Finance Assistant

Cognita is an extraordinary group of diverse yet connected schools, spanning sixteen different countries. We share one common purpose: to create an inspiring world of education that builds self-belief and empowers individuals to succeed. With over 100 schools in Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America and Asia, we employ 15,000 teaching and support staff in the care and education of more than 75,000 students.

The School Finance Assistant will assist the school leadership team and the Pod Finance Manager in ensuring the compliance and implementation of finance polices and processes related to procurement, payroll, Cognita Connect and other finance processes. The role is an integral part of the finance function for the school and the wider business and will give opportunity to develop understanding of policies and processes to allow for a potential pathway into Operations Management or the wider finance function.

**Please note this role is based within Quinton House School (Northampton)**

**Key Responsibilities will include, but not limited to**:
**Financial Management**
- Ensure that all financial accounting deadlines are achieved to a high standard. This includes information related to month end close and payroll.
- To complete for the school/cluster all purchase requests via Netsuite in line with budgets ensuring correct approvals are received prior to purchase
- To collate and prepare payroll related documentation for the school/cluster and ensure this is shared in a timely fashion with relevant stakeholders
- To process all offers and bookings on Cognita Connect to enable parents to make purchases
- To provide data where required to Pod Finance Manager, Accounts Payable, Central Billing or other central functions
- To process refund requests for the school as per guidance from Pod Finance Manager
- To ensure invoices are ‘goods receipted’ in a timely fashion to enable prompt payment of our suppliers

**Team Responsibilities**
- Support on finance within the school/cluster
- Provide support to the Head Teacher, Operations Manager and other school colleagues

**About You**
- Ability to work collaboratively within a team and communicate with multiple levels of stakeholders
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to relate well to people on all levels with sensitivity, tact and diplomacy
- First class organisational and administrative skills.
- Ability to remain calm under pressure and work to tight deadlines; systematic approach to tasks, with attention to detail
- Able to maintain a high work rate and to juggle a range of tasks and competing priorities
- High levels of accuracy and attention to detail

**Previous Experience Must Include**:

- Previous experience of working in an administrative function
- Experience of delivering time-sensitive data processing to ensure smooth customer journey
- Experience with finance software

**Benefits Package**

Here at Cognita we offer a Competitive Salary with some other benefits:

- Contributory Pension Scheme
- Professional development
- School fee discount
- 25 days Holiday plus Bank Holidays

**How to Apply**

**Diversity and Inclusion**

We believe having a diverse workforce makes us better, smarter and happier and so welcome applicants from all backgrounds, genders, and races. We have an unwavering commitment to being fair, inclusive and equitable in our recruitment process.

Cognita Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

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