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Senior Finance Assistant

Surrey County Council

Woodhatch Place, Reigate, RH2 8EF£33,552 per annumSecondment36 hours per weekCloses: 2026-05-24
Job Introduction We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all. This role has a starting salary of £33,552 per annum for working 36 hours per week. This is a fixed term / secondment opportunity until 31st March 2027. An exciting secondment opportunity has arisen for a Senior Finance Assistant within the Finance service, supporting the Children's, Families and Lifelong Learning (CFLL) Directorate. This role is based at Woodhatch Place in Reigate and offers hybrid working up to 2 days per week. Our Offer to You 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service (prorated for part time staff) Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave A generous local government salary related pension Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year Paternity, adoption and dependents leave An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents. About the Role As a Senior Finance Assistant, you will play an important role within the Finance service, supporting the processing of agreed top‑up funding payments to schools for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The role will involve regular liaison with the SEND service, schools and other local authorities. You will also be responsible for updating information from the EHM system and accurately inputting this data into Excel workbooks, so strong attention to detail and the ability to work to deadlines are essential. Your Application In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours: Good knowledge of Excel Ability to work to tight deadlines Good communication skills Keen eye for detail alongside an analytical and proactive approach. To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 3 questions: Describe a time when you identified an error or discrepancy in financial data or payments. How did you investigate it, and what actions did you take? The work often involves fixed deadlines, peaks of activity and competing priorities. How do you plan and prioritise your workload to ensure critical payments are not delayed? Describe how you work with colleagues across finance, data, and operational teams to resolve issues and meet shared deadlines. Contact Us Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. Please contact Karen Cranham or Emma Harmeston-Taylor via MS Teams or email. The job advert closes at 23:59 on 24/05/2026 with interviews to follow. We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities. Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council Our Commitment We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.