Finance Assistant | Leicester

The Opportunity

Are you a numerically gifted professional with a passion for precision and a commitment to ensuring public funds are used to change lives? Can you be the financial engine behind a thriving educational community in the heart of Leicester?

We are seeking a methodical and proactive Finance Assistant to join a dedicated business operations team in Leicester . Known for its status as a premier hub for commerce and its rich cultural diversity, Leicester offers a vibrant environment for a finance specialist. We are looking for an individual who can balance the rigour of accounting standards with the unique requirements of the education sector, ensuring the school’s resources are managed with absolute integrity.

Core Responsibilities

• Purchase Ledger Management: Processing invoices and purchase orders with speed and accuracy, ensuring that all departmental spending is approved and coded correctly against school budgets.

• Income & Banking: Managing the school’s "ParentPay" or similar cashless catering systems, processing trips and activities payments, and ensuring all physical and digital banking is reconciled daily.

• Budget Support: Assisting the School Business Manager (SBM) in monitoring departmental spend, identifying variances, and providing Subject Leaders with clear, up-to-date reports on their available funds.

• Payroll Coordination: Preparing monthly payroll data, ensuring all overtime, sickness deductions, and new starter information is submitted accurately to the central payroll provider.

• Financial Compliance: Supporting the year-end audit process and ensuring all financial transactions adhere to the Academies Financial Handbook or Local Authority financial regulations.

• Petty Cash & Expenses: Managing staff expense claims and petty cash disbursements, ensuring every penny is accounted for with appropriate receipts and documentation.

Why This School?

• Leicester’s Commercial Heart: Work in a city that values industriousness and fiscal responsibility, providing a professional and highly structured work culture.

• A Central Operational Role: Occupy a position that interacts with every department—from the Science labs to the PE office—giving you a holistic view of the school’s strategic priorities.

• Supportive Business Team: Join a close-knit office faculty that values collaboration, professional transparency, and mutual support during busy periods like year-end closing.

• Professional Growth: Access to specialist training in AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) , advanced Excel, and school-specific finance software ( PS Financials, FMS, or Sage ).

Candidate Profile

• Experience: Proven experience in a finance or bookkeeping role is essential. Prior experience within a school, academy, or public sector environment is highly desirable.

• Technical Proficiency: Exceptional numeracy skills and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel. Experience with school Management Information Systems (MIS) is an advantage.

• Attention to Detail: A "right first time" mentality with the ability to spot anomalies in complex data and maintain 100% accuracy under pressure.

• Character: A resilient, trustworthy, and articulate professional who can communicate financial information clearly to non-finance staff while maintaining strict confidentiality.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please submit your CV today.