Finance Officer

Leigh Academies Trust has a great opportunity to appoint a Finance Officer to join our team as soon as possible. The role will be spread across 2 of our academies, Ebbsfleet Academy and Cherry Orchard Primary Academy, but the successful candidate will be based at Cherry Orchard Primary Academy.

The main responsibilities of this role are as follows;

• Process purchase orders, delivery notes and manage invoice and payment according to Trust policy.


• Process sales ledger transactions


• Reconcile corporate card and post into the account system as per Trust policy.


• Reconcile and post all direct debit payments and complete bank reconciliation.


The Finance Officer will operate and support a comprehensive financial support service to the Principals, Governors and staff of the academies as well as other duties as requested by the Principals and Finance Managers of the Trust. They will have to raise and process purchase orders, delivery notes, and manage invoices and payments according to Trust Policies.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join an established finance team. Please note that this is a busy position; our successful candidate will need to be able to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, the ability to prioritise, excellent attention to detail and accuracy in work. Experience working in the education sector is highly advantageous.

The basis of this role is permanent and offers an actual salary of £24,421 per annum (£27,007 full time equivalent) based on 37 hours per week, term time + 3 weeks inset.

Interviews will be taking place week commencing Monday the 3rd of June.

Being part of Leigh Academies Trust: As of 1st April 2024, our Trust comprises 32 geographically organised academies (16 secondaries, 14 primaries and 2 special) educating more than 20,000 students and employing 3,000 talented staff. Nearly 40% of our academies are judged outstanding overall by Ofsted, versus 15% nationally. The Trust is establishing four 'clusters' of academies: North Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. In addition, the Trust is responsible for one of the region's biggest initial teaching training organisations, a large teaching school hub and is an accredited apprenticeship provider.

Our future plans are found in our Vision 2030 document available on our website.

As part of Leigh Academies Trust, you will have ample opportunity to collaborate with your peers both within the academy and across the whole Trust. This is an important part of our vision as we know through experience that we perform better when we work together. You are supported to undertake regular self-development to continue your professional development and hopefully progress further within the organisation.

Click here to view the benefits available to all LAT employees from day one.

Our commitment to safeguarding: Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates - you can read more about this in our Recruitment Guidance. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

Our commitment to equality and diversity: As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role regardless of any protected characteristics which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices and not discriminating on any grounds.

Based on the quality and quantity of applications received, Leigh Academies Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy sooner than the specified closing date. Applicants will be notified of this where possible. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join an established finance team. Please note that this is a busy position; our successful candidate will need to be able to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, the ability to prioritise, excellent attention to detail and accuracy in work. Experience working in the education sector is highly advantageous.

Being part of Leigh Academies Trust: As of 1st April 2024, our Trust comprises 32 geographically organised academies (16 secondaries, 14 primaries and 2 special) educating more than 20,000 students and employing 3,000 talented staff. Nearly 40% of our academies are judged outstanding overall by Ofsted, versus 15% nationally. The Trust is establishing four 'clusters' of academies: North Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. In addition, the Trust is responsible for one of the region's biggest initial teaching training organisations, a large teaching school hub and is an accredited apprenticeship provider.

Our future plans are found in our Vision 2030 document available on our website.

As part of Leigh Academies Trust, you will have ample opportunity to collaborate with your peers both within the academy and across the whole Trust. This is an important part of our vision as we know through experience that we perform better when we work together. You are supported to undertake regular self-development to continue your professional development and hopefully progress further within the organisation., Our commitment to safeguarding: Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates - you can read more about this in our Recruitment Guidance. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

Our commitment to equality and diversity: As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role regardless of any protected characteristics which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices and not discriminating on any grounds.

Based on the quality and quantity of applications received, Leigh Academies Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy sooner than the specified closing date. Applicants will be notified of this where possible. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.

The basis of this role is permanent and offers an actual salary of £24,421 per annum (£27,007 full time equivalent) based on 37 hours per week, term time + 3 weeks inset.