Finance Officer or Trainee Accountant

Finance Officer or Trainee Accountant

We welcome applications for this support post to commence as soon as possible.

The Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly organised individual to join the Finance team, with a keen eye for accuracy, and a proactive approach to their work. You will enjoy taking initiative, seeking out opportunities to improve processes, and supporting the team achieve its goals.

There is opportunity for the successful candidate to undertake an accountancy qualification via an apprenticeship route.

The Finance department produce timely, useful and accurate financial reports and robust financial plans. You will play a key role in ensuring the financial records and controls are accurate and robust. We are keen that you build on the strengths of an effective team and seeking an opportunity to add value.

You will be working within a friendly team alongside experienced finance specialists, including the Head of Finance, College Accountant, Management Accountant, Payroll & Finance Officer and two Finance Assistants.

The main duties and responsibilities of this role include:

• Perform bank reconciliations, including the preparation of journals to post direct debits, Cardnet receipts, interest and other bank payments / receipts.
• Control payment cards, monitoring cash balances and topping up funds.
• Perform monthly finance ledger reconciliations.
• Perform monthly reconciliations to other systems, e.g. Bursary, Wisepay, trip & visits.
• Perform budget partner role for some departments, liaising with budget holder, monitoring actual expenditure, and regularly updating the current year forecast. Supporting the budget setting process for these departments.

For the full job description please see attached ‘Job Pack’.

The Successful Candidate

Cardinal Newman College is a wonderful place to work, and this is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and experienced candidate to join our friendly and well established Finance department.

The Finance department is looking for someone who is educated to Level 3, has experience of using Finance systems and has excellent customer skills with people at all levels.

You should display the values, attitudes, and behaviours consistent with the Catholic Ethos of the College and have a commitment to equality/diversity and the safeguarding of young people and vulnerable adults.

Terms and Conditions

Hours: 37 hours per week, full year. Starting and finishing times as agreed.

Salary: The post will be paid on the Sixth Form Colleges’ Support Staff Pay Spine at points 10 to 14 - pro rata to £25,276 to £28,549 per annum.

Closing date for receipt of applications: 11.59pm on Monday 13th January 2025 (we reserve the right to close the advert in advance of this date).

Why work at Cardinal Newman College?

We are a happy and thriving Catholic Sixth Form College committed to equality and diversity, welcoming colleagues from all backgrounds into our community irrespective of their religion or belief, ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, marital or pregnancy status.

An outstanding college in every aspect, Cardinal Newman is one of the highest performing Sixth Form Colleges nationally for Value Added. We recognise the invaluable contribution our dedicated staff make to the success of our students and the College as whole. As such, our aim is to foster a culture where staff feel valued and supported.

We also offer a range of excellent staff benefits, including: 

• Generous Pension schemes for both teachers and support staff 
• Pro rata to 22 days holiday (increasing to 25 days after 5 years’ service) plus 4 concessionary days and bank holidays for support staff
• A genuine commitment to staff health and wellbeing
• Staff receive 2 weeks off at Christmas in line with the college holidays for which they do not need to take annual leave.
• Access to a salary sacrifice electric vehicle scheme
• Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and Techscheme
• Free use of the on-site gym 
• Access to professional development and the opportunity to undertake professional qualifications through apprenticeships
• Flu Vouchers
• Staff savings scheme

More detailed information on further staff benefits can be found within our staff perks document attached.

Completed application forms should be submitted by 11.59pm on Monday 13th January 2025 (we reserve the right to close the advert in advance of this date).

We will confirm receipt of all applications by email within one working day of receipt. Please call the HR team if you have not received a confirmation email by the closing date. We do ask that you accept, in the interests of economy, that if you have not heard from us by the end of January that you have not been selected for interview on this occasion.

Further Information

Further details are available at http://www.cardinalnewman.ac.uk/ or by telephone to the college on 01772 460181 or 07730 521 540.

All offers of appointment are subject to Disclosure and Barring Service Clearance as well as a range of other safer recruitment checks.