Credit Controller (Fees Officer)

Credit Controller (Fees Officer) Candidate Information Pack

Contents

Welcome to St James Schools

Page 03 Page 04 Page 08 Page 10

Job Description

Person Specification

The Recruitment Process and How to Apply

02

Welcome

Founded in 1975 with the aim of providing a complete education for boys and girls from the age of 4 -18, the three St James Schools are based in London and Surrey. The Junior School and Senior Girls’ School are centrally located together in West London, close to Hammersmith and Kensington Olympia. The Senior Boys’ School is located in a 32 acre site in Ashford, Surrey. Together, St James Schools offer a distinctive approach to education; we aim to provide an environment in which a pupil can discover all that is best within his or her own nature. St James provides the ideal environment for nurturing and enriching the intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of our pupils; thereby creating a balance of academic excellence. Our teachers have excellent subject knowledge and give their time generously to support the well-being and development of their pupils. We all enjoy the stimulating and positive atmosphere, characterised with generosity, kindness, mindfulness and mutual respect, where every member of the St James community is truly valued. I wish you good luck in your application process.

William Wyatt Bursar

03

Credit Controller (Fees Officer): Job Description

04

Job Description : Credit Controller (Fees Officer)

Reporting to: The Bursar and the Finance Manager

St James School is looking to appoint an experienced Credit Controller / School Fees Administrator to work within their dynamic Finance Department. The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

05

Duties

Sales Ledger:

• Manage all aspects of the fee invoice preparation process in liaison with the schools, ensuring accuracy and timely sending via e-mail.

• Preparation and submission of termly Direct Debit collections.

• Providing Fees In Advance quotes (Composition Fees) for parents in an accurate and timely manner.

• Manage queries concerning fees, extras and fees in lieu bills.

• Administer the deposit refunds.

• Providing fees and billing reports for the accounts department as necessary.

• Support Parent Pay.

• Update the Sales Ledger to ensure that the fees bank account postings and reconciliations are up to date, accurate and performed in a timely manner. Manage journals related to the Fee Ledger.

• Provide the Finance Manager with a termly direct debit report.

• Preform monthly reconciliation and closing of Fee Ledger to ensure control within the Nominal Ledgers.

• Provide assistance to the Finance Manager and other staff of the Bursary when required.

• Administer credit card receipts.

Credit Control/Debt Collection:

• Implementation of the School’s payment terms policy and ensure the policy is well documented and well communicated.

• Prepare and issue appropriate debtor communication documents on behalf of the Bursar.

• Issue statements for all overdue accounts in accordance with the policy.

• Communicating with all overdue debtors both verbally and in writing.

• Meet with the Parents on behalf of the Bursar and discuss payment difficulties, repayment agreements and exclusions.

• Manage Exclusions.

06

About the Role • Communicate with and provide details of relevant debts to the School’s debt collection solicitor/ consultant. • Produce the annual School Fees Comparator.

• Manage and report the bad and doubtful debt provision.

• Prepare the Termly debtor report for the Bursar and the Finance Manager.

• Report on a weekly basis to the Bursar the status of overdue accounts.

Bursaries:

• Work with the Bursar on Bursaries and Scholarship policy and ensure the policies are up to date. • Capture all Bursary applicants and hardship requests including the necessary conversations and meeting with parents. • Arrange for external review for all applications and prepare the necessary paperwork for review with the Bursar. • Meet with the Schools’ Heads to allocate the funds to applicants. • Produce final paperwork for signing of by the Bursar. • Administer approved bursaries and in-year applications for fee assistance.

07

Person Specification

Essential: • User of Sage 200 (2015) accounts. • User of FeeMaster and SchoolBase • Knowledge and experience of standard accounting procedures within Sales Ledger and Credit Control. • Experience of working in a highly demanding and busy finance department producing invoices and having responsibility for recording and accuracy of revenue. • High level of computer literacy and experience of ICT systems, particularly Sage and Excel. • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal and an ability to explain sensitive matters to people on a personal level, especially on the telephone. • Experience in educational environment. • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. • Very good attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness. • A team player, willing to support other members of the team as necessary.

Desirable: • Studying towards AAT/ACCA/CIMA.

08

09

The Recruitment Process

Application Process Applications should consist of a CV and covering statement outlining key matching experience and rationale for applying for the post.

Applications should be sent to; Lawrence Clark ([email protected]) at The Management Recruitment Group or alternatively call 020 8892 0115. The Management Recruitment Group (MRG) has been exclusively retained for this appointment. All direct and third-party applications will be forwarded to MRG. The closing date for applications is Thursday 28th February 2019. Applications will be reviewed and The Management Recruitment Group will undertake preliminary meetings with selected candidates during the week commencing 4th March 2019.

The Management Recruitment Group

Regal House 70 London Road Twickenham TW1 3QS Tel: 020 8892 0115 www.mrgpeople.co.uk

10