Finance Officer

The Scout Association

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

Scouts and everyone are welcome here - all genders, races, and backgrounds. We give over 400,000 4–25-year-olds the skills they need for school, college, university, and the job interview: the skills they need for life. Right across the UK, we’re helping young people gain skills for life and find their place in the world. We help them speak up, play their part, and shine bright. Scouts is the place to be yourself and find yourself.

These are young people who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in, to do the right thing, and to think of others before themselves. At a time when communities sometimes feel divided, Scouts brings people together. We’re building stronger communities and contributing to a stronger society. All this is made possible by the generosity of our adult volunteers.

Now’s a challenging time for us all, but Scouts has never been more important - giving young people purpose, hope, and a place to belong. With the launch of Squirrels for 4–6-year-olds, and opening more units in even more areas of deprivation, we’re making more of a difference than ever.

About the role

As the Finance Officer (Lancing), you will be a key contact for all customer service enquiries. You will be responsible for the daily banking process, allocating payments and preparing supplier payment runs. You will also raise bank reconciliations and undertake reconciliation work as specified by the Finance Team leaders. There will be a variety of other Financial Administration tasks. Working within a small but very busy Finance Department, where priorities can change rapidly.

Responsibilities

Key Accountabilities:

• Ensure account receivables and payables activities are performed accurately and timely in line with Finance timetables
• Ensure that financial transactions are accurate
• Be responsible for the accurate processing of authorised expense claims, direct debit payments, credit card statements and petty cash requests
• Preparation of balance sheets, reconciliations as required, including bank reconciliations
• Provide support to internal Account Handlers and Customer Service Team by answering enquiries relating to financial transactions
• Ensure data integrity and accuracy
• Identify and resolve invoicing issues, accounting discrepancies and other financial-related issues.
• Daily banking and allocation of all income receipts
• Generate BACS payment files from the accounting system for the payment of the Purchase Ledger outstanding
• Perform the Credit Control function to ensure relevant debt is collected and mitigate bad debt risk
• Financial Administration as required

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Experience:

• Experience of working within an accounts department
• Experience of using computerised accounting systems
• Experience of using Microsoft Office

Skills & Abilities:

• Understanding of basic accounting concepts
• Experience with accounting packages
• Highly accurate with attention to detail
• Good knowledge of Microsoft
• A flexible worker who can learn quickly and take on additional tasks as required
• Able to balance workloads to achieve deadlines
• Able to appreciate the need for confidentiality and discretion

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Proven experience in a similar role
• Good communication skills to liaise with other departments
• Credit Control experience is desirable

Values & Personal Qualities:

• Team player, flexible and responsive to the needs of colleagues
• Pro-active driven by achieving with a positive and enthusiastic attitude.
• A trusted person with the ability to build confidence in others.
• Lead by example and demonstrate high levels of personal integrity.
• Drive personal development and look for progression.

Compensation & Benefits

• A supportive, inclusive, and collaborative team environment
• Ongoing learning and professional development opportunities
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 32 days after 2 years, plus additional time off over Christmas
• Flexible working options to suit you, your role, and your team
• A double-matched pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution
• A family-friendly approach, with generous family leave policies

Working locations

•  Lancing, West Sussex, United Kingdom

How to apply

• Please submit an online application by 11:59 pm on Tuesday, 17th March 2026 
• If you'd like to find out more to see if this role suits you, we'd be very happy to have an informal chat; please contact [email protected] to set up a call or virtual meeting.
• To help us monitor the application of our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy, we’d be grateful if you'd also complete the Recruitment Monitoring questions on the Application Form. 
• Before making an application, please make sure that you’ve read the Recruitment and Selection Policy

Interviews

• Interviews will be on an ongoing basis until the position is filled

Policies

The Scouts is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. We offer flexible working arrangements to support diverse needs and lifestyles, ensuring that our teams can thrive both professionally and personally. We welcome and encourage applicants from all walks of life, believing that varied perspectives strengthen our innovation and community. Your unique experiences and ideas are essential to our success, and we look forward to hearing from all voices.

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