Senior Finance Officer

Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: Full Time
Number of Positions: 1
Start Date: 1st September 2026
Salary: £33,143 - £36,363 per annum

Are you a methodical, proactive finance professional who wants to make a real difference in a school that puts nurture, communication and children’s rights at the heart of everything it does?

Join Bridgelea Primary School as our Senior Finance Officer and play a vital role in ensuring resources are used efficiently to support children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs (SEMH) and those at risk of exclusion.

Our culture is rooted in:

• Nurture (National Nurturing School accreditation) — we create safe bases where children and staff feel understood and supported.
• Rights Respecting practice (Gold accreditation) — children’s voices shape learning and school life.
• Elklan Language Friendly approaches — communication is central; staff use visuals, scripts and processing time to support learning.

This is an opportunity to work in a busy, purposeful school environment where your attention to detail will directly impact children’s learning and wellbeing.

Key responsibilities include:

• Maintaining accurate financial records, reconciliations and ledger entries, supporting month- and year-end processes.
• Monitoring actuals against budget and preparing clear financial reports for leaders and governors.
• Managing payroll input and liaison with payroll providers to ensure data is correct and processed to schedule.
• Leading procurement, purchase orders, invoice processing, sales invoicing and supplier relations.
• Maintaining the asset inventory and supporting asset-management processes.
• Supervising finance support staff where appropriate and providing guidance to staff on financial procedures.

You will be expected to work collaboratively as part of the Bridgelea team, contributing to school improvement priorities including the implementation of robust monitoring systems and the embedding of effective financial controls.

You will be someone who combines technical financial skills with a calm, collaborative approach. Specifically:

• Strong knowledge of finance principles and proven experience working in a financial environment.
• Experience with payroll processes and confidence managing external payroll providers.
• Excellent numeracy and attention to detail, with the ability to reconcile, proofread and present financial information clearly.
• Competence with spreadsheets and financial management software (or ability to learn quickly).
• Organisational skills to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities.
• Effective communicator who can advise staff at all levels and prepare reports for governors and leaders.
• A willingness to engage in continued professional development and to contribute positively to our nurturing school culture.

We welcome applications from candidates who share our commitment to inclusion, safeguarding and children's rights. Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

What we offer:

• The chance to use your skills in a school that places children’s emotional development and wellbeing at its core.
• A supportive, professionally minded leadership team committed to staff development and collaborative working.
• Opportunities for CPD linked to our school priorities (curriculum quality assurance, behaviour and pastoral development, safeguarding).
• The satisfaction of knowing your work directly supports children who benefit from high levels of personalised support.

Salary: NJC Grade 6