Finance Assistant

Purpose of Post

Reporting to the Assistant Bursar, the Finance Assistant will play a crucial role in supporting the financial operations of St Christopher's School. This position requires a detail-oriented individual with strong numerical skills and a passion for education finance.

Key Responsibilities

1.   Financial Administration 

·        Assist in processing invoices, payments and purchase orders

·        Help maintain accurate financial records and filing systems

·        Support the preparation of monthly financial reports

·        Help process staff expense claims

·        Assist with regular bank posting and reconciliations

2. Pupil Fee Management 

·        Aid in processing pupil fee payments and managing fee collection

·        Assist with generating and distributing invoices to parents/guardians

3.    Budgeting and Forecasting

 ·        Contribute to the annual budgeting process by ensuring processing is completed in a timely manner

·        Help track actual expenditures against budgeted amounts

·        Assist in preparing financial forecasts and projections

4.   Supplier Management

 ·        Help maintain relationships with suppliers and service providers

·        Assist in negotiating contracts and ensuring value for money

·        Support the procurement process for school supplies and equipment

5.   Compliance and Reporting

 ·        Aid in preparing financial information for audits and inspections

·        Assist in ensuring compliance with financial regulations and school policies

·        Help compile data for statutory returns and reports

Qualifications and Skills

•  AAT Level 2/3 Accounting, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Strong numerical and analytical skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial software systems
• Experience of iSAMS and IFinance or other educational management information software (Desirable, but full training given to the right candidate)
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information
• Knowledge of UK education finance regulations (desirable)
• Experience in a school or educational setting (advantageous)

Personal Qualities

•  Integrity and trustworthiness
• Proactive and self-motivated
• Ability to work effectively in a team
• Adaptable and willing to learn
• Commitment to the ethos and values of St Christopher's School

The School 

St Christopher’s School is an independent day prep school for over 250 girls aged 4 to 11. It was founded in 1883 by an enthusiastic educationalist, Miss Roberts, based in her father’s drawing room. It started as a mixed school; by 1950 it had become primarily a girls’ school. It became known as St Christopher’s School in 1919 when it moved to its current site. 

 Anyone who has stepped through the gates of St Christopher’s School knows that with its grand wooden staircase, bright open classrooms and constant sense of creativity and warmth, it is, quite simply, magical. There is a welcome balance between the girls reading and singing in the cosy halls of this Victorian house and playing and experimenting in our modern outside classrooms, mud kitchen and playgrounds. 

Our staff aim to achieve a balance between creative imagination and academic thinking that spills out from our structured classroom environment into all elements of school life. We not only teach the girls to learn new concepts and problem-solving skills, but enable them to become analytical thinkers who, in all subjects, confidently push the boundaries of learning by asking questions that perhaps have yet to be asked.  

The Staff 

Kindness, thoughtfulness and inclusion are key values in our school. St Christopher’s is an ambitious and warm community created through an equal love of intellectual fascination and freedom of creativity. Just like our pupils, our staff are celebrated as individuals; they feel supported and challenged, they thrive and are encouraged to be the best version of themselves today and tomorrow. We have an extensive professional development programme and actively encourage colleagues to seek new challenges and training opportunities.

All staff contribution is valued and encouraged at St Christopher’s, whether in staff meetings, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion forum, or the Staff Consultative Committee. Admin and teaching staff work closely together, supporting our ethos of inclusion and transparency.

The above responsibilities are illustrative and the post-holder will be expected to undertake duties as may be reasonably allocated by the Assistant Bursar or Bursar. This job description is subject to periodic amendment when circumstances or professional review and development dictates changes to the post-holder’s role within the School.