Purchase Ledger & Office Assistant

“The Unicorn School has been truly lifechanging for my child and me.”Application packPurchase Ledger & Office Assistant Purchase Ledger & Office Assistant About the Schoolwww.unicornoxford.co.ukAt The Unicorn School, we transform the lives of children with learningdifferences and those of their families. With a personalised curriculum, highly qualified staff, cutting-edge technologyand kindness, we create the conditions for children to thrive and families toflourish. We are a small, independent school for children aged 7 to 16 years. Wespecialise in helping children who are struggling to achieve their potential inmainstream education. These children might have a diagnosis of dyslexia,dyscalculia or dyspraxia, often with co-occurring Autism or ADHD. This canpresent as difficulties with language, speech, literacy or numeracy that are likelyto have a significant impact on their self-esteem, happiness and futureopportunities. www.unicornoxford.co.ukExpansionIn 2024, we received 375 enquiries for 24 places from parents who aredesperate to find a school that can support their child or from six localauthorities who have hundreds of children on their waiting lists. Therefore, thereis a clear need to expand.In September 2025 we opened our new school building, The Ock Buidling. Thissecond site is opposite our existing school, enabling us to double in size. The sitealso means that we can offer a post-16, life skills provision for the first time. This expansion presents exciting opportunities for our staff as well as ourstudents and their families as we grow our student body and breadth of ourcurriculum, especially at KS4.Purchase Ledger & Office Assistant Benefits of working with us www.unicornoxford.co.ukSupportive staff, and an involved community who are committed to schoolimprovement, who will work with you to achieve your goalsStudents who are enthusiastic and highly motivated with a love of learningExcellent premises and well-equipped classrooms providing a modern andtechnologically advanced learning environment for students. FromSeptember 2025 KS4 are housed in a newly developed building across theroad.The opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of our studentsA competitive salary (including a staff laptop) and pension contributionsProfessional support to continually progress and develop your careerAccess to Simply HealthPurchase Ledger & Office Assistant Job descriptionwww.unicornoxford.co.ukThe post holder provides support to finance and school office, including day today purchase ledger tasks and administrative support. The successful candidatewill be expected to meet high standards, be organised and pay attention todetail.Purchase Ledger & Office Assistant Purchase ledger duties:Order goods and services following authorisation system and monitoring spendto budgetsMaintaining the purchase ledger including processing supplier invoices,account for VAT, preparing payments and dealing with queries. Process staffexpenses. Reconcile monthly credit card statement. Record petty cashtransactions termly.Oversee deliveries and returns for goods/servicesAssist with financial audit as required by BursarSchool office duties:Meeting, greeting and signing in visitorsMaking tea and coffee for visitors when requiredReceiving and directing incoming calls, answering general queriesReceiving and signing for deliveriesSupporting with pupil transport updatesOpening and directing incoming post - processing outgoing postEnsure reception is kept tidy.Assist with daily pupil registrations/absences: using the school MIS(management information system)Scanning, printing & copying documents where requiredArranging repairs for office equipment (photocopiers, replacement tonercartridges etc) Keeping the stationery cupboard/office resources stockedOrdering staff uniform and kitCover Office Administrator as requiredActing as first aider to pupils, staff and visitors where required, liaising withstaff & parents when a child is unwell (training can be provided)Fire warden dutiesMain Duties & Responsibilitieswww.unicornoxford.co.ukPurchase Ledger & Office Assistant Person Specification Essential (E)Desirable (D)Ability to work independently using own initiative, beefficient, professional and provide excellent administrativeserviceEAbility to adapt quickly, be courteous and sensitive in avariety of situations with staff, parents and pupils EExcellent communications skills, patience, calmness, tact anddiscretion ESkillsQualified AAT or equivalent DAccounts payable experienceEHigh levels of literacy, numeracy and financial analysisEAccuracy, strong organisational skills, attention to detail,ability to independently organise and prioritise work,methodicalEExperience in accounts systemsEFamiliar with Microsoft SharePoint DExperience in a similar school environmentDExcellent interpersonal and communication skills, ability tointeract with people at all levels  EConfidence/assertiveness/courteousnessEwww.unicornoxford.co.ukPurchase Ledger & Office Assistant Skills (contd)Strong people skills EAbility to meet deadlines and work under pressureEHigh levels of literacy, numeracy and financial analysisEAttributes Ability to work as part of a team and on ownELoyal, positive, articulate and diplomaticEAdaptable and proactive attitudeEFlexible EFriendly and highly professional approach to staff andexternal stakeholdersEAppreciation of and sympathy for the objectives of anindependent schoolEPrepared to undertake training and development as required,particularly in relation to the introduction of new technologiesEThe Unicorn School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare ofall its pupils. As a Purchase Ledger & Office Assistant, you will be expected to:  Work in line with the school's safeguarding and child protection policies andprocedures, as well as relevant statutory guidance (e.g., Keeping ChildrenSafe in Education, Prevent)Collaborate with the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) to ensure the bestinterests of pupils are promoted, including sharing concerns where necessaryMaintain a vigilant and proactive approach to identifying and responding topotential safeguarding issuesParticipate in regular safeguarding training to keep your knowledge andunderstanding up to datePromote a culture of safeguarding and pupil welfare throughout your work atthe schoolCommitment to Safeguarding and WelfarePurchase Ledger & Office Assistant Making an applicationApplication FormCVs are not accepted as part of the application process. If you wish to beconsidered for this post, please complete the application form, providing fulldetails of your education and employment history, including any unpaid orvoluntary work. Where there are gaps in your employment, please state thereasons why (eg. gap year, career break, unemployment etc).You will note that we require details of two referees, one of which must be yourcurrent or most recent employer.Suitability for this PositionThis section of the form is very important. It gives you an opportunity to explainwhy you are applying and why you are the best person for this job. Use theinformation provided in this application pack as your guide, and give specificexamples, where possible, to demonstrate how you match the requirements forthis post.Please remember to sign the declaration on the final page of the applicationform.Please return your completed application form to:recruitment@unicornoxford.co.uk marked for the attention of AlisonWoodworth-Sturla.Alternatively, if you are submitting a hard copy application, please post to:FAO Diane KenyonThe Unicorn School20 Marcham RoadAbingdonOX14 1AAwww.unicornoxford.co.ukPurchase Ledger & Office Assistant Interview and selection processThose candidates who meet all the requirements for the post will be shortlistedand details of the interview programme will be confirmed in writing.As part of the selection process, in addition to your skills and knowledge againstthe requirements of this role, specific questions will be asked to assess yoursuitability to work with children.Under the Equality Act 2010, we are legally required to consider makingreasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged inthe recruitment and selection process. We are therefore committed to meeting,wherever possible, any needs you may specify on the application form. Pleasecontact the school if you need to discuss this in any detail.We will consider any reasonable adjustments under the terms of the Equality Actto enable an applicant with a disability (as defined under the act) to meet therequirements of the post.Induction and continuous professional developmentThe Head Teacher and School Governing Body are committed to ensuring yourwell-being and continuous professional development in this role. Onappointment, the Head Teacher will discuss an appropriate induction programmewith you which will help familiarise you with the culture of the school, localpractices and policies.You will be offered the opportunity to further develop your professionalknowledge by participating in local training events and, where appropriate,working towards further qualifications such as NVQs. Support staff employees new to The Unicorn School will be subject to aprobationary period of 6 months.www.unicornoxford.co.ukPurchase Ledger & Office Assistant ReferencesIf you are shortlisted, we will normally take up references before the interviewdate; however there is an option to decline this on the application form. If you donot give permission to contact your referees prior to interview, we will onlycontact them should an offer be made and accepted. One of your referees must beyour current or most recent employer. Two satisfactory references must bereceived before we confirm any offer of an appointment. The information werequest will relate to salary, length of service, sickness and absence record,skills and abilities, suitability for the job, disciplinary record and suitability towork with children. Copies of references, or references addressed “to whom it may concern”, will notbe accepted. On receipt of references, your referees may be contacted to verifyany discrepancies, anomalies, or relevant issues as part of the recruitmentverification process.Pre-employment checkswww.unicornoxford.co.ukDisclosure & Barring ChecksEmployment at this school is subject to an enhanced check with the Disclosure &Barring Service. Registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority willalso be a requirement prior to confirming an offer of employment.Under the Rehabilitation ofOffenders Act 1974 (ExemptionAmendment) Order 1986, thereare a number of jobs where wemust take account of convictions,even though they are ‘spent’. Allposts at this school are regardedas such.However, spent and/or unspentconvictions may not necessarilymake you unsuitable for anappointment.Purchase Ledger & Office Assistant Right to Work in the United KingdomUnder the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, it is a criminal offence to employanyone who is not entitled to live or work in the United Kingdom. Applicants canexpect us to ask for proof of this at interview stage, where you will be asked toprovide some original documentation to confirm that you are eligible to workwithin the UK. Photographic proof of identity will also be required.Medical AssessmentA satisfactory medical form will be required before we confirm any offer of anappointment. If there are concerns, a medical assessment will be required.www.unicornoxford.co.ukValidation of QualificationsAll short-listed candidates will be asked to bring original certificates of relevantqualifications to interview. These will be photocopied and kept on file and may beconfirmed as genuine with the relevant awarding bodies.Purchase Ledger & Office Assistant