Finance Assistant
| Posting date: | 13 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 26 January 2026 |
| Location: | Chigwell, Essex, IG7 5BT |
| Company: | Teaching Vacancies |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | bd092c41-897a-4570-92c4-1abf3b11fb21 |
Summary
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are seeking a highly organised and conscientious Finance Assistant to support the effective operation of our busy finance office. The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional attention to detail, take ownership assigned tasks. They should be able to work effectively with colleagues, students, parents, and external contacts, while also operating confidently on their own. The ability to contribute positively within a supportive team environment is essential. We’d love to hear from individuals who enjoy being part of a friendly, hardworking team and are ready to bring their skills to a role where they can truly make a difference.
Purpose of Job:
To be responsible for administering certain key Finance processes/tasks ensuring they are actioned accurately, in a timely manner. The primary purpose of Finance Assistant is to provide comprehensive administrative and accounting support to the Finance department, ensuring the efficient, effective, and compliant operation of West Hatch’s financial processes, reporting to the Finance Manager.
The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share in the commitment. This appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS checks and positive references.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Educational Visits
• To administer school trips, maintaining correspondence for educational visits and ensuring documentation is correct and complete.
• Liaise with the trip leader making sure the full cost of the trip is covered
• Liaise with external agencies to complete bookings
• Ensuring collection of all monies is received. Issuing receipts for distribution to pupils. Making refunds where necessary.
• Ensure that all trips are added to Parent Pay and give regular updates to the trip leader
• Collating parent consent forms and ensuring teachers receive reports relating to their particular activity
• Ensure insurance cover is in place.
• Ensure the spreadsheets are kept up to date for audit.
Free School Meals
• Free School Meals (“FSM”): in conjunction with external FSM and SIMS software, ensuring all students that have applied for FSM are recorded on the school systems. Regular reconciliation of FSM and SIMS and producing data reports for the Census ensuing information is complete and accurate.
Bursary
• Main point of contact for bursary students
• Collate all applications, including eligibility for consideration by the Headteacher
• Maintain bursary spreadsheet
• Process orders for bursary students
• Post termly payments via the school accounting system (PSF)
Catering/Canteen Debt
• Regular review of outstanding student lunch debt, liaising with the Catering Manager
• Contact and chase outstanding debt
Payroll Administration
• To assist the Finance Manager with payroll administration, including scanning documents and updating spreadsheets
Parent Pay Administration
• Add purchase items for use by parents via Parent Pay as requested.
General Finance Administration
• To work as a member of the Finance Team assisting with administration duties as required.
General
• To participate in the performance and development review process, taking personal responsibility for identification of learning, development and training opportunities in discussion with line manager.
• To comply with individual responsibilities, in accordance with the role, for health and safety in the workplace.
• Ensure that all duties and services provided are in accordance with the School’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
Professional standards:
• Carry out your role in a professional, positive and proactive manner.
• To undertake any reasonable instruction.
• Deal courteously with colleagues, pupils, parents and the public.
• Come to work suitable dressed, in accordance with the Schools Dress Code.
• Maintain strict confidentiality with regard to issues relating to pupils, parents, other staff and school business.
• Set a good example to students.
• Be supportive at all times of the school’s aims and ethos.
• Work as part of a team to support the team and school objectives.
• Be familiar and comply with school policies as set by the Governing body.
• Aim for high standards of punctuality and attendance.
What the school offers its staff
We offer the following benefits:
• Newly built sports hall with fully fitted gym available for staff use,
• Swimming pool available for staff use,
• TOIL scheme allowing staff to build time to take some term time days off,
• The Headteacher is passionate about staff workload and wellbeing and holds regular wellbeing meetings with staff.
• Flexible working requests will be considered.
At West Hatch we believe in building strong relationships with students and going the extra mile to support students’ successes both in and outside of school.
The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share in the commitment. This appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check and positive references.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
We are seeking a highly organised and conscientious Finance Assistant to support the effective operation of our busy finance office. The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional attention to detail, take ownership assigned tasks. They should be able to work effectively with colleagues, students, parents, and external contacts, while also operating confidently on their own. The ability to contribute positively within a supportive team environment is essential. We’d love to hear from individuals who enjoy being part of a friendly, hardworking team and are ready to bring their skills to a role where they can truly make a difference.
Purpose of Job:
To be responsible for administering certain key Finance processes/tasks ensuring they are actioned accurately, in a timely manner. The primary purpose of Finance Assistant is to provide comprehensive administrative and accounting support to the Finance department, ensuring the efficient, effective, and compliant operation of West Hatch’s financial processes, reporting to the Finance Manager.
The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share in the commitment. This appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS checks and positive references.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Educational Visits
• To administer school trips, maintaining correspondence for educational visits and ensuring documentation is correct and complete.
• Liaise with the trip leader making sure the full cost of the trip is covered
• Liaise with external agencies to complete bookings
• Ensuring collection of all monies is received. Issuing receipts for distribution to pupils. Making refunds where necessary.
• Ensure that all trips are added to Parent Pay and give regular updates to the trip leader
• Collating parent consent forms and ensuring teachers receive reports relating to their particular activity
• Ensure insurance cover is in place.
• Ensure the spreadsheets are kept up to date for audit.
Free School Meals
• Free School Meals (“FSM”): in conjunction with external FSM and SIMS software, ensuring all students that have applied for FSM are recorded on the school systems. Regular reconciliation of FSM and SIMS and producing data reports for the Census ensuing information is complete and accurate.
Bursary
• Main point of contact for bursary students
• Collate all applications, including eligibility for consideration by the Headteacher
• Maintain bursary spreadsheet
• Process orders for bursary students
• Post termly payments via the school accounting system (PSF)
Catering/Canteen Debt
• Regular review of outstanding student lunch debt, liaising with the Catering Manager
• Contact and chase outstanding debt
Payroll Administration
• To assist the Finance Manager with payroll administration, including scanning documents and updating spreadsheets
Parent Pay Administration
• Add purchase items for use by parents via Parent Pay as requested.
General Finance Administration
• To work as a member of the Finance Team assisting with administration duties as required.
General
• To participate in the performance and development review process, taking personal responsibility for identification of learning, development and training opportunities in discussion with line manager.
• To comply with individual responsibilities, in accordance with the role, for health and safety in the workplace.
• Ensure that all duties and services provided are in accordance with the School’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
Professional standards:
• Carry out your role in a professional, positive and proactive manner.
• To undertake any reasonable instruction.
• Deal courteously with colleagues, pupils, parents and the public.
• Come to work suitable dressed, in accordance with the Schools Dress Code.
• Maintain strict confidentiality with regard to issues relating to pupils, parents, other staff and school business.
• Set a good example to students.
• Be supportive at all times of the school’s aims and ethos.
• Work as part of a team to support the team and school objectives.
• Be familiar and comply with school policies as set by the Governing body.
• Aim for high standards of punctuality and attendance.
What the school offers its staff
We offer the following benefits:
• Newly built sports hall with fully fitted gym available for staff use,
• Swimming pool available for staff use,
• TOIL scheme allowing staff to build time to take some term time days off,
• The Headteacher is passionate about staff workload and wellbeing and holds regular wellbeing meetings with staff.
• Flexible working requests will be considered.
At West Hatch we believe in building strong relationships with students and going the extra mile to support students’ successes both in and outside of school.
The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share in the commitment. This appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check and positive references.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.