Finance Assistant

About Us

The National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) has an unswerving commitment to high quality, evidence-informed teacher education, and is on a mission to improve the quality of teacher and leader development across the system.

Our programmes are designed by teachers and leaders who understand the joys and pressures of school life. We work in collaboration with schools across the country, ensuring that findings from our research benefits all schools, teachers and leaders.

About the Role

We’re seeking a proactive Finance Assistant to join our friendly finance team on a short-term basis, providing extra support during a busy period. You’ll play a key role in keeping our day-to-day financial operations running smoothly, raising and issuing purchase orders, processing invoices accurately, and responding to queries from suppliers and colleagues. With a sharp eye for detail and an organised approach, you’ll help us maintain clear, up-to-date records and support the National Institute of Teaching’s mission through high-quality financial administration. 

At the National Institute of Teaching, we believe teaching is a fundamental societal good, a privilege and a responsibility, and this role helps ensure the financial foundations at the Institute enable our work to support teachers and school leaders..

Corporate Responsibilities

• To ensure that the responsibilities of the role are carried out in a way which reflects the mission and the values of the NIoT.
• To be aware of and observe all policies, procedures, working practices and regulations, and in particular to comply with policies relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety, Confidentiality, Data Protection and Financial Regulations, reporting any concerns to an appropriate person.
• To comply with all reasonable management requests.

Key Responsibilities

Purchase Order & Invoice Processing  

• Monitor and manage the finance mailbox, responding to supplier and internal queries in a timely and professional manner.  
• Transmit purchase orders to suppliers via SAP Concur. 
• Check that purchase orders have been correctly goods receipted and proactively chase outstanding receipting with internal stakeholders.  
• Accurately capture and match supplier invoices in SAP Concur, ensuring correct coding and supporting documentation.  

Payments & Supplier Management  

• Prepare payment run files for review and approval in line with agreed payment schedules.  
• Support supplier statement reconciliations and assist with resolving payment queries. 

Debtors Management  

• Raising sales invoices 
• Sending monthly statements and responding to queries 
• Proactive debt recovery   
• Liaising with colleagues from across the organisation on debtor status 

Student Finance 

• Updating finance trackers for student funding received and paid. 
• Raising student invoices. 
• Managing the student finance inbox and responding to student finance queries. 
• Raise termly and annual purchase orders to schools for student funding. 

Essential Criteria

• A commitment to the aims of the National Institute of Teaching
• An interest in the education sector and a belief in the value of teachers and school leaders
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with strong attention to detail 
• Proven ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines 
• Proficient in the use of MS Office software packages, such as Word, Excel and Outlook, as well as search engines and online databases.  
• Proficient in using SAP Concur and Dynamics 365 Business  
• Understanding of purchase order, invoicing and payment processes  
• Experience with accounts receivable and debt recovery practices  
• Experience of producing accurate finance data while working in a pressurised environment and to tight deadlines  
• A flexible, pro-active and willing approach and be comfortable working within a small team.  
• Previous experience in a finance or accounts administration role, including managing shared mailboxes and responding to queries

Desirable Criteria

• Experienced in the Charity or Education sector.  
• Experience in student finance processes is highly desirable. 
• A relevant finance qualification (such as AAT or equivalent) is advantageous  

Working at the National Institute of Teaching

Contract: Fixed term for four months; 22 hours per week

Salary: £28,598 per annum (actual salary is £17,159 per annum, pro rata)

Key Benefits:

• Generous Annual Leave – 27 days’ holiday a year (plus 8 bank holidays)
• Flexible Working – we offer flexible start and end working times, with hybrid working in place for all roles.
• Pension - Entry to the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – we offer salary sacrifice schemes for bikes, cars and tech!
• Lifestyle Benefits – We offer discounts on gyms, cinema, retail and much more!
• Parenthood Leave – We offer above the statutory minimum for maternity, adoption and paternity leave.
• Working Environment – We have a stimulating, supportive and rewarding working environment with a dedicated team of likeminded professionals.
• Support: Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provides confidential support for employees on personal or work-related matters
• Development: We fully support the development of our staff and ensure that you have high level of continuous professional development.

Further Information

We think a wide range of different work and educational experiences could support you to be successful in this role. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities.

Notes:

• This post requires a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) with a Children’s Barred List Check and Occupational Health Check is required as a condition of employment
• This document is an overview of the role
• The responsibilities will include but will not be limited to those listed above and it is anticipated that the role will evolve over time and as such the duties may change
• We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

How to Apply

Apply Here: Submit your application online

Closing Date: 4.00pm Friday 27 March 2026

Contact Us: If you have any queries about this role, please email us at [email protected]