School Accountant

This leading school in Macclesfield looking for a Part Time Accountant to manage the daily operations of the Finance and Accounting Function

(The role is **part-time, working 22.5 hours per week** on a 52- week year-round contract, working within the Finance Department)

Salary will range from £27,000 to £30,000 based on 22.5 hours a week (£45,000 to £50,000, full time equivalent).

**Key responsibilities**:

- To oversee the whole school accounting function including the trading company and subsidy charities
- To be the SIMS system administrator
- To oversee the administration of all ledgers, invoicing, fee and debt collection systems
- To manage all month and year end procedures for all ledgers
- To monitor expenditure on major projects and other capital works, including financial appraisals of capital projects as required by the DoF
- To assist with cost savings projects as required and to identify opportunities for improved cost control
- To maintain the School Fixed Asset Register
- To work with the DoF to oversee the financial aspects of all contracts
- To be the key point of contact for external audit for the statutory accounts
- To have overall responsibility for the school payroll, including PAYE, National Insurance and compliance with regulations in relation to benefits in kind (P11D)
- To oversee the administration of the pension schemes for teaching and support staff
- To monitor cash flow and oversee all bank accounts, credit and prepaid cards, including making bank payments online and overseeing BACS payments made in line with delegated financial authorities
- To oversee the school’s cashless system - ParentPay
- To ensure financial control of school trips
- To monitor the repayment of the school’s loans
- To work with the DoF in relation to the treasury management
- To collate and submit Gift Aid claims Financial Reporting and Monitoring
- To work with the DoF to prepare the annual budget for the school
- To produce termly management accounts and reports for use by Senior Management and Governors, including cash flows, detailed variance analysis and forecasts to end of the year
- To prepare forecasts for the future financial performance of the school; usually over a period of five years
- To ensure regular budget updates to the DoF and budget holders within the school and alert them to potential overspends
- To prepare the accounting records ready for external audit, to aid and provide additional information as required by external audit, to liaise with the Board to ensure the Report of the Governors is prepared and agreed in a timely manner
- To maintain the Financial KPI for use by Senior Management and Governors
- To undertake financial analysis (e.g. DfE & ISC censuses, ONS surveys, national statistics, benchmarking surveys) as required Staffing
- To lead on financial fraud awareness throughout the school
- To develop and promote financial literacy amongst members of school staff Other
- To draft, monitor and report on financial policies, compliance and procedures
- To assist DoF with Data Protection Act/GDPR compliance in matters relating to the Finance Department
- To keep up-to-date with technical accounting and taxation developments
- To advise on and monitor compliance in all matters relating to taxation, including VAT, corporation tax and benefits in kind, including liaising with professional advisors as required.

**Key Skills**:

- Good communication with key stakeholders and colleagues
- Sound judgement and discretion with ability to work collaboratively and influence
- Empathy with the principles, ethos, aims and aspirations of the independent sector
- Strong working knowledge of accounting and payroll software
- A high degree of self-motivation
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, both verbal and written
- Attention to detail and a high level of accuracy
- A strategic thinker with strong analytical and project management skills
- Experience of managing an accounts team.
- Strong organisational skills
- Experience of charity accounting would be beneficial

**Qualifications required
- Strong professional and/or academic qualifications
- Qualified Accountant

**Please contact Mike Otter at RK Accountancy for a confidential discussion about this opportunity or submit your CV for immediate consideration.