An opportunity has arisen for an experienced and committed Assistant Accountant to join our team based in Ruskington. This post is hybrid working, based two days per week at our Ruskington office and 3 days per week from home.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Assistant Accountant to work in the finance team based in our offices at Ruskington Chestnut Street. The successful candidate will be responsible for undertaking a range of day-to-day transactional finance activities
You will have a strong customer focus and be able to provide a high-quality service to our schools and the central team. You must be comfortable working with computerised accounting packages and have sound Excel skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills are essential, as the post holder will be required to communicate with a variety of stakeholders daily.
We are looking for someone who has:
• AAT Level 3 certification
• Previous experience of working in a finance role and an understanding of key financial controls
• Ability to use judgement and escalate issues when necessary
• Ability to prioritise their workload in a busy team environment
• An understanding of and empathy with the Christian values of the organisation
We can offer you:
• The chance to work within a highly qualified and effective Finance Team
• Opportunities for continuous professional development and salary progression throughout the grade.
The Assistant Accountant is responsible for supporting the Trust Accountant in delivering a high-quality finance service to the central LAAT team, existing member schools and those schools seeking to join the Trust.
This will include undertaking various transactional procedures, assisting with month/year end and assisting with the Trust’s monthly payroll.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
Post daily bank transactions and complete the monthly bank reconciliation
Posting of prepayments and accruals
Post general ledger journal entries into the finance system including monthly payroll journals
Reviewing nominal ledger transactions
Assisting with maintenance and reconciliation of control accounts
Assisting with internal and external audit requests
Sales Ledger- raise regular sales invoices and monitor aged debt report
Ensure that VAT returns are completed on a timely and accurate basis
Assisting with the Trusts monthly payroll
Assist with Pension and payroll queries
Liaison with the Education and Skills Funding Agency and other statutory bodies
Dealing with queries of a financial nature from member schools and prospective new member schools in an efficient and courteous manner
Supporting the operation of the PS Financials accounting package and other finance systems in use by the LAAT
Assisting with the preparation of other financial reports and returns as required.
Ensuring that all finance records, both electronic and paper based, are accurately maintained and kept up to date, and held securely in accordance with Data Protection legislation
Ensuring that work is carried out in accordance with all relevant financial procedures
Working with colleagues to drive improvements to processes and controls
Other
The post holder may, from time to time, be required to carry out other duties provided they are within the general level of responsibility of the duties set out above and within the
abilities of the post holder.
The role is based in Ruskington, but some travel will be required to fulfil the role.
There will be regular meetings with the Finance Manager and close working relationships with other members of the finance team.
Day to day contact with Academy finance staff and Head Teachers and the LAAT central team. Some contact with Local Governing Councils.
Work will be carried out within a range of broad objectives and planning mechanisms.
The post holder will work within the agreed policies of the trust and be expected to maintain confidentiality in all matters, adhering to Data Protection legislation.
Work must be accurate, of a high standard and undertaken in accordance with all relevant regulations and guidance, including those laid down by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, the Companies Act and the Charities Commission.
The consequence of decisions made by the post holder could impact on the direction and development of the trust as well as on the quality of its resource deployment and customer satisfaction.
The post holder will be subject to regular interruptions and changing priorities, there may be a chance of disruption to the overall completion of the task.
Whilst there are routine tasks and regular deadlines to be met, the nature of the work is such that there will be at times conflicting demands from staff and external agencies/stakeholders.
Variations in the volume and pressure of work are inevitable along with interruptions throughout the day.
The post holder will be expected to be flexible in undertaking the duties and responsibilities attached to this post.
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the Trust’s Health and Safety policies and procedures.
In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, please be advised that if shortlisted, we will carry out internet searches to support our commitment to safer recruitment. Please note that the purpose of this is to identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and are publicly available online, which the school might want to explore with applicants at interview. Internet searches will be carried out by someone who is not directly involved in the recruitment process and only relevant
information will be shared with the interview panel.