River Tees Multi-Academy Trust is a forward-thinking trust committed to ensuring the most vulnerable learners receive the highest quality of education and outcomes. We are firmly committed to our workforce and ensure fantastic developmental and wellbeing opportunities for the right candidate.
If you are ready to take the next step in your career, join us as we ‘Change Lives’.
Are you an organised and detail-oriented finance professional looking for your next challenge? River Tees Multi-Academy Trust is seeking a dedicated Finance Officer to join our friendly and supportive team. You'll play an essential role in ensuring our financial operations run smoothly, contributing to the success of our academies and making a real difference in the lives of young people.
We are dedicated to investing in the training and development of our staff to ensure they possess the necessary skills for their roles. We welcome applicants who may not yet possess all the required skills but are willing to invest in their own growth to acquire the necessary knowledge.
The schools within our Academy Trust improve the character, community and currency of pupils who are excluded or at risk of exclusion from mainstream school, unable to attend school for a variety of medical needs and/or have an Educational Heath and Care Plan that requires specialist provision. Changing Lives is our mission and this drives everything we do, in every department.
- Responsible for the production of monthly management accounts packs, ensuring compliance with the requirements set out in the Academies Financial Handbook. This involves collating, analysing, and presenting financial information to facilitate informed decision-making by senior management and trustees.
- Maintain all ledgers within the Trust accounts system, guaranteeing that records are accurate, up-to-date, and reflect all financial transactions. This includes performing monthly balance sheet reconciliations for each ledger account, verifying that balances are correct and promptly resolving discrepancies.
- Prepare and post accounts journals, such as accruals, prepayments, and adjustments, to ensure that the financial statements accurately reflect the organisation’s financial position and performance for the period.
- Post cash book transactions on a daily basis, ensuring that all receipts and payments are correctly recorded and reconciled against bank statements to maintain an accurate cash position.
- Reconcile all prepaid and credit card transactions, verifying that expenditure is authorised, supported by appropriate documentation, and correctly allocated to the relevant expense codes.
- Maintain and process recharges between Academies within the Trust, ensuring that shared costs and inter-academy transactions are allocated fairly and transparently, and that supporting documentation is retained for audit purposes.
- Maintain the fixed asset register, recording all acquisitions, disposals, and transfers of assets. Calculate and process depreciation charges on a monthly basis in accordance with the organisation’s accounting policies, ensuring that asset values are accurately reflected in the accounts.
- Produce and submit VAT 126 returns, collating all relevant VAT information and supporting documentation. Ensure that claims are made for eligible VAT and that submissions are accurate and timely, in line with HMRC requirements.
- Ensure that the management accounts are completed to specified deadlines, coordinating with colleagues and other departments as required to gather information, resolve queries, and provide explanations for variances or unusual transactions.
- Work with the Purchase Ledger Assistant to maintain accurate purchase ledger data and assist with their objectives, including managing accounts payable/receivable and processing invoices when needed.
- Assist in preparing reports for schools and Trustees, such as net cash reconciliation reports, cash flow forecasts, and monthly KPIs.
- Provide assistance in budget monitoring by ensuring compliance with financial procedures and supporting both internal and external audit processes.
- Undertake any other duties that may be required from time to time.
GENERAL/MISCELLANEOUS
The above duties and responsibilities cannot totally encompass or define all tasks which may be required of the incumbent. The outlined duties and responsibilities may, therefore, vary from time to time without materially changing either the character or level of responsibility; these factors are reflected in the post grade.
Safeguarding, Equality and Safer Recruitment
We are dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and all staff members are expected to uphold this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to obtain enhanced DBS clearance, provide satisfactory references, undergo online searches, and complete other pre-employment checks in accordance with the DfE's guidance on Keeping Children Safe in Education.
We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
Applicants must possess the legal right to work in the United Kingdom.
All personal information provided as part of the application process will be handled in accordance with data protection laws and our privacy policy, ensuring your information is processed lawfully and fairly.
We currently have schools in Middlesbrough and Gateshead and this post could be based at either site. Occasional travel to other sites will be required.
Pay: £36,361.00-£39,152.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
