Financial and Systems Accountant

Reports to: Head of Finance Systems

Location: Currently operating hybrid working in our West London Office

Contract: Permanent

Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm)

Closing date: 22/07/2024 at 10am

1^st round interviews (virtual): w/c 22/07/2024

2^nd round interviews (in person): w/c 05/08/2024

Salary: £42,000 to £52,000 (depending on experience and qualifications)

About the role:

We are seeking a Financial and Systems Accountant to join our team. This role is pivotal in ensuring financial accuracy and efficiency across our organisation. Responsibilities include financial accounting, systems management, and other critical tasks.

If you are meticulous, analytical, and enthusiastic about financial processes and systems, this position presents an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on Ark’s success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform monthly balance sheet and control account reconciliations as directed
• Support the Head of Finance Systems and the other members of the Systems team to maintain all finance systems
• Assist the Head of Finance Systems in reviewing and implementing improvements, including research, testing, installation and training
• Provide timely helpdesk support for finance system queries inside our SLA
• Design and implement reports using tools like SmartView and PowerBI (PowerBI experience desirable)
• Work closely with IT, Data and other teams on the development of future interfaces
• Assist in preparing year-end statutory accounts and external audit (Charities SORP, Companies Act and UK GAAP)

Key Requirements:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Desirable: CCAB Professional accountancy qualification (part-qualified is essential)
• Record of Continuing Professional Development activities
• Strong interest in finance and data systems
• Experience navigating challenges in a large multi-site organisation with some devolved financial functions
• Proficiency in managing complex multi-site projects involving numerous stakeholders
• Highly skilled in the use of accounting, purchase order, invoicing and expense systems
• Experience with PS Financials and Concur is desirable
• Advanced level IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. PowerBI experience is desirable
• Effective communicator with the ability to engage non-financial staff and senior colleagues
• Meticulous attention to detail and ability to meet strict deadlines
• Right to work in the UK

View the full job description and person specification here

About Ark

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 30,000 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

You’ll be joining a group of like-minded, ambitious individuals who work collaboratively and are all committed to our core mission, that every child has the potential to succeed. Having just celebrated our 20^th anniversary, we are shaping our goals for the next 20 and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Hybrid working, with currently two days a week in our state-of-the-art office in West London working alongside colleagues
• Regular social events, monthly free breakfast, and daily fruit
• A flexible approach to working with understanding and consideration for work life balance and personal commitments
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and cover letter on our online recruitment portal. Applications to be submitted by Monday 22^nd July 2024 at 10am but please note: we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.

This ATS application form should take no longer 20 minutes to complete. At any time, you can pause, save, and log back in. If you have any difficulty with meeting the deadline for application, please contact recruitment@arkonline.org

Interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.  

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link. 

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.