Letter from the Headteacher

Dear Candidate

Thank you for your interest in this exciting role within our ambitious partnership of two secondary schools in the West Kent Cluster of Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership.

We are a collaborative partnership of proudly Catholic, world class schools connected by our ambitious extended curriculum and passion to nurture the young people in our care into confident, well-rounded individuals who make the world a better place.

We have extremely high expectations of what we do for the students in our schools and are keen to recruit like-minded, passionate colleagues who have the potential to redefine what is possible in the education landscape.

If you are passionate about making a better world through the power of education and have the skills to help us showcase the work we do, we would love to hear from you.

Andrea Denny
Headteacher St Simon Stock Catholic School


Role Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our friendly, busy finance department within the heart of the school on a full-time, permanent basis. You will have excellent attention to detail, be proactive and proficient in IT skills, especially with Microsoft Excel. Experience of working in an educational environment would be advantageous but is not essential.

About the role:
- The accurate processing of financial transactions using the PS Financials accounting software is essential to this role, ensuring that correct
procedures are followed as per KCSP financial guidelines.
- Assist the Finance Manager in maintaining effective and proper control of the school's bank accounts; this will include regularly reconciling
bank statements and processing payment runs.
- Prepare school trip costings and use the ParentPay cashless payment system to set these up and record income received.
- Assist in the school month-end accounts process and the annual year-end process. A familiarity with the key financial reports will be needed
for this: trial balance, balance sheet, management accounts etc.
- A strong and up-to-date knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel, together with a good level of IT competency, is required to maintain
databases and provide accurate budgetary information.
- Support the Finance Assistant with the processing of school purchase orders.
- Maintain an accurate school asset register using the Parago asset management system, regularly updating the asset register and
contributing to the annual school asset audit.

Successful candidates will:
- Have previous experience in a similar role
- Be highly numerate and be able to absorb complex information
- Be able to use their own initiative
- Have excellent attention to detail

Benefits of working at St Simon Stock:
- A supportive and caring working environment for staff and students
- Dedicated and bespoke CPD time for all staff each term
- Staff laptop provided
- Kent Rewards Scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme which offers counselling, financial guidance, legal enquiries with access to online health and wellbeing
resources


Job Description & Person Specification
Job Title: Finance Officer

Salary Grade: KR6 (£25,127 - £26,383)
Hours/weeks: 37 hours per week (Mon to Fri), full time (ALL YEAR ROUND)
Line Manager: Finance Manager

Purpose of Job: To support the financial work of the school and manage aspects of work in the Finance Office

Key duties and responsibilities/Kent Tasks:

1 Financial Control
To support Finance Assistant who processes orders and deliveries and to do the same if the Finance Assistant is not available
To process income and expenditure
To produce cheques/bacs/direct debit payments for authorisation
To reconcile bank accounts
To process End of Year/Payroll Journals
To monitor ‘difficult to forecast’ spends such as supply, energy and examination costs
To monitor relevant budgetary headings, highlighting significant spends and report any concerns to the Finance Manager so that the
budget plan can be adjusted
To assist Finance Manager with preparation of annual budgets
To assist Finance Manager with month/year-end process
To recommend improvements to relevant financial structures
To prepare for external auditors’ inspection
To carry out procedures as outlined in the finance manual
To carry out procedures as outlined in KCSP Finance Regulations and KCSP PSF Accounting guidance

2 ParentPay
To set up payment items
To process income and refunds
To deal with parent/staff enquiries
To maintain up to date student and staff records

3 Lunch Cards
To control the issue of Catering Cards, including organising the new Year 7 import and co-ordinate delivery of cards and access codes
To deal with parent/student/staff enquiries

4 School Trips
To be responsible for the costing of school trips
To process income and expenditure
To manage support requests
To analyse and reconcile trips after the event

5 Training & Development
To maintain records of all outstanding fees and expenses
To process orders, invoices and expenses

6 Asset Register To maintain a computerised register
To produce monthly reports
To carry out yearly stock/audit checks

7 General Matters
To cover finance team absence as necessary
To deputise for Finance Manager as necessary after training
To take up designated post during emergency/drill as per H&S manual

Two colleagues within the finance team will complete the entirety of the duties outlined above. It is not a comprehensive or exclusive list and it cannot anticipate future service demands. There is a clear expectation of the post holders that they will make a positive contribution to enhance and adapt processes.

Job descriptions will be reviewed, in consultation with the postholder, at least annually or whenever there may be a significant change to the role.

Person Specification:

Criteria Essential/Desirable

Faith Commitment Understanding of the distinctive nature of a faith school D
A practising Catholic D

Qualifications Good standard of general education together with good literacy and numeracy skills
e.g. 5 GCSE (A*- C) including English and Maths (or equivalent) E
Formal accountancy qualifications or part-qualified D

Knowledge &
Experience Ability to relate well to children and adults E
High level of ICT skills E
Previous experience working in a finance role and department for multiple years E
Knowledge of policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety, security,
equal opportunities and confidentiality D
Knowledge of school funding and budget management D
Knowledge of PSF financial accounting software D
Experience using SIMS D
Previous experience working in a school finance role D
Working knowledge of Trust and school policies and procedures D

Skills, Qualities
& Abilities Ability to use ICT effectively E
Excellent communication skills E
Excellent interpersonal skills E
Excellent organisation skills E
Excellent IT skills E
Ability to work constructively as part of a team, understanding school roles and
responsibilities and your own position within these E
Ability to remain positive and enthusiastic when working under pressure E
Ability to organise work, prioritise tasks, make decisions and manage time effectively E
Ability to apply an adaptable and flexible approach to achieving objectives, without direct
supervision E
Willingness to participate in further training and development opportunities E
Ability to communicate complex material, orally and in writing, with colleagues and
students so that the message is understood and acted upon E
Ability to work on own initiative, including knowing when and why items for decision need
to be referred upwards E

Application Process:
You are welcome to contact HR at HR@ssscs.co.uk if you would like to visit the school before submitting an application.  Should you be shortlisted for interview, additional information may be requested at that time.
 
Closing date for applications: 7th October 2024 @ 09:00
Interviews to be held: 14th/15th October 2024
Start date: ASAP

All applicants need to have the Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this role. This vacancy may close on or before the specified closing date depending on the volume of suitable applicants. If you are unsuccessful, we will contact you accordingly.

Safer Recruitment
St Simon Stock Catholic School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and this position is subject to satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. We are an equal opportunities employer.