SEN Finance Officer – AR

Job Details

Job Description

Job Title:

SEN Finance Officer

Grade:

Level 6

Directorate:

Education

Service Area:

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Reports To:

SEN Funding and Finance Officer / SEN Finance Manager

Job Purpose

The SEN Finance Officer will provide high-level financial, administrative and contract support to the SEND Finance function, ensuring effective management, monitoring and control of High Needs Block expenditure.

The post holder will support the accurate administration of SEND funding arrangements across a range of educational settings, including mainstream schools, special schools, independent providers, early years settings and further education providers.

The role will be responsible for processing and monitoring payments, maintaining financial records, supporting contract management, undertaking reconciliation checks and ensuring robust audit trails are maintained.

The post holder will work closely with schools, education providers, internal finance teams and SEND operational colleagues to ensure funding allocations, purchase orders, invoices and contractual payments are accurate, timely and compliant with statutory guidance and Local Authority financial procedures.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

SEND Funding and Payments

  • Manage and monitor SEND-related payments across allocated cost centres, including High Needs Block expenditure.
  • Process and maintain accurate records for top-up funding payments to schools, early years settings and other educational providers.
  • Provide advice and support to schools regarding funding allocations, payment queries and entitlement levels in line with High Needs Funding Operational Guidance.
  • Monitor outstanding payments and resolve discrepancies with education settings and internal teams.
  • Support the administration of payments for out-of-borough placements, independent schools, tuition providers and specialist services.

Finance Administration and Budget Monitoring

  • Process purchase orders, invoices and payment requests using Local Authority financial systems, including SAP, EForm/AP and other relevant systems.
  • Ensure expenditure is correctly coded, authorised and recorded against appropriate SEND cost centres.
  • Undertake regular reconciliation checks to ensure financial records accurately reflect SEND placements, services delivered and payments made.
  • Support monthly and quarterly budget monitoring activity by providing accurate financial information and identifying anomalies or trends.
  • Maintain accurate financial records to support forecasting, budget planning and management reporting.

Contract Management and Monitoring

  • Maintain the SEND contracts register, ensuring contracts, agreements and supporting documentation are accurately recorded and securely stored.
  • Monitor contractual payments to ensure they align with agreed terms, service delivery and funding arrangements.
  • Support contract monitoring activity for services including tuition, therapy, specialist equipment and commissioned education provision.
  • Provide advice and guidance to colleagues regarding contract processes, documentation requirements and reporting procedures.
  • Support audit requirements by maintaining clear and accessible evidence trails.

Data Quality and Systems Management

  • Maintain accurate SEND finance records by cross-checking placement information, case management systems and financial records.
  • Identify and report data discrepancies and support corrective actions.
  • Support improvements to SEND finance processes, systems and reporting arrangements, including migration to new case management systems.
  • Produce accurate reports and information to support operational decision-making and senior management requirements.

Stakeholder Communication and Support

  • Manage finance-related enquiries from schools, education providers, suppliers and internal colleagues.
  • Provide clear, professional and timely responses to funding and payment queries.
  • Build effective working relationships with SEND officers, finance teams, schools and external partners.
  • Provide guidance and informal training to SEND colleagues regarding finance processes, contracts and reporting requirements.

Compliance and Governance

  • Ensure all duties are undertaken in accordance with Local Authority financial regulations, procurement procedures, safeguarding requirements and information governance policies.
  • Maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive information relating to children, young people, families and educational providers.
  • Support internal and external audit requirements through accurate record keeping and evidence management.

Key Relationships

Internal:

  • SEND Service teams
  • SEN Finance and Funding colleagues
  • Education Finance teams
  • SEND case officers and coordinators
  • Commissioning and procurement teams
  • Senior managers within Education Services

External:

  • Mainstream schools
  • Special schools
  • Independent education providers
  • Early years settings
  • Colleges and further education providers
  • Therapy and tuition providers
  • Equipment suppliers

Financial Responsibility

The post holder will support the management and monitoring of SEND budgets, including High Needs Block expenditure across multiple cost centres with a combined value of approximately £17–21 million.

The role has responsibility for ensuring financial information, payments and records are accurate, controlled and suitable for audit purposes.

Person Specification

Essential Experience and Knowledge

  • Experience of working in a finance administration, funding or payments environment.
  • Experience of maintaining accurate financial records using spreadsheets and databases.
  • Knowledge and understanding of financial monitoring, reconciliation and reporting processes.
  • Experience using finance systems, procurement systems or payment processing systems.
  • Experience of working with data quality checks and maintaining accurate records.
  • Experience of working within a regulated or public sector environment.
  • Ability to interpret financial information and identify discrepancies.
  • Understanding of confidentiality and information governance requirements.

Desirable Experience

  • Experience working within a Local Authority finance environment.
  • Knowledge of SEND funding arrangements and High Needs Block funding.
  • Experience using SEND case management systems such as Synergy.
  • Experience working with schools, education providers or children’s services.
  • Experience of contract monitoring or procurement processes.

Skills and Abilities

  • Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
  • Strong numerical and analytical skills.
  • Ability to investigate financial discrepancies and resolve issues.
  • Confident communication skills with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Ability to explain financial processes clearly to non-finance colleagues.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a wider team.
  • Strong IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel and database systems.

Competencies and Behaviours

Taking Responsibility

  • Takes ownership of tasks and ensures commitments are delivered accurately and on time.
  • Demonstrates a proactive approach to identifying and resolving problems.

Open, Honest and Respectful

  • Communicates professionally with colleagues, schools and external partners.
  • Provides constructive challenge where information or processes require improvement.

Listen and Learn

  • Responds positively to feedback and adapts processes where improvements are identified.
  • Understands the needs of service users and partners.

Working Together to Find Solutions

  • Builds effective relationships across SEND, finance and education teams.
  • Works collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people.

Qualifications

Essential:

  • GCSE or equivalent qualification in English and Maths, or equivalent experience working in a finance-related role.
  • Evidence of relevant professional development.

Desirable:

  • Finance, accounting or public sector finance training.
  • SEND or education finance training.

Other Requirements

  • Enhanced DBS clearance required.
  • Commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
  • Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
  • Compliance with Local Authority Health and Safety and Information Security policies.

Summary of Role

The SEN Finance Officer provides essential financial and administrative support to ensure SEND funding is accurately allocated, monitored and controlled. The role combines finance administration, contract monitoring, data management and stakeholder support to ensure effective use of public funding and delivery of services for children and young people with special educational needs.