Support Officer - HR & Finance Link (Maternity Cover)

Support Officer - HR & Finance Link
(Maternity Cover)

Salary: Band C, Point 13 to Point 19
Actual Salary: £26,543.72 - £30,425.27 per annum

37 hours per week: Monday - Thursday 8am to 4pm; Friday 8am to 3:30pm
39 weeks of the year - term time, inset days plus 1 additional week

Start Date: 25th January 2027
Fixed Term to 24th January 2028

Arthur Bugler Primary School is seeking a highly organised, proactive and enthusiastic Support Officer to join our friendly and dedicated administrative team on a maternity cover basis.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced school administrator to play a key role in supporting the day-to-day operations of our thriving primary school. Acting as an important link between the school and the Trust's HR and Finance teams, you will help ensure that essential administrative, personnel and financial processes run smoothly and efficiently.

Although previous HR or finance experience is not essential, candidates with an interest in developing skills in these areas will find this role both rewarding and varied. Experience working within a school environment is highly desirable.

As our Support Officer, you will:

Manage staff absence administration, maintaining accurate HR records and supporting absence management processes.
Prepare and collate payroll information, including overtime and expense claims, ensuring deadlines are met.
Provide administrative support for recruitment activities and HR processes in partnership with the Trust HR team.
Maintain the school's electronic cash handling systems and financial records.
Act as the finance lead for educational visits and school trips.
Coordinate the ordering of goods and services, ensuring value for money and timely delivery.
Serve as the first point of contact for parents, staff and visitors regarding finance-related queries.
Provide high-quality administrative support to the wider school community and contribute to the smooth running of the school office.

We Are Looking For Someone Who:
Has excellent organisational and administrative skills.
Is able to prioritise a varied workload and work accurately under pressure.
Has strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrates excellent attention to detail and a commitment to confidentiality.
Enjoys working as part of a team whilst remaining able to work independently when required.
Has experience working in a school environment and a genuine commitment to supporting children, families and staff.

Arthur Bugler Primary School is a member of Osborne Co-operative Academy Trust a Multi-Academy Trust, with twelve member schools within Essex. All schools in the Trust work in equal partnership and are members of the schools’ Co-operative Society. Our Co-operative Values focus on enabling all students to achieve their potential both academically and as young people.

What the school can offer:   

Recognition of continuous service
A 2-week October half term
Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
Excellent CPD opportunities
Career progression throughout the Trust, with the ability to progress in other schools
The support of an experienced family of schools
National Conditions of Service
Access to the Employee Assistance Programme
Excellent behaviour management policy to support all staff
Wider support network for all staff including managing workloads and work-life balance

If you feel you could make a positive contribution to the school, and you have the passion, drive and commitment to work with us to make all aspects of our school outstanding, please apply now. To request a visit to the school or for more information please speak to Liz Anderson hr@osborne.coop or call 01375 648901.   

Arthur Bugler Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In compliance with safer recruitment procedures and guidelines, all applications must be made on our formal application form, CVs will not be accepted. This appointment will be subject to pre-employment checks including an enhanced DBS disclosure and satisfactory references. Osborne Co-operative Academy Trust is an equal opportunities employer. As a Trust, we recognise the value of and seek to achieve a diverse workforce. We welcome applications from all backgrounds. Please refer to our recruitment & selection policy statement (www.osborne.coop/working-with-us) for more information.          

Closing date: 6th November 2026 at 9am

Interview Date: 17th November 2026

Please note: we may hold interviews as and when applications are received, and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.