Job Description

Looking for a role where your finance skills can really shine?

Join us as a Finance Officer (Maternity Cover) at Stafford House, Canterbury, and play a key role in supporting our busy finance operations while helping international students have unforgettable study experiences.

Location: New Dover Road, Canterbury -- just a 5-minute walk from the city centre.

About Stafford House:

Each summer, we welcome around 6,000 international students to our study holiday programmes. Behind the scenes, a dedicated year-round head office team ensures everything runs smoothly, and our Finance Officer is central to that success.

In this role, you'll be at the heart of our operations; the go-to finance person for agents, students, and the Director of Stafford House. You'll work hand-in-hand with our Finance Manager and the wider finance team in Cambridge, ensuring everything runs seamlessly behind the scenes.

You'll be based at our Canterbury school, where no two days are the same. Summer (July-August) is our most exciting and fast-paced period, and while annual leave isn't available then, you'll be supported by a dedicated Finance Assistant to help keep things running smoothly.

What you'll be doing:

Manage credit control, debt consolidation, and financial reporting with accuracy. Handle daily and monthly bank reconciliations, investigating discrepancies as needed. Process payments and work with our reservations team on the booking system. Support prepaid card management and company expenses. Review and improve financial procedures with the Director and Finance Manager. Deliver excellent customer service and communication throughout.

What we offer:

Full-time role (37.5 hours/week, Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:00) 12-month maternity cover contract 33 days annual leave Hybrid work option after training (on-site full-time July-August) Free parking at our Canterbury site Employee benefits: GP24, wellbeing package, and store discounts Supportive management and collaboration with a wider head office team Anticipated start date: 1st December 2025

About you:

You're an experienced finance professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys taking ownership of your work. You have hands-on experience with financial reporting, reconciliations, and credit control, and you're confident using finance and reservations systems to manage transactions accurately. You bring strong attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving, ensuring every task, from daily banking to monthly reporting is completed to a high standard. You're also a great communicator, comfortable liaising with students, agents, and senior leaders/management alike. With your customer-focused mindset and collaborative attitude, you'll fit right into our supportive team. Resilient and adaptable, you stay calm under pressure, especially during our busy summer season, and take pride in delivering excellent results. As this role is based in a school and involves contact with students, you'll be required to complete pre-employment safeguarding checks before starting work. This includes an Enhanced DBS check. Our friendly Talent Team will guide and support you through the process.
If you're ready to bring your skills to a role where your work truly makes a difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and join a team that values collaboration, precision, and passion for what we do.

Who are we?

For more than 70 years we have been providing high quality English Language and activity courses for young learners. We offer 6 fantastic study locations within the UK with a wide range of courses to choose from including English Language and activities, creative Art & Design, sports, and academic preparation courses.
Stafford House International is part of CATS Global Schools (CGS), a leading education group committed to inspiring the next generation of world shapers

OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARDING:

CATS Global Schools (Stafford House) are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our students and expect everyone connected with the organisation to share this commitment. All positions are subject to the satisfactory completion of safer recruitment pre-employment checks in line with KCSIE guidelines. All shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a criminal declaration form prior to interview and be subject to online checks which may include social media checks in addition to an enhanced DBS check (DBS process paid for by CATS Global Schools), references and if applicable, an overseas police check.

OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY:

We are committed to diversity, inclusion and belonging. Building on our core values - Pioneering, Persevering, People - we pledge to deliver a series of events, guest speakers and focus groups to ensure we offer respect and understanding to all communities

AND FINALLY:

What are you waiting for? We look forward to hearing from you. Good luck!

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: 26,250.00 per year

Benefits:

Casual dress Free parking Health & wellbeing programme On-site parking Store discount
Application question(s):

Are you willing to undergo safeguarding pre-employment checks? July and August are our peak operating months, are you aware that annual leave isn't possible during this time?
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person

Reference ID: 1735
Expected start date: 01/12/2025