Job Description ACCOUNTS.Indd
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PITTVILLE CIRCUS, CHELTENHAM PITTVILLE CIRCUS, CHELTENHAM APPOINTMENT OF ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT JANUARY 2020 THE SCHOOL AND DAY NURSERY Berkhampstead School is a leading independent preparatory day school and day nursery with 400 boys and girls aged between 3 months and 11 years. The School was founded in 1945 by Edna Andrews as a ‘happy and nurturing place’. Seventy years on, the school has changed beyond recognition, but ‘happy’ and ‘nurturing’ remain key to the school’s appeal and success. Children are happy at Berkhampstead. It is a close-knit community small enough for the staff to know each individual child’s strengths, needs and idiosyncrasies but large enough to offer a wide range of opportunity. A well-rounded education nurtures each pupil. Independent thinking and individuality are actively encouraged and our children are engaged, involved and listened to; young characters are given the confidence to blossom both inside and outside the classroom. Berkhampstead is a special place. It is a caring and safe community. It is a school that ensures children receive the best start possible. But Berkhampstead is so much more than that. The ‘Berky family’ is a bustling, busy hub of friendship, creativity and excitement that children are keen to return to day after day. Berkhampstead’s rich and varied curriculum blends academic rigour with plenty of musical and artistic creativity and sporting endeavours. With small classes and happy, motivated children, our results are eye- catching. Our Prep children (7 to 11 years old) use a dedicated and purpose-built science lab, music room, art room and cookery space. The use of specialist teachers in all subjects ensures that pupils are taught by professionals who enthuse and inspire within their individual areas of expertise. Pupils move from classroom to classroom during the day - an important opportunity to learn crucial organisational skills and to make the transition to secondary schools as smooth as possible. Berkhampstead’s school motto is ‘Perseverantia Vincit’. We believe the principle of ‘perseverance vanquishes’ is pivotal. Our children are encouraged to take risks, learn from mistakes but ultimately to keep trying to improve skills and conquer difficulties. The school’s house system encourages loyalty and a sense of competition. Our Berkhampstead School Platinum Award (similar to the Duke of Edinburgh Award) promotes teamwork, resilience and emotional intelligence to our Upper Prep pupils. ‘Perseverantia Vincit’ and the Berkhampstead ‘can-do’ attitude remain touchstones of day-to-day life of our school. From Year 3 all our pupils play in competitive sports fixtures. We are delighted to use the picturesque and historic Victoria Cricket Ground (home to Cheltenham Cricket Club) as our base for boys’ and girls’ cricket. Our all-weather Multi-use Games Area provides an on-site location for PE, games and sport allowing children to access tennis and netball courts along with hockey, lacrosse and basketball facilities. Berkhampstead Day Nursery was opened in 2011 and has gone from strength to strength. It currently cares for over 135 children each week and over the last 8 years nearly 100 children have successfully transferred to the School from the Day Nursery. THE ROLE The post of the Accounts Assistant supports the Bursar in the delivery of the School and Day Nursery’s strategic and operational plans. This is a key post in the support team. The position will be responsible for the preparation of management and financial accounts, maintenance of accounting and fees records, statutory reporting and payroll for the School. The ideal candidate should have a relevant accounting qualification, for example AAT, ACCA or CIMA (full or part qualified), and experience within an educational setting. He/she will be working within the Accounts team comprising one full-time Accounts Assistant and one part-time Assistant. He/she is required to support the aims, values and ethos of the School and should maintain a professional appearance and manner in the performance of his/her duties. An ability to maintain confidentiality is essential. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES TO SUPPORT THE BURSAR BY: • Preparing the termly invoices and being responsible for the prompt collection of fees including regular debtor analysis to the Bursar. • Process supplier payments and staff expenses reimbursements, initiating BACS payments. • Undertaking routine administration including: record-keeping; archive control; filing, ordering cheques and invoices. • Where necessary, assist with the preparation of the two monthly payrolls for around 100 staff, including information required by HMRC, Pension and NI Contributions. • Liaising with parents on relevant financial matters (e.g. fees). • Undertaking any other tasks which may be required from time-to-time by the Bursar. These key tasks are not intended to be exhaustive, but they highlight a number of major tasks that the post-holder may be reasonably expected to undertake. Essential skills include financial acumen, good interpersonal, written and oral communication abilities. The Bursary currently uses West Country Business Systems (WCBS) PASS as its Management Information System but is planning to introduce iFinance (AccountsIQ) as the Finance Information System that will integrate with iSAMS to manage the sales (invoice production and debtor control) aspects. Any understanding or experience in delivering a new finance information system would be extremely valuable. THE PERSON We are looking to recruit an efficient Accounts Assistant, qualified to at least AAT or with relevant experience, who would be a quick learner and be able to work on their own initiative once settled into the role. Excellent Excel skills and competency with other MS Office packages together with an exceptional attention to detail and accuracy with numeric data are essential. They will be highly organised and have good interpersonal and communication skills. The ability to get on with a wide variety of people and a good sense of humour will also be needed as will a good telephone manner and the ability to prioritise tasks and plan ahead. SUMMARY PERSON SPECIFICATION • Unquestionable integrity. • Good Excel skills and competency with other MS Office packages. • Highly organised, ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure. • Excellent planning and organisational skills; the ability to prioritise. • Good interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate confidently, intelligently and effectively both verbally and in writing with a variety of stakeholders. • Efficient, supportive and helpful. • High standards of performance, and personal presentation; takes pride in own work. • A team player with an enthusiastic, positive attitude and a good sense of humour. • Ability to deal with sensitive information with the utmost discretion and to maintain confidentiality at all times. TERMS AND CONDITIONS The School operating hours are 8.30 am to 5.30 pm during term time (34 weeks per year) and the Day Nursery operates from 8.00am to 6.00pm for 51 weeks of the year. It is envisaged that 25.00 to 30.00 hours per week would be sufficient to cover the core aspects of the role with the busy periods being at the end of each term, the end of each month and the period running up to the annual audit. Holiday entitlement would be based on the statutory minimum of 5.6 weeks per year Start date: As soon as can be agreed. The annual salary will be competitive and according to qualifications and experience. Salaries are inclusive of holiday pay; and are paid monthly. The first six months of employment will be a probationary period. During this period, performance and conduct will be monitored. The School may extend the probationary period at its discretion. In the probationary period, the notice required to terminate the employment will be one month, increasing to 3 months by either side on the successful completion of the probationary period. The Accounts Assistant will be auto-enrolled into the School’s defined contribution pension scheme. Terms and conditions will be discussed at interview, in conjunction with salary payable. All staff are expected to be in sympathy with and supportive of the ethos of the School. They are expected to be committed to the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children and young people. HOW TO APPLY - THE PROCESS The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All applicants must be prepared to undergo appropriate child protection screening, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and medical clearance. Berkhampstead School is an equal opportunities employer. References will be required and any relevant issues arising from such will be taken up at interview or a suitable point during the process. Please complete the Application Form in full (CVs cannot be accepted), which is available from the school Website, with a covering letter and send by: Email to: [email protected] Post to: Mr Ben Edwards, Bursar, Berkhampstead School, Pittville Circus Road, Cheltenham, Glos. GL52 2QA The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 28th February 2020. Interviews will be held the week commencing Monday 2nd March 2020. Candidates who have a disability or any other special requirements should let the School know if there are any reasonable adjustments they would like the School to make as part of this recruitment process. (Please note that whilst an interview is to be used as the primary feature of the selection process, if invited for interview you will be advised as to whether any additional selection methods will be required to supplement the interview. These may include skills tests. Whatever methods are chosen, the panel will use these to assess the merits of each candidate against the job and person specification). .