Financial Controller

We wish to appoint an experienced Financial Controller. The Financial Controller is a senior support staff role reporting to the Bursar, with responsibility for management of the day to day financial operations of the School, including billings, accounts payable, budgeting and management reporting. Working with the Bursar and Admissions team, the Financial Controller also administrates the School’s bursary programme.

The Financial Controller joins the School at an exciting time, as we seek to build on our management reporting, analysis and strategic planning, making greater use of systems and software to automate and streamline processes. The postholder will be instrumental in supporting the Bursar to deliver these changes.

The list below provides an outline of the main areas of responsibility.

Relationships and Staffing

·Manage the junior members of the Finance team, providing support to enable them to carry out their duties effectively and deliver the desired strategic change projects.

·Ensure all finance staff are fully trained in the use of accounting and related software.

·Build and maintain open, supportive relationships with colleagues across the School, to ensure a high quality and responsive service.

·Provide cover for Finance colleagues during leave or other periods of absence, as required.

Strategic Financial Management & Development

·Support the Bursar in the development of the financial strategy for the School, building and maintaining effective long-term financial models through detailed scenario planning and analysis.

·Contribute to the assessment and implementation of new systems and processes to increase the accessibility and accuracy of financial data, and to improve efficiency. These will include areas such as asset management, budgeting and payment systems

·Continually evaluate the performance of the accounting software to ensure it is the best fit for the School.

·Work with the Bursar to establish a profitable lettings operation.

Operational Financial Management

·Contribute to the development of School Financial policies and procedures, ensuring these are implemented.

·Produce monthly nominal ledger reconciliations, journals and balance sheet reconciliations with supporting documentation.

·Produce the first draft of monthly management accounts and management information, including profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow forecast and analysis of variations to budget.

·Support budget holders with information to enable them to manage and monitor their budgets in accordance with policies and procedures, ensuring budgets are loaded annually onto the accounting system

·Manage the operation and reconciliation of the School’s bank accounts and payment processes.

·Maintain a compliant fixed asset register using a suitable software solution where appropriate (e.g. Parago, School Asset Manager, InVentry), and work with the Premises and IT Managers to ensure an annual audit of all assets.

·Working with the Bursar and other members of the Finance team, prepare the School accounts for audit

·Manage Gift Aid claims as required

·Process claims under the School’s insurance.

Fee billing, Fee Remission and Credit Control

·Manage the processes and systems for all billing, ensuring that all invoicing is accurate and reflects correct fee level and remission as appropriate

·Ensure all additional charges (e.g. music, exam, trips) are correctly applied and reflect the cost of services provided

·Ensure accurate records of all discounts are maintained and processed accurately to parent accounts

·Administer the SFRS and student medical cover schemes

·Investigate and assist in the resolution of invoice queries

·Manage the fee collections and produce a weekly aged debtor report for the Bursar with detailed records of actions taken and proposed for recovery.

·Undertake regular (at least termly reconciliations) of fee income against pupil registers.

·Ensure the School’s debt management processes are followed and where appropriate, in the case of non-payment of fees, the monitoring of repayment plans and escalating as appropriate.

Accounts Payable & Suppliers

·Manage the Finance Officer (Purchase Ledger), overseeing purchasing processes and ensuring appropriate vetting of suppliers and maintenance of a preferred supplier list.Work with the Bursar to streamline and automate processes where possible.

·Ensure timely approval and payment of invoices and assist in resolving invoice and payment queries

·Ensure effective scrutiny of payments by direct debit

·Monitor the use of School credit and other payment cards, and expenses reimbursement

·Oversee the financial management of School trips, working in conjunction with trip leaders

·Ensure the application of best value principles and the identification of cost savings where possible.

Staffing and Payroll

·Support the Bursar with the administration of the monthly payroll process, currently outsourced to a payroll bureau, posting all payroll journals and ensuring the correct accounting for salary sacrifice and other HMRC arrangements (e.g. childcare vouchers, cycle to work schemes).

·Ensure all submissions to HMRC and pension providers are correctly completed.

·Assist the Bursar with the production of monthly headcount and comprehensive staffing budget management reports.

To apply for this role, please complete our application form which can be found on our website: www.queensgate.org.uk/about-us/employment-opportunities

Please return a completed application form, along with a covering letter to the Principal, to recruitment@queensgate.org.uk

The closing date for applications is 12.00pm on Thursday, 18 July interviews will follow that week and the next.

Queen's Gate is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The School is therefore permitted to ask shortlisted applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview (including those which are

"spent" unless they are "protected" under the Disclosure and Barring Service (“DBS”) filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The School may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants, for which all such applicants will be required to provide details of their online profile, including social media accounts, as part of their application. Prior to employment commencing, successful

applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the DBS.

Successful applicants will also be required to produce evidence of qualifications, identity, and the right to work in the UK. Two references will be taken up, one of which will be with the most recent employer. They will also be required to complete our Health Questionnaire.

All those working at Queen’s Gate share in our responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children and young people in our care. This will include completing regular training and maintaining a good awareness of key policies and procedures relating to our safeguarding duties.