Senior Finance Officer
£32,000 per annum | Southend on Sea
FTC up to 4 months | 37.5 hours per week
We are seeking a highly organised and detail driven Senior Finance Officer to support the finance function and ensure accurate, timely and compliant financial operations. You will play a key role in financial reporting, governance and contract management while working closely with Directors, the Management Accountant and wider teams
About the Role
You will support the delivery of robust financial reporting, strong governance, and efficient financial processes across the organisation. The role also includes being the main point of contact for private client contracts and ensuring all financial documentation and checks are completed to a high standard.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Operations & Governance
- Oversee all operational finance functions including accounts payable, receivable and corporate accounts
- Ensure compliance with statutory, legal and best practice financial regulations
- Support in monitoring and continually improving financial systems, policies and procedures
- Assist in the annual external audit
Debtors & Income Management
- Raise all debtor invoices and manage timely escalation of overdue accounts
- Develop and maintain a clear debtor process including letters, templates and tracking
- Lead on debt recovery, reporting monthly updates to SMT and Board
Contracts, Suppliers & Assets
- Maintain supplier, contract and asset registers, ensuring regular reviews and value for money
- Lead on private client contract arrangements including financial checks and meeting families/carers
- Work closely with Operations teams to ensure correct funding and authorisations
Finance Support & Compliance
- Support service managers with finance related queries (invoices, petty cash, credit cards, banking)
- Manage company bank accounts and financial authorisation systems
- Administer salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to Work, Affordable Tech)
- Ensure internal audit requirements are met and escalate irregularities
- Maintain Head Office petty cash and reconcile regularly
Additional Duties
- Authorise weekly mileage/expenses uploads
- Respond to VAT coding queries
- Lead on the death in service finance process with HR
- Work within all relevant policies including Health & Safety, GDPR and Equal Opportunities
Person Specification
Essential
- GCSE English & Maths (Grade C/4 or above)
- Experience working in a busy finance environment
- Strong numerical accuracy and attention to detail
- Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
- Confident using MS Office, especially Excel
- Experience working to deadlines and managing multiple priorities
- Self motivated, proactive and able to work independently
- Strong administrative and IT skills
- Finance department experience
- Report writing ability
Desirable
- Part or fully qualified with an accounting body
- Mail merge experience
Additional Requirements
- This role requires a DBS check
- Confidentiality must be always upheld in line with GDPR
- You may be asked to undertake other duties appropriate to the role
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you are a motivated finance professional with a proactive mindset and strong attention to detail, then we would love to hear from you. Please send your CV to [email protected] or [email protected]
