Education Finance Officer

Working on behalf of a Local Authority, Aatom Recruitment has a new opportunity for a Education Finance Officer on a 5 months contract initially with a possibility of further extension.

The successful candidate with have Excel expertise as a default, any experience in LA processes, SEND and schools is a benefit. Any prospective candidates may be subject to an Excel skill test.

Remote working is available, however there will be an expectation that they come into the office at least once/twice a week to work alongside others in the team. Also for the first month, it is highly likely that they will be required to come in person to get an understanding of what is required.

• Management of overall financial resources and procedures for SEND ensuring Implementation of the new Schools Funding Arrangements 2013, including responsibility for SEN transport finance and post 16 transport finance.
• Co-ordination and production of data information for statutory returns to the DfE, Freedom of Information requests etc. using Synergy, Liquid Logic, excel spreadsheets and any other SEN sources of information.
• Administer the process for determining eligibility for free school meals, including liaising with schools and parents.

1. Responsible to the Principal Education Finance Officer

2. Responsibility for SEN delegation, recoupment, contingency claims, income and expenditure, i-procurement, including transport budget and managing external contracts.

3. Responsibility for the free school meals eligibility process and the free school meals eligibility traded service

4. The post holder as required by their line manager up to 36 hours per week.

The post holder is required to have a high level of numeracy and the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. They will also need to have the ability to deal professionally with internal clients, schools and academies and have a commitment to providing a quality service. The postholder must also be able to work effectively within a team.
Prioritising own workload to meet conflicting deadlines while ensuring that critical fixed
deadlines take absolute priority.

A broad understanding of the different accounting principles and processes that relate to LA maintained schools, academies and free schools and of local authority accounting standards.

Experience of working in a financial environment and of having used computerised financial systems e.g. Fusion would be an advantage. Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, including the development and use of macros, are essential together with a very good knowledge of Microsoft Word and Outlook.