Finance Officer
Thank you for your interest in working at George Mitchell School. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about our unique school and to highlight the significance of this important appointment. You are applying to join a staff team that are committed to providing the best opportunities for all students. The school is extremely ambitious and continually improving in all aspects. Therefore, I am looking for exceptional people with energy and drive to join us in this work. You will notice our school ethos and PRIDE values, which embodies the standard of the school we aspire to be.
About you
The school is looking to appoint a proactive and highly organised Finance Officer to work alongside our School Business Leader as part of our supportive, close-knit back-office team. Qualified or working towards a professional accounting qualification (AAT, ACCA, CIMA, ACA), the ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of financial policies and procedures in a school environment. You should possess a solid understanding of bookkeeping and management accounting, with experience in financial controls and budget monitoring. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel is essential for this role, as is a strong attention to detail, excellent organisational abilities, and the capacity to work well both independently and as part of a team.
About the role
As Finance Officer, you will take on key responsibilities in managing both the purchase ledger and nominal ledger. This will include processing invoices, making payments, maintaining accurate accounts and posting journals in line with financial procedures.
You will also provide essential financial and administrative support across various school departments, helping to ensure that financial operations are efficient, compliant, and effectively managed.
We look forward to the successful candidate working with our colleagues, providing an outstanding service and support.
The successful candidate for this post would start on 27th April, 2026.
Why work at George Mitchell?
George Mitchell is within walking distance from Leyton underground and Leyton Midland station, and has onsite parking. We also offer a range of additional benefits, including:
- Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 access to free advice and counselling on a range of topics
- Cycle to work scheme
- Subsidised eye tests
We are an all-through school offering the unique opportunity to work across phases, which is great for professional development. We are a small school with 4 form entry at secondary and 2 form entry at primary. The size of each year group means that staff get to know individual students and their families really well and form excellent relationships. The school has a ‘community’ feel built on excellent relationships between all staff. Staff turnover is low and wellbeing good.
Our focus is on ensuring that every child gets the very best education possible. Our reputation is dependent on the happiness and achievements of all our pupils, which is reflected in our school.
Please apply directly at https://mynewterm.com/jobs/145106/EDV-2026-GMS-10219
We regularly review applications and reserve the right to close an advert early if we identify suitable candidates. To avoid disappointment, please submit your application as soon as possible.
Closing date – 9am, Friday 13th February 2026
Shortlisting – W/C 16th February 2026
Interviews – W/C 23rd February 2026
Equal Opportunities
Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both, service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives: - Promoting equality of opportunity - Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage - Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels. - Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all. Respecting Diversity is a core Council value. To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy
How to apply
Email address or postal address for return of applications
helena.culliney@georgemitchellschool.co.uk