Finance and Operations Officer

Ideal role for a company accountant / bookkeeper (must be at least AAT qualified) to manage the day-to-day accounts, as well as to contribute to the wider operations of this highly successful education provider that runs schools and teacher training using the Montessori approach.

Specifically, as Finance and Operations Officer, reporting to the Head of Finance and Administration (HoFA), your remit will include:

• accounts receivable/payable, credit control, reconciliations, and audit preparation;
• providing financial and operational support to staff throughout the organisation;
• supporting HoFA to prepare and deliver accurate and regular management accounts, budgets and forecasts, one-off finance reports, and grant reporting;
• overseeing facilities management, ensuring the maintenance and security of all buildings;
• working with School and Training Centre staff to carry out risk assessments where appropriate and monitor all sites to ensure that they are carried out and comply with risk assessments; and
• overseeing Early Years Funding (EYF) for all school sites.

Key requirements include:

• AAT qualified or working towards a recognised accounting qualification (e.g. ACCA, CIMA)
• strong numeracy skills and confidence handling financial information, with experience of bookkeeping or finance systems (e.g., Sage 50) or a willingness to learn
• an understanding of facilities, health and safety, and data protection.

Equally important will be your excellent organisational skills; your initiative; a hands-on approach and a proven track record of seeing projects through to completion. Good oral and written communication skills are also key.

Experience within a school and / or not-for-profit organisation is desirable, albeit not essential. Experience with grant management processes would also be highly desirable. 

The Maria Montessori Institute offers a generous starting salary plus excellent benefits, including CPD opportunities, pension contribution, life assurance, 32 days' holiday plus bank holidays, lunch onsite during term time, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

To apply, please email your CV and supporting statement (to be a maximum of 2 pages) to Jonathan McIntyre, Managing Director at CJA Group by clicking apply.

Your supporting statement is a vital part of the application process: applications submitted without a supporting statement will not be considered.

Closing date: midnight on Sunday 7th September 2025.

MMI is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Statutory checks including a satisfactory DBS certificate and references will be a requirement for this role. This role is classed as regulated activity with children and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, 1974