Finance Assistant Apprentice

Overview

We are looking to appoint a Finance Assistant to join our central finance team, supporting the delivery of an efficient and compliant expenditure service across the organisation. This is a great opportunity for someone at an early stage in their finance career who wants to build practical experience while developing their skills through an apprenticeship pathway.

Working closely with the Purchase and Sales Ledger Team Leader and the Financial Controller, you will play a key role in ensuring that financial transactions are processed accurately and on time. You will be involved in maintaining the purchase ledger, processing invoices and payments, and supporting the wider finance function to meet monthly deadlines and reporting requirements.

In this role, you will be responsible for processing expenditure invoices and purchase orders, ensuring that all transactions are correctly coded and authorised, and maintaining accurate records within the finance system. You will support the preparation of payment runs, reconcile supplier statements, and resolve queries with colleagues and external suppliers. You will also contribute to month‑end processes, including assisting with reconciliations, accruals, and reporting, and provide support during audit and year‑end activity.

Alongside this, you will be expected to provide a responsive and professional service to internal stakeholders, helping to ensure that finance processes run smoothly and queries are handled promptly. There will be opportunities to contribute to improving processes and systems within the team and to develop your understanding of financial controls and compliance in a multi‑entity environment.

We are looking for someone who is organised, accurate and able to manage their own workload effectively. You will have a good standard of general education, including maths, and be comfortable using IT systems such as Excel and finance software. Some experience in a finance or administration setting would be helpful, but just as important is a willingness to learn, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate clearly with a range of people.

This role offers the chance to gain valuable hands‑on experience within a busy finance team while working towards a recognised qualification. You will be supported to develop your skills and build a solid foundation for a career in finance.

We offer a highly competitive benefits package, including excellent annual leave and a generous pension through the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme depending on role.

• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Annual season ticket loan
• Access to the Discounts for Teachers portal
• Free Wi‑Fi access in over 10,000 locations worldwide through Eduroam
• Access to our on‑site gym at Bromley campus and discount at other local gyms
• Discounts in our in‑house restaurants and on hair and beauty treatments

London South East Colleges is fully committed to equality of opportunity and to creating a diverse, inclusive and respectful working environment, free from discrimination and harassment. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, parental status or marital or partnership status.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we guarantee an interview to applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please contact People Services at

In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance, we carry out social media checks on shortlisted candidates to assess suitability for working with children and young people. Our full Safeguarding policy can be found here.

Because we work with children and vulnerable adults, all roles are exempt from Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and, where relevant, a Children’s and/or Adult’s Barred List check. Any offer of employment may be withdrawn if these checks are unsatisfactory. Self‑disclosure is required as part of the recruitment process, and failure to disclose relevant information or provide a DBS certificate is likely to result in withdrawal of an offer.

Our DBS policy on the recruitment of ex‑offenders is available on request.

All appointments are also subject to verification of the right to work in the UK, in line with Home Office requirements. Original documentation will be required prior to commencement of employment.