Finance and Administration Officer

Finance and Administration Officer Application Pack

Location of current temporary site: Concordia Academy, Westland Avenue, Hornchurch, RM11 3SD.

We are currently based in Hornchurch as we await the grand opening of our new permanent building which will be based on Union Road in Romford. Our new state-of-the-art facility is currently under construction and will open in 2018.

REAch2 Registered address:

REAch2 Academy Trust

Scientia Academy

Mona Road

Burton Upon Trent

Staffordshire

DE13 0UF www.reach2.org Contents

- Letter from Steve Lancashire, Chief Executive

- The application process and timetable

- Information about the role

- Background on REAch2

- Job Description

- Person Specification Letter from Steve Lancashire, Chief Executive, REAch2 Academy Trust

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in this role within the REAch2 Academy Trust.

This is a hugely exciting time for our family of schools. The Trust has been recognised by the Department for Education as being well placed to raise standards and achieve excellence for pupils in a growing number of schools nationwide. We are presented with a rare opportunity to make a real difference to the lives and life chances of so many primary school children – many of whom haven’t previously received the educational opportunities they deserve.

The Trust has academies based all across England and includes schools at various stages of development, from those requiring significant improvement through to existing outstanding schools. As a Trust we are clear about the importance of achieving long term sustainability for our schools. Our vision is to enable individual academies to flourish with real autonomy, whilst also ensuring a strong ethos of support and collaboration across our schools.

Teachers within REAch2 belong to a national community of professionals, and benefit from a wide range of networks and development opportunities across the Trust. In time, our best teachers are able to work across schools, develop specialisms and step up to leadership roles within and beyond their own academy. The Trust provides a strong culture of collaboration and support, together with high expectations for staff and pupils alike.

Those we recruit are able to demonstrate that they share our values, are highly motivated to work with colleagues within and beyond their school to continuously develop their skills and pursue professional excellence, and are committed to providing the highest standards of teaching for all children. If that is you then we would be delighted to receive your application.

Steve Lancashire

Chief Executive, REAch2 Academy Trust The application process and timetable

Closing date for applications – Friday 2 June 2017

Interviews – Week commencing Monday 5 June 2017

The candidates selected for interview will be informed after shortlisting and full details of the interview programme will be provided.

The application

You are invited to submit an application form, which is available together with this document.

REAch2 Academy Trust has an Equal Opportunities Policy for selection and recruitment. Applicants are requested to complete and return the Equal Opportunities Monitoring form separately with their application.

In accordance with our Safeguarding Policy the successful candidate will be required to have an enhanced DBS check.

To arrange an informal discussion please contact Raheel Akhtar via email at [email protected] or via telephone on 07976 817394.

Completed application forms and equal opportunities monitoring forms should be emailed to Raheel Akhtar at [email protected] Background on REAch2

The REAch2 Academy Trust originated from the successful school improvement and partnership work led by Hillyfield Primary Academy in Waltham Forest, London. The Trust has grown to become a national family of primary academies committed to raising standards and achieving excellence for all pupils, whatever their background or circumstance.

Schools, staff and children within the Trust benefit from a strong ethos of support and collaboration across the REAch2 family. Teachers within REAch2 belong to a national community of professionals, and benefit from a wide range of networks and development opportunities across the Trust.

REAch2 Trust is part of a teaching school alliance (led by the REAch2 Tidemill Academy in Deptford). As a result, teachers and leaders within the REAch2 family are able to access a range of teacher and leadership development opportunities, including the Improving Teacher Programme and the Outstanding Teacher Programme, as well as programmes for middle leaders and newly qualified teachers.

The Trust is focused on ensuring it supports, develops and empowers its staff so that, in time, our best teachers are able to work across schools, develop specialisms and step up to leadership roles within and beyond their own academy. This underpins our approach to school improvement – including the successful improvements that have been achieved so far in many of our schools that have joined the Trust as sponsored academies.

REAch2 benefits from the involvement of leading educationalists, including our board member Professor John West-Burnham, and strong links to prestigious institutions such as the Institute of Education.

Our cornerstones and touchstones

REAch2 is a cornerstone of every academy in the Trust: a strong, responsible foundation providing a solid base, from which every academy can build and grow. Defined by the values of excellence, quality, delivery and standards – these features give the Trust its enduring attributes and its inherent reliability.

What gives each REAch2 Academy its uniqueness are the touchstones of the Trust: seven principles which make our Academies distinctive. Just as 500 years ago touchstones were used to test the quality of the gold they marked, so too our touchstones find what is precious and set these things apart. They are used to express the values and ethos of the Trust and describe what the Trust wants to be known for and how it wishes to operate. The touchstones are:

- Learning: children and adults will flourish in their learning and through learning discover a future that is worth pursuing;

- Leadership: we aspire to an unwavering emphasis on the highest quality of leadership at all levels. The Trust seeks out talent, develops potential and spots the “possible” in people as well as the “actual”.

- Enjoyment: children deserve enjoyment in their learning and the pleasure that comes from absorption in a task and achieving their goals. Providing contexts for learning which are relevant, motivating and engaging will release in children their natural curiosity, fun and determination.

- Inspiration: inspiration breathes energy and intent into our schools: through influential experiences of people and place, children are compelled to believe that no mountain is too high and that nothing is impossible.

- Inclusion: we celebrate the economic, social and religious differences that serving a range of communities across the country brings and we encourage diversity. Embracing inclusion, particularly those children with special education needs, ensures that the Trust serves all and believes everyone can and must succeed.

- Responsibility: we take accountability seriously and by being responsible for every child, we act judiciously with control and care. We don’t make excuses, but mindfully answer for actions and continually seek to make improvements.

- Integrity: we are a trust that has a strong moral purpose. As a Trust we recognise that we lead by example and if we want children to grow up behaving appropriately and with integrity then we must model this behaviour. We welcome the fact that all our decisions and actions are open to scrutiny.

You can learn more about the touchstones, and hear from staff and pupils across REAch2 schools, at our website: www.reach2.org Job Description

Job title: Finance and Administration Officer

Salary: Scale 5/Scale 6/SO1 dependent on experience £19,683-£24,314 term time only (FTE £22,506-£27,801)

Staff managed: None

Job purpose and context The Finance and Administration Officer is a member of the school support staff and is responsible for making sure that the efficient and effective organisation and administration of school processes, procedures and policies delivers the best possible service to all stakeholders. The role is likely to grow as the school does and could allow progression opportunities for the right person.

The Finance and Administration Officer is often a first point of contact and is, therefore, expected to demonstrate exemplary customer service to both internal and external customers and be able to resolve problems and complaints in a sensitive manner.

Roles and responsibilities 1. To help, support (where appropriate) other school staff to do their jobs efficiently and effectively.

2. To provide an effective and efficient customer service through communication, the provision of services and dealing with and resolving enquiries, problems and complaints.

3. To coordinate school administration and organisational services.

4. To design, create and print out complex documents using a computer.

5. To design, create, produce and print out presentations, learning materials, newsletters and so forth for the use of the school, using a computer.

6. To contribute to the organisation and arrangement of events – which may include (but not exclusively) training courses, meetings of the governors, school assemblies, festivals and concerts – by arranging venues, organising resources, arranging attendance and coordinating the contributions of other school staff. 7. To use computerised management information systems and/or paper based filing systems to enter record and retrieve data, supply information in response to requests and make returns required by a variety of different sources. (Examples might be, the use of Tucasi cashless payment system and the Integris package used for attendance).

8. To use, maintain and develop school databases and Corero Financial Management Systems to retrieve, enter, extract and output information.

9. To use HCSS and spreadsheet software in sophisticated applications to retrieve and enter data, create and update files and produce and output spreadsheets and to support the accounting and budgeting needs of the school and the council.

10. To operate the computerised personnel, payroll and financial information systems of the school for financial monitoring, data processing, making and authorising payments, allocating cost codes, viring money, and maintaining the accuracy of the payroll.

11. To assist the Headteacher in the development, setting, monitoring and reporting on the school budget, and in the day-to-day management of the budget.

12. Check and distribute stock deliveries as they arrive and deal with any discrepancies.

13. To gather and record financial data, monitor and submit records and claims and make, submit and reconcile claims.

14. To receive, record, and process incoming payments using the relevant financial systems of the Trust and the school.

15. To collect debts and payments due by monitoring records, making requests, following up and taking action on responses and identifying, investigating and resolving arrears.

16. To process documents relating to goods and services ordered and received, to make and record payments and prepare and authorise payments.

17. To record the school’s inventory and the school’s procurement systems and procedures.

18. To administer the school’s banking arrangements, including cash flow, bank reconciliation, year-end reconciliation and so forth 19. To find, locate, select, analyse and prepare information to support school accountability and decision making including attending the governors’ finance meeting and providing financial analysis and commentary as needed.

20. Work under the guidance of the regional business manager to prepare for audit and key finance tasks such as Census, budget preparation and maximizing income.

21. Provide ad hoc financial reports for Headteacher and Trust in relation to expenditure made, committed amounts and staff related costs as needed.

22. To work in accordance with the values, culture, ethos, equalities and inclusion policies of the school proactively promoting anti-racist, anti-sexist and anti-discriminatory behaviours in the day-to-day operation of the job.

23. To take appropriate action to monitor and maintain a healthy, safe, secure, efficient and effective working environment. 24. Work within Academy’s HR policies and follow REAch2 procedures. 25. Manage the Recruitment process writing Adverts, updating Job Descriptions and ensuring all recruitment checks are carried out prior to interview and references are received. Assist with shortlisting and interviewing as required. Send out offer letters and arrange for contracts to be raised. 26. Ensure all Pre-employment checks are carried out and Personal Files are updated with the correct documentation. 27. Record all DBS checks on a Single Central Record which is in line with Ofsted requirements. Keep SCR up to date in line with Safeguarding legislation and Trust requirements. 28. Complete Starter and Leaver forms and Variations to Contract letters or forms. 29. Inform Payroll of any contract changes and pay increases. 30. Enter any contract and salary changes on HCSS and the Management Information System. 31. Complete all Pension documentation for Teachers Pensions and LGPS. Upload Monthly Teachers Pensions payslip. Complete any necessary end of year returns. 32. Complete all HR paperwork, for example, changes of contracts and salary changes and notify Payroll. 33. Approve all Overtime, unpaid leave, expenses claim before authorisation by the Head Teacher. 34. Notify Payroll of any pay increases and pension contribution rate changes. 35. Produce a Staff Monthly Profile Listing from HCSS. 36. Check draft and final Payroll reports using Staff Monthly Profile Listing. 37. Produce Payroll Journals for entry on the school financial package (i.e. Corero). 38. To complete school based induction and any subsequent training, for example, proficiency in the Corero financial package and HCSS, required to improve performance. 39. To complete all relevant qualifications for the role and undertake further qualifications as required by the school or Trust. 40. To take part in the school performance management system. 41. To support the school and staff by covering midday supervision, school bus journey and other school day cover as required 42. To manage the admissions process and student and staff data on a day to day basis. 43. To assume key office based responsibilities in relation to health and safety, including fire marshall officer, administration of paediatric and first aid as required, and general safeguarding requirements.

Notes:

1. The Trust and the school expects its employees to work flexibly within the framework of the duties and responsibilities specified above. This means that the postholder may be expected to carry out work that it not specified in the job profile but which is within the remit of the duties and responsibilities.

2. School based staff work subject to statute and many policies and procedures. The postholder will be expected to become familiar with these and work in accordance with them.

3. This is a new job profile for a new post. It will be subject to review with the postholder after one year and may then be reviewed from time to time. Person Specification

Essential Desirable Assessed by Skills and abilities Ability to organise one’s own work, to Application & prioritise tasks and keep to deadlines  interview Ability to work professionally with other team Application & members and manage the work of the team  interview Ability to be flexible and respond effectively to  Application & the ‘unexpected’ interview Ability to communicate and interact effectively Application & and accurately with adults and children and  interview young people Awareness of sensitive information and the  Interview need for confidentiality Ability to maintain accurate financial records  Interview Ability to coordinate administrative services  Application & interview Displays commitment to the protection and  Application & safeguarding of children and young people interview Proficiency and skill with computer systems  Application & and packages, such as Microsoft Office. interview Knowledge An understanding of health, safety and  Interview security issues in schools An understanding of office systems,  Application & procedures and policies interview An understanding of financial practice and  Application & procedures interview Has up-to-date knowledge of relevant  Application & legislation and guidance in relation to working interview with, and the protection of, children and young people Qualifications and experience ICT certification or qualification to support  Application & word processing skills, database and interview spreadsheet skills GCSE at level A – C in English and  Application & mathematics (or equivalent) interview NVQ Level III in finance or accountancy or  Application equivalent (part) qualification in administration or organisation (AAT, CSBM, ACCA, CIMA) Relevant experience in finance,  Application & administration and organisation interview Previous experience in computerised pay, personnel, finance and administrative  Application systems Experience of working in a school finance  Application & environment interview Experience in the Integris or other  Application computerised package used in schools Willingness and motivation to develop own Application & skills and proficiency  interview