Accounts Officer

ROLE SUMMARY:

ACG schools is seeking a capable, proactive and detail oriented Accounts Officer - based at our New Zealand Head Office located in Auckland.  The role is a "sole charge" position - focused on AR, AP, revenue recognition and once a year international student billing for our beautiful school ACG Tauranga located in the community of Bay of Plenty. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys ownership, variety, and being the finance "go to" person within an education environment.

Reporting to the NZ Head of Finance, this role will working closely with the Principal and broader finance team. The role will manage the day to day financial operations for the school and the associated Early Childhood Centre. You will play a key role in ensuring accurate financial processing, strengthening controls, and providing insights that support informed decision making.

This is a 6 month parental leave cover with an mid June start. The role is located in Auckland  - 5 days a week - 6 hours a day (flex hours).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Accounts Payable, Billing and Invoicing

• Manage Accounts Payable end to end ensuring accurate coding, approvals and timely payment runs.
• Prepare and issue accurate and timely invoices for school fees and additional charges.
• Draft and manage annual contracts, as well as provide statements to parents.

Debt Collection and Cash Flow Management

• Monitor and ensure the timely collection of outstanding debts while adhering to school policies.
• Full ownership of Accounts Receivable including JDE contract billing and weekly aged debt reporting.
• Engage directly with parents to resolve payment queries and follow up on overdue accounts.

Financial Reporting and Analysis

• Provide regular ageing reports and risk analyses to highlight potential bad debts and recommend corrective actions.
• Generate ad hoc reports to support financial decision-making processes.
• Maintain the fixed asset register including capitalisation and depreciation schedules.
• Prepare month end journals including accruals, prepayments, depreciation and coding corrections.
• Complete all bank and balance sheet reconciliations within required timeframes.
• Provide financial insights to support budgeting and forecasting.
• Support regional and group finance initiatives, compliance activities and audit readiness.

System and Process Improvement

• Identify and recommend improvements to financial systems and processes to enhance operational efficiency.

Customer and Stakeholder Communication

• Foster strong relationships with principals, parents and stakeholders by delivering exceptional service and addressing financial concerns promptly.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Solid background in finance or accounting, preferably within the education or service industry.
• Experienced in end to end AR and AP preferably within a multi entity or contract based billing environment.
• Advanced proficiency in data management, particularly in Excel and financial software.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with experience in tools like JD Edwards or similar systems.
• Registered Accounting Technician (AT) - strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in fast-paced environments, ensuring accuracy and meeting deadlines under pressure.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Detail-Oriented: Strong focus on accuracy in billing, invoicing, and financial reporting.
• Excellent Communication Skills: Ability to liaise effectively with parents and colleagues, resolving queries with professionalism and empathy.
• Problem-Solving Ability: Skilled at identifying financial risks and proposing practical solutions.
• Organisational Skills: Capable of managing multiple tasks, prioritising work, and adhering to deadlines.
• Customer-Focused: Dedicated to delivering exceptional service while maintaining professionalism and approachability.
• Resilience and Adaptability: Ability to remain composed under pressure and adapt to changing responsibilities and systems.
• Proactive and Initiative-Driven: Anticipates potential financial risks and takes proactive steps to address them.Continuously seeks opportunities to improve processes and systems.
• Integrity and Professionalism: Maintains confidentiality, upholds organisational values, and demonstrates ethical behaviour.
• Upholds the school’s values and always maintains a professional demeanour.

SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Inspired Education Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practices and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.