Accountant

Position Scope

The School Accountant will be in charge of all school accounting functions which include accurate and timely billing, tracking payments, maintaining records, and cash flow management.

Job Description

• Financial Planning/Control and Management Reporting
  • Ensure that the Finance function offers a high-quality and accessible service that is prompt, courteous, accurate, and complete.
  • Maintain the School’s accounting records, fees ledger, and creditors ledger accurately and in accordance with agreed timescales and procedures.
  • Prepare annual budgets and termly forecasts, monitoring performance and reporting budget progress.
  • Prepare full-year forecast and termly management accounts including variance reports.
  • Attend termly Finance committee meetings as required and deliver written reports.
  • Control the management function in order to ensure the most efficient and secure deployment of the School’s cash and minimize banking and interest charges.
  • Advise on current and future financial issues and projects including feasibility appraisals, preparation of business cases and funding options.
• School Fee Invoicing & Billing
  • Produce termly fee invoices and respond to invoice queries.
  • Receipt and reconciliation of fee payments.
  • Credit control including 1st and 2nd reminder letters, all minor credit letters and management of late-payers spreadsheet.
  • Raise bank payments where appropriate.
  • Prepare returns and arrange any payments to third parties collected through fees.
    
• Operational
  • Prepare payments by transfers and cheques and manage records.
  • Line manage the Finance and Systems Administrator.
  • Conduct and agree monthly bank and control account reconciliations and account for petty cash.
  • Ensure the timely banking of cheques.
  • Maintain the fixed asset register.
  • Ensure the School’s relationship with third parties such as the Bank and auditors is responsive and professional.
  • Advise and implement new financial initiatives as required.
• Statutory Reporting, Returns, and Audit 
  •  Prepare the school accounts for audit, including statements of Financial Activity and Balance Sheets in accordance with the Recommended Practice.
  • Complete all returns as required by pension providers etc.
  • Manage the audit process ensuring that the auditors have the information in a timely and effective manner.
  • Keep the accounting and reporting systems under constant review, including the software, ensuring that they are effective and efficient.
  • Monitor the operation of financial controls through internal audit and recommend to the management further controls as appropriate to safeguard the School’s funds and other assets.

Requirements

Qualifications, skills, and experience Essential competencies:

• Qualified Accountant CPA(K) with at least 2 years’ relevant experience.
• Proven experience in financial reporting and the preparation of management accounts, forecasts, and statutory accounts.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and communicate financial data at all levels of an organization.
• Sound knowledge of accounting standards.
• Confident in using Information Management Systems and able to learn new systems and processes quickly.
• Excellent time management, prioritization, and organizational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Maintain strict confidentiality where appropriate.
  
• Strong interpersonal skills with a clear focus on customer service.
• Desirable competencies:
  • Previous experience of working within School Finance.
  • Understanding of the Private School sector.

Skills

Accounting