering, school trips, and learning materials.

• Maintain robust financial records, ensuring full compliance with audit requirements, internal controls, and procurement regulations.

Key Requirements

• Relevant accounting or finance qualification (e.g., AAT Level 3/4) or equivalent practical finance experience.

• Prior experience in finance administration, ideally within a school, college, or local authority setting.

• High level of numerical accuracy, strong organizational skills, and proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

• Excellent communication skills to interact professionally with staff, budget holders, suppliers, and auditors.

• Legal right to work in the UK.

School Highlights & Benefits

• Welcoming working environment with a dedicated administrative and leadership team.

• Access to ongoing training, professional development, and structured career progression pathways.

• Great Hertfordshire location with excellent road (A1M) and rail connections into London and Cambridge, plus free on-site staff parking.

• Local Government Pension Scheme enrolment, competitive salary, and staff wellbeing support packages.

Application

To apply for this Finance Officer role at a progressive school in Stevenage, starting ASAP, please submit your updated CV as soon as possible.