The Early Years Alliance is the largest and most representative early years membership organisation in England.
A registered educational charity, we represent the interests of early years providers across the country, providing guidance, information and training to a network of over 28,000 members and supporters.
The Alliance is also proud to provide high-quality affordable childcare and education throughout the country, working in partnership with families and communities to create inclusive settings where children feel safe, supported, and inspired to explore the world around them. We are looking to recruit a Finance Officer to maintain accurate and timely financial records using the Alliance’s finance software to support the charity’s managers and project leads.
The post is hybrid working, where the post holder will work part of the working week at home/ remote and the other part of the working week at our Head Office.
Benefits:
- 26 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, pro rata for part-time employees
- Enhanced sickness pay
- Employer and employee contribution pension scheme
- Birthday leave so you can have a day off for your birthday dedicated to you and your well being
- Enhanced sickness pay and paid bereavement leave
- Regular access to internal and external learning and development opportunities
- A Recruitment Referral Payment Scheme, giving you an introductory payment of up to £300 if someone you have referred to the Alliance takes up a role in the charity.
- Access to our Employee Assistant Programme (EAP), which includes 24/7 helpline access, dedicated managers helpline, confidential counselling sessions delivered by accredited specialists, legal, debt and life management advice, discounts, and wellbeing content plus resources.
- A dedicated mental health First Aider to support your mental well being
Main duties:
- To maintain accurate financial records using the Alliance’s finance software to support the charity’s managers and project leads.
- Maintain a clear audit trail for all transactions and ensure adherence to company financial controls and approval procedures.
- To process purchase invoices and staff/volunteer expense claims in the accounts payable module of the finance software:
- Upload invoices and staff expense claims into the electronic approval workflow system (Sage Intacct) and ensure invoices are coded accurately to the correct nominal ledger accounts, cost centres and projects.
- Monitor and chase budget holders to ensure timely electronic authorisation.
- Ensure all invoices and expense claims are approved in line with delegated authority limits.
- Resolve invoice discrepancies and queries with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
- Verify general ledger coding, VAT treatment, and authorisation in line with charity policy.
- Verify supplier bank details in line with fraud prevention procedures.
- To assist with month-end close, including accruals and prepayments.
- To administer accounts receivable and credit control for the Payslip Services project:
- Raise sales invoices for the Payslip Service project as advised by the project lead.
- Ensure timely chasing of outstanding debts and inform the project leads of any doubtful debts on a timely basis.
- To carry out bank and cash management for the Payslip Service and Direct Payments bank accounts:
- Perform timely and accurate bank reconciliations.
- Investigate and resolve discrepancies, ensuring all reconciling items are cleared promptly. Monitor daily bank balances and transactions to ensure sufficient funds are available to meet business development cash-flow needs.
- To collate and record procurement card transactions from card holders against the relevant budgets monthly.
- To prepare the authorised Bankline bulk list for Direct Payments employee salaries and employer HMRC payments fortnightly as timetabled.
- To liaise with Finance colleagues, Nursery Managers and Project Managers, to ensure financial information is accurate and reflects the activity of the project.
- Comply with the Alliance policies and procedures at all times, including those relating to anti corroboration and bribery, data protection, financial, health and safety, probation, safeguarding, signing powers for contracts and agreements, supervision and whistleblowing. This is not an exhaustive list.
Essential criteria:
- To produce both verbal and written reports as directed.
- To attend virtual and in person meetings as directed including working from the National centre office as required.
- Provide cover for absence in other finance functions as necessary
- To attend in-service training as directed.
- To carry out such tasks and duties as may reasonably be required.
Hours per week: 35
Weeks per year: 52
Virtual interview date: TBC
Please note our virtual interviews take place via Microsoft Teams, you may need to download this prior to your interview.