Fees & Funding Analyst

£28,000 - £30,000 yearly
Full time

Job Description

Fees & Funding Analyst - £28,000-£30,000 per annum 

Full-time 8.30am – 5.00pm, Monday – Friday (37.5 hrs per week  - ALL YEAR ROUND)

This role is a standalone role that the successful applicant must take ownership for the full process with a view to enhancing the role to make any improvements.

As our Fees & Funding Analyst, you will manage the sales ledger and debt for our expanding group of nine nurseries. Your responsibilities will include liaising with local authorities and nursery teams to ensure all funding is accurately claimed and received. Additionally, you will provide backup support for our payroll function.

The ideal candidate must have extensive knowledge of the credit control function.  Able to work with internal managers and external customers in a professional manner and able to meet tight monthly deadlines and retain zero debt.

After the nursery manager, you will be the first point of contact to resolve queries or questions relating to monthly invoices, fees, outstanding debt and Early Years funding, which come from parents.  You will also support the nursery manager / team with any questions or queries they may be dealing with fees, outstanding debt or funding. 

You will be integral to the nurseries' credit control management, must have the ability to create great customer relations for both internal and external customers and demonstrate an excellent attention to detail in all that you do.

Work Environment:

This position is based in our Head Office, which consists of a small team of 10 people, and you will be part of a more secluded Finance office with two colleagues.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Oversee the sales ledger and debt collection processes, ensuring timely receipt of payments and maintaining zero debt levels.
  • Collate overdue lists for the Managers
  • Collaborate with nursery managers and teams to address any related questions or issues & supporting them with the Sales Ledger
  • Foster strong customer relations with both internal teams and external clients, promoting a positive and professional environment
  • Checking and running monthly invoices via management system
  • Negotiate payment plans where needed and monitor repayment
  • Follow the company’s outstanding fees policy, run reminder letters via the management system and email and initiate legal action where needed
  • Resolve invoice and finance queries from parents and nurseries
  • Reconcile funding allocation from local authority
  • Support Nursery Managers with Funding Claims on local authority portal
  • Run termly funding reports to highlight children eligible in the coming term
  • Ensure that correct documentation is received to enable funding claims
  • Managing CIN claims
  • Check deposits and registrations fees are received and logged
  • Ensure the management system is maintained
  • Refund deposits for leavers following our policy
  • Download and reconcile bank statements
  • Update management system with fee reviews and changes
  • Month end duties
  • Collate payroll information to be sent to our external payroll provider
  • Assisting the Finance Manager/HR Advisor with all financial aspects of the fees/accounting/payroll functions
  • Any other financial duties that may be deemed appropriate to the role

Essential Criteria:

  • Credit Control Expertise: Proven experience in managing credit control processes, resolving invoice and payment queries efficiently.
  • Technical Proficiency: Excellent command of Excel, data management systems, Word, and Outlook, enabling effective data handling and reporting.
  • Numerical and Problem-Solving Skills: Strong analytical abilities with a focus on resolving issues swiftly and accurately.
  • Deadline-Oriented: Demonstrated ability to meet strict deadlines while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
  • Initiative and Independence: Capable of independently managing monthly cycles to ensure timely fee collection and accurate logging.
  • Effective Communication: Strong interpersonal skills, fostering positive relationships with external customers and internal colleagues across the company
  • Customer-Centric Approach: Skilled in listening to customers and finding resolutions that enhance satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Self-Motivated and Professional: Maintains composure and efficiency in a busy head office environment, contributing positively to team dynamics
  • Attention to Detail: Demonstrate meticulous attention to detail in all financial transactions and documentation, ensuring accuracy and compliance.

 

Desirable Criteria:
 

  • Finance / credit control qualifications
  • Experience working in a similar role for a nursery group / setting
  • Knowledge of the Famly system
  • Knowledge in dealing with Local Authorities

It is the nature of working for a small business that tasks and responsibilities are on occasion unpredictable and varied, so to retain flexibility this job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and the post holder will be required to undertake any other reasonable duties discussed and directed by the Directors.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and does require a Disclosure Barring Scheme check. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders, which have been made against them.

 

Nursery Name

Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries - Head Quarters