Day Nursery Finance & Administration Officer
| Posting date: | 16 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 15 February 2026 |
| Location: | South Ockendon, Essex |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | SURESTART 'Where Kids Come First' |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
SURESTART ‘Where Kid’s Come First’
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Day Nursery Finance & Administration Officer
Responsible to: Manager
Responsible for: N/A
Purpose of Job: To manage the day to day financial and administrative operations of the setting in partnership with the Manager and Management Committee
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:
To support the Manager and Committee in the day to day running of the day nursery office; including finance and administrative duties as listed below and to provide an efficient and effective office administrative service to the setting.
Key responsibilities and accountabilities
Finance
• Process financial information/data e.g. invoices, fees, petty cash, purchase orders
• Report, manage and resolve debtors
• Manage the variety of childcare vouchers, student finance and tax-free childcare
• Process funding forms, submitting information and reconciling to parents’ account
• Claim termly funding in accordance with Thurrock Borough Council’s Code of Practice
• All other administrative tasks relating to Finance, as directed by management
HR
• Assist with the HR administration and recruitment of staff, including maintaining applicant records, advertisements, job descriptions, job specifications, replying to applicants, invitations to interview, reference requests and induction support
• Ensure training and development documentation is completed in a timely manner
• Ability to take minutes e.g. at disciplinary meetings and grievances as and when required
• Manage the payroll system (including Tax & NICs contributions and the pension scheme) and the inputting of information on monthly timesheets, including absences and holidays
• Maintain up to date personnel files in accordance to confidentiality/data protection
General
• Maintaining accurate and confidential staff, children’s and parent’s records
• Process incoming and outgoing mail
• Handle communications professionally and promptly with all visitors and prospective parents Keep in regular contact with Waiting List and follow up all enquiries
• Manage emails, add appointments, update calendar
• Develop good working relationships with setting staff and management personnel
• Ability to work in partnership with families, local authorities and professional bodies
• Use a Nursery Management System
• Ensure efficient administration systems are in place, e.g. recording and filing
• Ensure the Equal Opportunities Policy is adhered to at all times
• To be responsible for the management of the Setting Manager’s diary, organising and scheduling meetings, training courses etc
• Maintain a safe and organised office area with attention to confidentiality
• Organise, attend, participate and support where required: staff meetings, conferences, open days, social/setting events, training days ensuring accurate minutes are produced and paperwork is distributed and filed appropriately
• Type up and present Setting Newsletters to deadlines
• Continually update skills through training especially within ICT
• Perform general office duties including: typing; photocopying, filing, stock orders etc
• Any other duties as required by management
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
Qualifications, experience and personal qualities required:
• An innate passion for putting our children and families first
• A flexible and enthusiastic manner
• Excellent customer service and communication skills and telephone manner and ensure that messages are promptly dealt with
• Good level of applied literacy and numeracy
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• The ability to multi-task and prioritise work under pressure to set deadlines.
• Well-organised and works autonomously with minimal close supervision
• Proactive and innovative approach to challenges and ideas, plus strong problem solving capabilities
• Flexible and receptive to change
• Resilience, i.e. maturity, ability to cope with pressure and difficult people
• Ability to influence and negotiate
• Able to work on own initiative as well as part of the team
• Self-confident with strong interpersonal skills
• Willing to acquire new skills and undertake further training when necessary
• Strong administration and IT skills; good knowledge of Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, and Moneysoft Payroll.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Day Nursery Finance & Administration Officer
Responsible to: Manager
Responsible for: N/A
Purpose of Job: To manage the day to day financial and administrative operations of the setting in partnership with the Manager and Management Committee
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:
To support the Manager and Committee in the day to day running of the day nursery office; including finance and administrative duties as listed below and to provide an efficient and effective office administrative service to the setting.
Key responsibilities and accountabilities
Finance
• Process financial information/data e.g. invoices, fees, petty cash, purchase orders
• Report, manage and resolve debtors
• Manage the variety of childcare vouchers, student finance and tax-free childcare
• Process funding forms, submitting information and reconciling to parents’ account
• Claim termly funding in accordance with Thurrock Borough Council’s Code of Practice
• All other administrative tasks relating to Finance, as directed by management
HR
• Assist with the HR administration and recruitment of staff, including maintaining applicant records, advertisements, job descriptions, job specifications, replying to applicants, invitations to interview, reference requests and induction support
• Ensure training and development documentation is completed in a timely manner
• Ability to take minutes e.g. at disciplinary meetings and grievances as and when required
• Manage the payroll system (including Tax & NICs contributions and the pension scheme) and the inputting of information on monthly timesheets, including absences and holidays
• Maintain up to date personnel files in accordance to confidentiality/data protection
General
• Maintaining accurate and confidential staff, children’s and parent’s records
• Process incoming and outgoing mail
• Handle communications professionally and promptly with all visitors and prospective parents Keep in regular contact with Waiting List and follow up all enquiries
• Manage emails, add appointments, update calendar
• Develop good working relationships with setting staff and management personnel
• Ability to work in partnership with families, local authorities and professional bodies
• Use a Nursery Management System
• Ensure efficient administration systems are in place, e.g. recording and filing
• Ensure the Equal Opportunities Policy is adhered to at all times
• To be responsible for the management of the Setting Manager’s diary, organising and scheduling meetings, training courses etc
• Maintain a safe and organised office area with attention to confidentiality
• Organise, attend, participate and support where required: staff meetings, conferences, open days, social/setting events, training days ensuring accurate minutes are produced and paperwork is distributed and filed appropriately
• Type up and present Setting Newsletters to deadlines
• Continually update skills through training especially within ICT
• Perform general office duties including: typing; photocopying, filing, stock orders etc
• Any other duties as required by management
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
Qualifications, experience and personal qualities required:
• An innate passion for putting our children and families first
• A flexible and enthusiastic manner
• Excellent customer service and communication skills and telephone manner and ensure that messages are promptly dealt with
• Good level of applied literacy and numeracy
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• The ability to multi-task and prioritise work under pressure to set deadlines.
• Well-organised and works autonomously with minimal close supervision
• Proactive and innovative approach to challenges and ideas, plus strong problem solving capabilities
• Flexible and receptive to change
• Resilience, i.e. maturity, ability to cope with pressure and difficult people
• Ability to influence and negotiate
• Able to work on own initiative as well as part of the team
• Self-confident with strong interpersonal skills
• Willing to acquire new skills and undertake further training when necessary
• Strong administration and IT skills; good knowledge of Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, and Moneysoft Payroll.