Passionate Finance Officer

The Downs School, Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 6AD

5 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026

• Closing date

  31 August 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  26 August 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £28,142.00 - £32,061.00 Annually (FTE) Actual Salary FTE £16,611 (part-time, term time only).

Passionate Finance Officer job summary

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong financial administration skills who enjoys working in a varied role, supporting the effective financial management of our schools and helping to ensure the smooth delivery of trips, events, fundraising and day-to-day finance operations.

The successful candidate will be highly organised, accurate and proactive, with excellent communication skills and a commitment to delivering a high-quality service to staff, students and parents.

The successful candidate will:

• process and maintain accurate financial transactions within Access Finance, including journals, income, expenditure and banking, ensuring correct coding and robust audit trails
• reconcile multiple income streams, bank accounts and financial records, supporting monthly and year-end processes to ensure accuracy and compliance
• support the Finance Manager with financial reporting, process improvements, compliance with financial regulations and the delivery of ad hoc finance projects
• hold AAT level 4 or equivalent accountancy qualification
• administer charity, fundraising, Gift Aid and bursary transactions, ensuring funds are accurately recorded, processed and reported
• manage the financial administration of school trips, visits and events, including budgeting, payments, refunds, reconciliations and financial reporting
• process exam-related income, payments and refunds, maintaining accurate records and supporting financial reporting requirements
• provide excellent customer service by responding to finance-related enquiries from parents, staff and students, resolving issues efficiently and professionally
• be flexible, confident and friendly individual who can build strong relationships across the Trust

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• Caring Environment: Our positive ethos prioritises staff well-being and recognition
• Empowerment: Work alongside ambitious, dedicated colleagues who are committed to developing the whole child
• Exceptional Students: Engage with children who love being at school, exhibit exceptional behaviour and have a strong attitude towards their learning
• Professional Environment: Join a stimulating and collaborative workplace in a school Ofsted labelled as ‘exceptional’ in October 2024
• Professional Growth: Access extraordinary professional development and support to enhance your skills
• Flexible Work Options: We value work balance through the availability of flexible working, our ‘Time for you Tuesdays’, commuted INSETs and Employee Assistance Programme

About Us - The Downs School and Sixth Form is a successful, oversubscribed, and highly regarded secondary school located in the beautiful Downs area of West Berkshire. Praised in our recent Ofsted for the exceptional behaviour of our students, we are judged by ALPS to be red hot, reflecting our commitment to high-quality teaching, learning, and student outcomes.

Application Details - We encourage early applications, as we reserve the right to close this vacancy if sufficient applications are received. We welcome pre-arranged visits to the school. For more information, please contact recruitment@thedownsschool.org,

Closing date: 31 August 2026, 8am

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

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.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About The Downs School

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• Size: Up to 1307 pupils
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: The Downs School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-downs-school-newbury

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