Financial Controller - Sevenoaks

Position: Financial Controller
Location: Sevenoaks, Kent
Salary: £40,000 per annum (plus benefits)
Role: Permanent

Our client is a co-educational all through school based in Sevenoaks. They are now looking to appoint a Financial Controller to start in January 2019.

The role is very hands on so needs attention to detail. Relevant accounting experience is a must.

School experience isn’t essential but is preferred. The school runs as a business not as a charity, so it makes a significant difference to reporting – They produce monthly profit and loss accounts.

You will need hands on experience and knowledge of profit and loss accounts, journals and accruals, depreciation, Capex etc.

You will have responsibility for the School’s finance function, management and year end reporting and effective control of both Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable; whilst supporting the Business Manager and other members of staff as required.

Key Responsibilities:

Management of the finance function and overseeing the finance team.
Preparation of budgets, forecasts and cash flows.
Ongoing control of budgets with production of periodic reports to budget holders during financial year.
Maintenance of financial ledgers and accounting processes.
Month end General Ledger reconciliations.
Preparation of Monthly Management Reports including Consolidated P&L and Balance Sheet and detailed analytical commentary on the same, demonstrating a detailed business understanding. Process monthly payroll and liaise with payroll agency.
Administration of the Group Pension Scheme.
Timely production of statutory and internal financial reports, together with audit schedules.
Effective control of cash by working capital management and accurate, timely forecasting.
Ensuring that appropriate systems and internal controls are implemented and maintained.
Hands on management of all aspects of the Accounts Receivables process, from raising of billing, managing direct debits/School Fee Plan, banking cheques/cash and liaising with parents directly on outstanding debts due in accordance with credit control policy.
Hands on management of all aspects of the Accounts Payables process, including ensuring authorisation of Invoices prior to payment, management of payment cycles and control of monthly payment runs, limiting any and all ad hoc expenditures.
Importing of invoices and posting of journals into Sage, together with general system maintenance. Line management responsibility for Finance Assistant.
To provide support generally to the Business Manager.

Skills and Personal qualities required:

Relevant accountancy qualifications.
Relevant work experience in a senior finance role.
Excellent communication and administrative skills.
Excellent IT literacy including extensive Sage experience and intermediate to advanced Excel skills.
Previous experience in the education sector desirable.
Ability to lead a team.
Good interpersonal skills with an ability to work collaboratively and relate to people at all levels.
Self-starter with a high level of time management and planning skills

Salary Package & Hours:

Full time Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, 52 weeks per annum. 25 days’ annual holiday entitlement to be taken out side of term time, Christmas Closure + 8 bank holidays.
Free lunch during term time. Contributory pension scheme. Use of School Fitness Suite

Farrer Barnes Ltd does not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, gender, disability, creed or sexual orientation and complies with all relevant UK legislation. Farrer Barnes Ltd acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers.