- Manage the financial accounting for assigned schools, ensuring all fees, expenses, and transactions are recorded accurately and promptly.
- Work closely with school admission teams to raise and issue tuition fee invoices to parents according to the billing cycle
- Prepare and process monthly direct debit collections and maintain the billing ledger, ensuring all transactions are up-to-date and reconciled.
- Communicate with current and prospective parents regarding fee payments, responding promptly to queries.
- Monitor and manage the collection of school fees, disbursements, and additional charges, using the Group's processes for debt recovery as required.
- Liaise with relevant staff to ensure accurate completion of forms to claim Early Years Funding (EYF), where applicable.
- Monitor supplier payments to ensure authenticity, accuracy, timeliness, and value for money.
- Prepare monthly management accounts, including reconciliation of control accounts, variance analysis, and budgets.
- Maintain and manage key balance sheet areas such as fixed assets, accruals, and prepayments.
- Prepare and maintain financial forecasts and support school leaders in adhering to budgets.
- Completion of month-end processes and ensure that all finance deadlines, including billing and supplier payments
- Manage and oversee the work of the assigned finance assistant, ensuring quality and timeliness of their outputs.
- Oversee trip finances, ensuring full reconciliation of trip income and costs.
- Ensure the correct application of VAT on both income and expenditure, and complete quarterly VAT returns.
- Work with HR and payroll to ensure the accurate recording and reporting of employment costs.
- Develop, review, and implement school financial policies to maintain strong internal controls & financial practices.
- Prepare accounting records for annual audits, liaise with auditors, and assist the Director of Operations with the preparation of annual accounts and supporting schedules.
- Complete and submit various regulatory and statutory returns as required.
- Be responsible for management of year-end activities, ensuring all pupil leavers and joiners are processed correctly and that deposits are refunded appropriately.
- Assist with ad-hoc financial projects and initiatives to support the Directors and other stakeholders in the Group
- Experience of working in a finance or accountancy environment - ideally within Education sector - Private, Independent,
- Experience of Purchase Ledger, Nominal Ledger, Sales Ledger, Bank Reconciliations, and Payment Portals.
- Experienced in the production of financial statements, cash flow forecasts, and management accounts.
- Experience of managing and training a finance team.
- Experience of using a Finance system like SAGE 200, advanced PC skills, especially Excel.
- Experience of building strong effective relationships with various stakeholders.
- Excellent communication (written and oral), presentation, and interpersonal skills.
- Flexible in their approach and willing to get “hands-on” to ensure jobs get done for the good of the schools.