st. Edwards Oxford 360x180MP

 

School Accountant
Oxford
Competitive, dependant upon experience. 

 

We are delighted to be partnering with St Edward's School on the recruitment for their next School Accountant. Reporting to the Bursar, you will be primarily responsible for managing all financial matters within the School whilst managing an established team of five.

Details about the Client

Founded in 1863, St Edward's is an independent, co-educational boarding school situated in North Oxford. There are presently 680 pupils, of whom 83% are boarders. The School employs around 450 staff in a wide variety of roles.

The School has a strong academic record. Pupils usually take 10 GCSEs/IGCSEs, with 63% of pupils achieving A*/A grades in 2016. Over 70% of the exams taken at 16 are IGCSE. A few pupils will leave the School after GCSE, and around 30 pupils join the Sixth Form. In the Sixth Form, pupils study either A Levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, in the current Lower Sixth the split is 50/50. The A*-B (IB 7-5) rate in 2016 was 74%. IB results were impressive, with an average score for the School close to 36. Over 95% of leavers proceed to university, and up to a tenth of the year group are awarded a place at Oxford or Cambridge.

The School exists to provide an excellent all-round education to each individual in its care. In terms of ability, it encourages a broad intake (the Common Entrance hurdle is 55%). The aim is for pupils to gain the best academic results of which they are capable. The co-curricular life of the School is rich and highly valued.

The school week includes lessons on Saturday mornings, although leave weekends or exeats (which occur about every three weeks) usually begin at lunchtime on Fridays. St Edward's is a traditional boarding school with most boarders in school on Saturday night. The majority of day pupils stay until 9pm on weekdays in order to benefit from a boarding education. Pupils take part in a wide range of sports and activities in the afternoons and at weekends. St Edward's has a national reputation for sport, both boys' and girls' teams have been county and regional champions in a variety of sports and at all ages.

The School also owns and operates The North Wall Arts Centre, a professional theatre and gallery space located in the School grounds.

Detailed Job Description

The School Accountant will oversee the entire accounts process and the accounts team which is located in the Bursary and consists of five people, including two in payroll, in addition to the Accountant.

Budgeting

  • Co-ordinating budgets from Heads of Department, preparing the pay budget and preparing initial estimates, draft and the final budget;
  • On a termly basis preparing a revised forecast budget and preparing accounts for the School Governors;
  • On a monthly basis forecasting cash flow and monitoring and producing budget reports for Heads of Department;
  • Dealing with ad hoc budget enquiries and producing reports.

Tax Reporting

  • Ensuring compliance with new legislation and introducing new systems as necessary;
  • On a quarterly basis reporting VAT and FEU;
  • On an annual basis reporting Corporation Tax, Gift Aid and information for P11Ds.

Annual Accounts and Audit

  • Preparing School and North Wall Trust accounts and dealing with the requirements of new accounting standards and regulations;
  • Completing the Teachers' Pension return and audit.

Funds/Investments

  • On a monthly basis processing investment income and transactions;
  • On a weekly basis processing donations via direct debit;
  • Reconciling bank accounts and foundation split.

Debtors

  • Debt chasing and liaison with external stakeholders;
  • Set up of billing for new pupils including processing of monthly and termly direct debits;
  • Processing advance fees, scholarships and bursaries;
  • On a termly basis reconciling pupil numbers with fees billed.

Managing the work of the Accounts Team

  • On a weekly basis authorising invoices and expenses and approving the BACS payment;
  • On a monthly basis reviewing and approving payroll, dealing with online pension submissions and loading ePayslips;
  • On an annual basis checking that pay increases have been processed correctly;
  • Reconciling accounts for debtors, creditors, fixed assets, the North Wall Trust and others;
  • On a termly basis overseeing the parent billing process;
  • Co-ordinating month end procedures;
  • Management of the Accounts team eg dealing with queries, monitoring workloads, managing performance, assessing training needs etc.

Other key responsibilities include.

  • Acting as Treasurer for the St Edward's Society (OSE) and The Friends of St Edward's - keeping records, making payments and preparing annual accounts;
  • Preparing advanced fee quotations and liaising with parents, reconciling termly transfers to the School and keeping an up to date reconciliation of the advanced fees fund;
  • Attending and contributing to various meetings eg Governors' General Purposes Committee, Investment Committee;

Candidate Profile

The Successful Applicant.

  • CCAB Qualified Accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, CIPFA);
  • Demonstrable leadership and line management experience;
  • Technical accounting background with relevant track record;
  • Confident with communicating to board, finance and non-finance stakeholders;
  • Able to tackle financial issues strategically and contribute to school policy and decision making;
  • Ability to engage, network and partner with a diverse peer group effectively;
  • Flexible in approach to manage a changing / growing environment.

What's on offer

Competitive salary in line with the successful applicant's previous experience.


Where specific UK qualifications are required we will take into account overseas equivalents. All third party applications will be forwarded to Michael Page.

Ref Code: MPGW13807131Z