Location: Manchester
Salary: £7.55 per hour
Apprenticeship: Business Administrator Level 3

Join the Central Services Team at Wise Owl Trust as a Finance Assistant, where you’ll gain hands-on experience in school finance while working toward developing your career. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone interested in starting or advancing their journey in finance, especially within an educational setting.

You'll support the finance operations across five primary schools and help ensure compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook. This permanent, full-time role is ideal for a proactive, detail-oriented individual with strong organisational and communication skills.

Responsibilities:
Process school orders and invoices across all Trust schools

Liaise with suppliers and provide updates to staff

Manage weekly deadlines for supplier payments

Support staff with purchasing queries and credit control

Assist with the year-end finance process

General admin duties (answering calls, taking messages, etc.)

Input accurate data and help with ad-hoc tasks as needed

Participate in training, development, and team collaboration

Ideal Candidate:
Essential:
GCSEs (Grade C or above) in English and Maths
Confident MS Office skills (Excel, Outlook, Teams)
Organised, accurate, and detail-oriented
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Willingness to learn Access Software and grow in finance
Honest, dependable, and self-motivated
Able to work independently and in a team
Positive attitude with a passion for education finance

Desirable:
Intermediate/advanced MS Excel skills
Evidence of continuous self-development
Interest in a long-term finance career

What We Offer:
Permanent role with full training and CPD support

On-the-job experience in a dynamic school trust setting

Supportive team environment

Career growth in finance and education

A chance to make a difference behind the scenes in schools

Inclusive and flexible workplace culture