What skills and experience we're looking for
The Downs School is seeking an experienced, skilled, and flexible finance colleague to support with the administration associated with a school’s finance operation and to work alongside our existing Finance Team. This is a critical post within the finance team, providing essential support and ensuring excellent financial management of our schools. We will offer you the chance to be part of a strong team and to work in a supportive environment.
We hope to find an excellent financial professional and manager, able to work on their own initiative. A well organised colleague, with excellent attention to detail and the energy to see things through to a high standard.
About the Role: As a successful candidate, you will:
• be flexible, confident and friendly individual who can build strong relationships across the federation
• manage the work and team of the finance office, which provides financial and management accounting for the federation schools, the private school funds and the charitable trust. This will include payroll, purchasing, sales, providing financial information to budget holders and supporting the business manager with the annual budgets and budget monitoring.
• budget for and report on staff remuneration costs. Support annual audit preparations. Manage the year end processes and submissions
• support the business manager in the production of the annual budgets and budget monitoring through the year.
• work with different financial systems such as Orovia, Access Education, SBS
The Downs School and Sixth Form is a successful, oversubscribed, and popular school serving the stunning Downs area of West Berkshire. Our results demonstrate the impact of our commitment to outstanding teaching and learning. We lead all schools in the county for attainment and were ranked in the top 200 schools nationally for our Progress 8 last summer.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application via TES as early as possible. Further information can be found at thedownsschool.org or by contacting Sarah Townsend, HR Manager / recruitment@thedownsschool.org.
Closing date: 22 April 2025, 8am
The Downs School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Successful applicants will be subject to social media checks, an Enhanced Disclosure Check through the DBS and provide evidence that they have a right to work in the UK.
What the school offers its staff
What we offer: In return, you’ll enjoy:
• Caring Environment: Our positive ethos prioritises staff well-being and recognition.
• Empowerment: Work alongside ambitious, dedicated colleagues who are committed to developing the whole child.
• Professional Environment: Join a stimulating and collaborative workplace in a school Ofsted labelled as ‘exceptional’ in October 2024
• Flexible Work Options: We value work balance through the availability of flexible working, our ‘Time for you Tuesdays’, commuted INSETs and Employee Assistance Programme.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.