Finance Assistant

New Collaborative Learning Trust; Whitwood; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational trust in Whitwood is seeking a Finance Assistant to join the finance team focusing on student bursaries. This full-time role requires strong organisational, customer service, and administrative skills. The successful candidate will engage sensitively with students and staff to assess bursary applications and ensure support is delivered effectively. The Trust is committed to staff wellbeing and professional development, offering various benefits and a positive work culture. Applications close on January 5th, 2026.

Benefits

Cycle to work scheme

Technology scheme

Professional training support

Wellbeing charter

Qualifications

• Excellent time management and strong organisational skills.
• Patient and understanding telephone manner for sensitive conversations.
• Willingness to undertake further training and adaptable to change.

Responsibilities

• Assess bursary applications and liaise with students and staff.
• Ensure students receive support towards their studies.
• Support operations of schools and colleges within the Trust.

Skills

Time management

Organisational skills

Customer service

Administrative skills

Attention to detail

IT skills

Job description

Location: New Collaborative Learning Trust

Salary: Support Staff Salary Band E, Scale Points 6-9, £25,558 - £26,818

Contract Type: Full Time, Full Year, Working Pattern Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 16:30 (we are flexible to an alternate start and finish time, please state preference at interview)

Contract Term: Permanent

Dates

Closing Date: Monday 5th January

Start Date: Sunday 1st February

About this Opportunity

An exciting opportunity to join an outstanding team and be at the forefront of our organisational development

We are currently seeking a Finance Assistant to work within the Trust Finance Team. Working closely with the student bursary team, you will assess bursary applications, liaising with students and their next of kin as well as student-facing staff in our Colleges, to ensure students receive support towards their studies. You will need excellent time management, and strong organisational, customer service, and administrative skills.

The successful candidate will need a patient and understanding telephone manor when having sensitive conversations regarding bursaries, excellent accuracy and attention to detail, and a good level of IT skills. They should also be willing to undertake further training relevant to the post and be adaptable and open to change.

You will be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

You will be joining a dynamic, core team that supports the operations of all of the schools and colleges within our Trust. Our shared services are here to support all of our schools and colleges across several areas including Health and Safety, Finance, Estates and MIS. Having recently moved into this site you will enjoy its new facilities and fantastic transport links being situated just off the M62. With a real team ethos, the different departments work together to provide ongoing support for the growth and development of the Trust.

New Collaborative Learning Trust (NCLT) has a dynamic, positive and supportive culture for staff and students, with an enviable reputation for staff career progression and development. You will join a focused and driven team, committed to providing the highest standards of education and service.

The Trust currently comprises of three 16-19 Colleges, three Secondary Schools and three Primary Schools.

Why Work for Us?

• NCLT was crowned ‘Employer of the Year’ at the 2023 MAT Excellence Awards – these national awards celebrate the very best performers from over one thousand MATs across the country
• A strong commitment to staff wellbeing as outlined in our staff wellbeing charter
• Access to high quality professional training, both in-house and externally, to support your professional development
• Additional benefits such as a cycle to work scheme and a technology scheme
• A culture of self-reflection and improvement to meet the needs of our staff

If you believe that you have the skills and abilities to take on this role, we’d love to hear from you.

Applications close 5th January 2026 at 9am. Position to start February 2026.