THE COMPANY

A highly respected Higher Education Performing Arts Conservatoire based in North London seeks to recruit an experienced, qualified accountant.
The organisation prides itself on fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment where people enjoy working and contributing to the success of the business. You’ll be working closely with a passionate Managing Director who values teamwork and encourages initiative. Based in smart professional offices this is an office-based job.

THE ROLE

As Financial Controller, you will play a crucial role in financial operations. Your responsibilities will include preparing termly management accounts, creating and managing complex Excel spreadsheets, and providing detailed financial reports to the Senior Management Group. You will handle cash funding requirements and variance explanations and engage in forecasting for the group office. Additionally, you will prepare quarterly VAT returns, manage day-to-day office duties, and collaborate with the full-time Accounts Assistant on pay runs. You will also use Xero, supported by Dext for purchase invoice processing & ApprovalMax for invoice approval, and supervise the yearly audit with the auditors.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Oversee Data Entry

• Managing all day to day accounting operations, including accounts payable and receivable
• Managing student accounts including raising annual tuition fee invoices and amending accounts in line with scholarships
• Reconciling the Finance Fees List to LSC’s accounting software (currently Xero)
• Posting of supplier invoices via online bookkeeping software (currently Dext) / automated approval workflows (currently ApprovalMax)
• Posting of petty cash / credit cards / Paypal to Xero
• Preparing monthly Payroll template & submit to payroll bureau, reconcile summary returned to template
• Posting of monthly payroll to Xero
• Reviewing & overseeing payment runs

Managing Cash Flow

• Monitoring Cashflow and liaising with bankers
• Monitoring LSC Credit Card usage / balances

Financial Operations

• Managing the Accounts Assistant
• Ensuring all financial processes are running smoothly

Financial Management

• Analysing and preparing financial statements
• Preparing annual budgets and forecasts
• Distributing budget information to relevant department heads and monitoring expenditure vs budget
• Preparing termly management accounts
• Developing strategies to improve profitability and cash flow
• Managing the annual audit, being the main point of contact throughout
• Preparing & submitting Office for Students’ Annual Financial Return/s, and liaising with Office for Students as required
• Conducting first approval of invoices
• Monitoring Approval process and set up on ApprovalMax as required
• Reconciling accounts as necessary
• Preparing schedule of proposed financial increases for the next academic year

Student Support

• Assisting students who are in financial difficulty
• Contributing to the Widening Access and Financial Support Team with recommendations of students at financial risk
• Liaising with Student Records Manager regarding students issues, such as change of student status (interrupting / withdrawing / returning) or Student Finance issues

Human Resources

• Managing and distributing staff annual pay increase process
• Assisting in the Recruitment process for Administration staff if requested
• Managing the preparation of contracts for new employees/self-employed agreements, updating in line with legislation as required
• Managing HR portal and HR database including its integration to Payroll

Administration

• Being a member and actively contribute to a range of meetings, including but not limited to; Finance Committee, Student Debt Review Team, Widening Access and Financial Support Team and Human Resources Committee
• Chairing the Student Debt Review Team
• Contributing to these meetings regularly by providing updated documentation and agenda items
• Maintaining good management of all records and correspondence, filing and archiving as required
• Maintaining and updating relevant information on the website and LSC’s virtual learning environment throughout the year in line with changes agreed and CMA requirements.

THE ROLE

• Normally 8.45am-4.45pm, Monday to Friday (8 hours a day including 1 hour paid lunch break)
• Full time, permanent following successful probation
• Based on site in Performing Arts Centre North Finchley
• Available immediately