Finance Officer

MOULTON SCHOOL AND SCIENCE COLLEGE Pound Lane, Moulton, Northampton, NN3 7SD 01604 641600 www.moultonschool.co.uk Finance Officer Hours and weeks negotiable for the right candidate Salary Range Grade G Point 8-12 (£26,824 - £28,598 FTE) An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dedicated and proactive Finance Officer to join our dynamic team. Working collaboratively alongside a finance colleague, the post holder will manage day-to-day operational aspects of the school’s finance and payroll functions. The role ensures full compliance with statutory financial frameworks, the DfE Academy Trust Handbook (ATH), audit requirements, and internal financial regulations. Key Responsibilities Financial Processing & Procurement Process end-to-end purchasing, including purchase orders, goods receipting, supplier invoice processing, and payment runs through our finance system, Iris Set up new supplier accounts, maintain existing vendor database records, and carry out mandatory bank account verification checks to prevent fraud Issue electronic BACS remittance advices to suppliers following payment runs Manage the digital archiving and retention of all financial records (invoices, POs, bank statements) in line with statutory ESFA/DfE retention schedules and GDPR Review purchase requisitions against department budget availability before raising official purchase orders, flagging potential overspends to budget holders Reconcile business credit cards, petty cash, and cashless income streams Handle day-to-day financial queries from staff, suppliers, and parents regarding payment queries, or cashless system balances Income & Debtors Management Raise sales invoices across all school income streams Manage debt collection, pursue outstanding payments, and oversee secure banking procedures for any cash income Monitor aged debtor reports, issue staged payment reminder letters, escalate persistent arrears to the Business Manager, and prepare bad debt documentation for governor write-off approvals when necessary Educational Visits & Trips Administer finances for school trips and extracurricular events via digital payment platforms Reconcile trip accounts and coordinate with the Assistant Business Manager for final account closures Payroll & Pensions Administration Collate, check, and process staff expense claims, overtime, and monthly timesheets Quality-assure draft payroll variations, resolve queries with external HR/Payroll providers (e.g., EPM), and process authorised payroll journals When required liaise with pension agencies (Teachers' Pensions and LGPS) regarding employee data and contributions Bursary & Student Support Administration Receive and assess 16-19 Bursary Fund applications against set criteria for review and approval by the Business Manager Arrange scheduled bursary payments and maintain accurate audit trails Budget Monitoring & Financial Reporting Assist the Assistant Business Manager with internal/external financial audits, month end and year-end closedown, and statutory returns. Monitor open purchase orders and commitment accounting to ensure financial commitments are accurately reflected in monthly forecasts and cash flow tracking Consult the chart of accounts guidance when allocating to nominal codes Provide advice, system navigation support, and guidance to new Heads of Department and budget holders on how to interpret their monthly financial statements Prepare transaction sampling files, balance sheet reconciliations, and supporting schedules ahead of internal and external audit visits Safeguarding & School Ethos Adhere to school safeguarding policies (Keeping Children Safe in Education) and maintain strict data privacy (GDPR). Undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the grade as directed by school leadership Closing Date: 9am on 21September 2026 Interviews: 25 September 2026 This job description reflects the major tasks to be carried out by the post holder and identifies a level of responsibility at which they will be required to work. In the interests of effective working, the major tasks may be reviewed from time to time to reflect changing needs and circumstances. Such reviews and any consequential changes will be carried out in consultation with the post holder. All members of the school community are expected to support, both explicitly and implicitly, the school’s values and the ASPIRE ethos. The setting and achieving of the highest aspirations, striving for great things, is fundamental to all that we seek to be. At MSSC, we know that our staff are our most valuable resource. We want you to flourish in your professional life and that’s why we put lots of time and energy into our positive culture and approach to well-being. It’s not just a job, it’s a career - some of the benefits we offer you: Enthusiastic and engaged students and a culture of high aspirations. Extensive CPD training which provides a range of tailored and bespoke CPD opportunities Competitive salaries and pay progression