Finance Accountancy Officer
Hours: Mon – Fri, 09:00 – 17:00 (37 hours per week)
Contract: 3+ month contract
Finance & Accountancy within Local Government
We're recruiting a Finance Accountancy Officer to provide high-quality financial support and advice to Headteachers and Governing Bodies, supporting effective school finance management across Primary, Secondary and Special schools. This role works closely with the Principal Accountant (Schools) to ensure accurate financial reporting, budget planning, compliance with regulations, and effective use of resources.
This position is ideal for someone with strong accountancy knowledge, excellent organisational skills, and experience working with financial systems within a regulated environment. You will support schools with budget management, financial reporting, year-end processes, and provide clear financial guidance to key stakeholders.
About the Role:
As a Finance Accountancy Officer, you'll deliver professional financial support services to schools, ensuring compliance with legislation, financial procedures, and agreed service standards.
What you'll be doing:
- Providing financial support and advice to Headteachers and Governing Bodies in line with agreed Service Level Agreements.
- Supporting the Principal Accountant (Schools) with the delivery of effective school finance services.
- Assisting with the preparation of annual budgets for Primary, Secondary and Special schools.
- Supporting year-end account closure processes and preparation of final accounts.
- Preparing financial projections to help schools manage resources effectively.
- Visiting schools regularly to provide budget advice, explain financial reports, and resolve administrative issues.
- Responding to financial queries from schools, suppliers, contractors, finance teams, and internal departments.
- Maintaining accurate financial reporting systems, including monthly reconciliations with authority ledger records.
- Ensuring financial transactions comply with legislation, audit requirements, VAT regulations, contract procedures, and financial policies.
- Supporting creditor payment processes, purchase orders, and financial compliance checks.
- Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of financial procedures and best practice.
- Working collaboratively as part of the finance team and undertaking other reasonable duties as required.
What We're Looking For:
We're looking for an experienced and motivated finance professional with strong accounting skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate financial information clearly to a range of stakeholders.
You'll ideally have:
Must-Have Requirements:
- AAT qualification, equivalent qualification, or part-qualified accountancy experience.
- Strong knowledge of accounting procedures and financial processes.
- Excellent accountancy and numeracy skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively in English.
- Ability to plan, organise, prioritise workloads, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
- Experience using computerised financial systems, spreadsheets, and databases.
- Ability to provide clear financial information and advice to Headteachers and Governing Bodies.
- Ability to interpret financial regulations and provide appropriate guidance.
- Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Eligibility to work in the UK.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with employment checks and required declarations.
Nice-to-Have Requirements:
- Knowledge of local government accounting and financial procedures.
- Ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh.
- Experience designing or improving spreadsheet and database systems.
- Experience making financial recommendations relating to budgets, projects, or resource decisions.
Why Apply:
- Opportunity to support school finance services within a local government environment.
- Full-time working hours within a structured public sector setting.
- Contract opportunity offering valuable experience and professional development.
- Role with responsibility for supporting budget management, financial compliance, and effective resource planning.
Benefits:
- Pay Rate: £14.36 per hour (PAYE)
- Company Pension
- Ongoing Agency Support
Additional Information:
Location: Conway Road, Colwyn Bay, LL297AZ
Start Date: ASAP
Contract Duration: 3+ Months
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Reference: OR108932
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary, Fixed term contract, Temp to perm
Contract length: 3 months
Pay: £14.36 per hour
Benefits:
Experience:
- UK Council: 1 year (required)
- Finance Accountancy Officer: 1 year (required)
- finance, accounting: 1 year (required)
- preparing budgets: 1 year (required)
Licence/Certification:
- AAT qualification (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
