School Finance Officer

Job Description

Salary £32,061-£36,363 | 37 hours per week | Full Time, Fixed term contract | Hybrid | County Hall, Preston

We are currently recruiting for a fixed-term maternity cover for the post of Schools Finance Officer within the Financial Management:
Development and Schools Finance Team. This role provides a unique opportunity to contribute and support traded functions of the Schools Finance Team.

• Provide traded support to Lancashire schools, including receiving an allocation of schools to support with financial management, budget monitoring, reconciliations, and communicating with school bursars and senior leadership teams to maintain balanced budgets.
• Travel to schools across the county to deliver services.
• Work as part of a large and supportive team supporting over 500 schools and academies in Lancashire.
• Support statutory functions such as year-end processes, processing of grant allocations/funding payments, preparation of DfE returns (e.g., Consistent Financial Reporting return), and academy conversions.

• Minimum of 5 GCSEs or equivalent maths and English Grade A-C (grades 9-4 on the new scale).
• At least two years' experience in accounting, audit, or finance-related work.
• Excellent communication skills to advise and present information to senior staff and customers.
• Capability to work well in a team but also independently without close supervision.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word, and ability to adapt to new financial systems.
• Self-motivated, organized, and capable of dealing constructively with complex issues, working accurately under pressure.
• Driving licence and car: essential; travel to schools required.

• Flexible working opportunities.
• Opportunity to travel to a variety of schools and meet different customers.
• Annual leave entitlement of 26 days per financial year, increasing with length of service, plus 8 bank holidays, 2 additional statutory bank holidays during Christmas, and the option to purchase additional leave.
• Staff discount scheme with Vivup, allowing access to discounts with UK retailers.
• Good career development opportunities.

Closing date: 29 June 2026.

You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability.

The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a "disclosure". Further information can be found on the "Our Recruitment Process" tab.

Contact:
Alison Standring,  alison

Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for this role. The panel may 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 if we receive sufficient applications. Interviews are provisionally planned for Thursday 9 July and/or Friday 10 July 2026.