Trust Finance Officer

Achieve and Learn Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

The Trust Finance Officer will assist with the operating and monitoring of the Trust school accounts and budgets ensuring the safe receipt and handling of cash and the reconciliation of transactions. The Trust Finance Officer will complete administrative routines relating to orders, invoices, cheques, BACS, income and the receipt and distribution of goods and services.

The role will be based at the Trust Hub at Altrincham College with occasional travel to other Trust schools as and when required.

Core Duties Include:

To assist the Trust CFO/Deputy CFO and Business Managers, to include:

• Ensure the School’s Financial Procedures, Academies Financial Handbook and Funding Agreement are adhered to
• Assist with the operating and monitoring of school accounts and budgets
• Ensuring the safe receipt and handling of cash

Complete administrative routines relating to orders, invoices, cheques, BACS, income and the receipt and distribution of goods and services.

Ensure that staff follow the correct procedure/guidelines when ordering goods and services, making sure that best value is achieved.

Process orders, ensuring sufficient funds are available beforehand and process invoices following the required authorisation has been obtained.

• Chase up non-deliveries, deal with queries and check supplier statements.
• Process payments following required authorisation and ensure cards/cheques/BACs are signed and authorised by relevant signatories
• Issue petty cash payments ensuring required receipts and signatories are obtained for all purchases
• Ensure the safe receipt, handling and banking of monies and cheques received. Record and bank all income.
• Process and record all bank and charge card statements.
• Provide assistance to staff with regard to financial issues, for example, placing and following up orders, advising on best value, providing details of alternative suppliers.
• Liaise with suppliers, contractors, other schools and organisations, budget holders and attend to queries as required by the line manager
• Assist in organising the letting of school premises as required
• Check that all trip costs are included in trips prior to the trip being made available to parents
• Monitor income and expenditure for trips and produce reports for Trip Leaders
• Assisting with maintaining the Inventory, recording acquisitions, disposals and transfers
• Contribute to the evaluation and development of financial systems and procedures
• With the support of the Chief Finance Officer, deputise in the absence of the Trust CFO/Deputy CFO
• Provide support as required to the end of year accounts and audit processes.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

All Trust staff are expected to:

Take appropriate responsibility and action for safeguarding.

Be prepared to provide additional support to the central Trust team and schools of the Trust as required.

Support the vision and values of the Trust and demonstrate a collaborative team working approach to school and trust improvement.

Promote and act in accordance with the Trust’s Staff Code of Conduct and all key policies.

• Maintain high professional standards of attendance, punctuality, appearance, conduct and positive, courteous relations with students, parents/carers, colleagues and visitors.
• Work within the Trust’s Equality Objectives to promote equality of opportunity for all students and staff, both current and prospective.
• Work within the Trust’s Health and Safety policy to ensure a safe working environment for staff, students and visitors to our schools.

Attend Trust and school events as required and make a positive contribution during such events.

Participate in training and learning activities and performance development as required.

Be proactive in seeking appropriate advice and guidance where required.

• To undertake any other duties commensurate with the grading of the post as directed by the Chief Executive Officer.