Internal Audit and Financial Accounting Officer

Salary: S01/S02 (£37,130 - £42,057)Location: Copthall House, 9 The Pavement, Grove Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 1DAWorking Pattern: Full Time, Permanent – all year round, 36 hrs per week, 8.45am - 4.30pm Monday -Thursday and 8.45am - 4.15pm Friday.Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust (OHC&AT) is a family of specialist education providers for pupils and students from nursery to further education. We operate across academies and college centres in London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. Supporting our academies and college, OHC&AT also operates learning support services, such as nursing and therapy, and a central business support team which includes HR, finance and IT.Pupils and students within the OHC&AT family have a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs. These include autistic spectrum disorder; speech, language and communication difficulties; social, emotional and mental health needs; profound and multiple learning disabilities; and physical disabilities including multi-sensory impairment and complex health conditions.We are looking for an Internal Audit & Financial Accounting Officer to support the Head of Financial Accounting in producing statutory financial reports, managing audit requirements, and delivering high-quality information for senior leaders and external agencies. You will also lead the coordination of internal audit activities across the College and Trust, helping to ensure strong financial governance and compliance.Key Responsibilities:• Financial Accounting Support - Assist in the preparation of year-end financial statements, VAT returns, reconciliations, and other key balance sheet accounts, providing day-to-day support to the finance team and ensuring compliance with accounting standards and tax regulations.• Audit Coordination - Lead the planning and coordination of internal and external audit activities, preparing required documentation, supporting auditors, and maintaining audit trackers and reports for senior finance staff and committees.• Internal Controls & Compliance - Develop and monitor internal audit plans, perform routine checks across schools and centres, provide guidance on policies and procedures, and support fraud prevention and risk management initiatives.• Reporting & Risk Monitoring - Prepare financial returns, track performance against internal audit KPIs, review risk registers, and highlight emerging issues or risks to senior finance colleagues and Audit & Risk Committees.• General Duties & Development - Carry out tasks as requested by senior finance staff, maintain confidentiality, comply with organisational policies, and participate in training and professional development.Key Requirements:• Professional finance qualification or relevant experience with strong accounting knowledge.• Experience in financial reporting and statutory accounts, including reconciliations, VAT, and audit processes.• Knowledge of internal audit processes and compliance, with the ability to coordinate audits, monitor controls, and support risk management.• Strong analytical and organisational skills, with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to work collaboratively with finance teams, auditors, school staff, and senior leadership.• Willingness to travel to multiple academy sites as requiredOHC&AT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:Rewards & Benefits:• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)Find out what makes OHC&AT a truly rewarding place to work - visit our ‘Work for us’ page to hear from our Chief Executive Officer, John Prior, and watch inspiring messages from students and parents about the difference our staff make every day.Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities.It is an exciting time to be part of OHC&AT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.Closing Date: 5th January 2026Interviews will take place on: The Week Commencing 12th January 2026Safeguarding StatementOrchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.