Finance Controller – Nursery – Haringey / Herts / Hybrid

We are looking for an organised, numerate and proactive Finance Controller to support the financial and administrative operations of a growing group of nurseries in Haringey and Hertfordshire.

This is a varied role with responsibility for the day-to-day financial management of the nursery settings, including invoicing, parent accounts, Early Years funding, reconciliations, budgeting and financial administration.

The role also has an important operational element, supporting enrollments, occupancy and revenue optimisation. You will work closely with the Managing Directors, Area Managers and Nursery Managers to ensure financial information is accurate, funding is correctly allocated, parent accounts are well managed and nursery places are maximised.

The successful candidate will be highly organised, confident with numbers and comfortable managing multiple priorities across different nursery settings.

Previous experience in Early Years, nursery finance or a similar childcare environment would be highly desirable, particularly experience with Early Years funding.

This is a hybrid position, offering the flexibility to work from home alongside some travel between the head office in the London Borough of Haringey and nursery settings across North London and Hertfordshire.

If you have strong financial administration skills, excellent attention to detail and an interest in working within the Early Years sector, we would love to hear from you.

Finance & Financial Management

• Complete monthly financial reconciliations using QuickBooks, ensuring transactions are accurate and up to date.
• Maintain accurate financial records across the nursery settings.
• Add Early Years funding and parent payments to children's accounts accurately.
• Generate and issue monthly invoices to parents.
• Manage payment plans and send timely payment reminders.
• Monitor outstanding and overdue accounts, handling queries professionally and sensitively.
• Monitor monthly budgets and identify and report significant variances.
• Support cost control and identify opportunities for improved financial efficiency.
• Oversee petty cash management and reconciliations across the nursery settings.
• Prepare financial information and reports for the Managing Directors and Area Managers.

Early Years Funding

• Submit Early Years funding applications through the relevant portals accurately and within required deadlines.
• Calculate and allocate funding to individual children's accounts.
• Ensure funding information is accurately reflected in parent accounts.
• Communicate with parents regarding funding entitlements, balances and any applicable top-up payments.
• Respond to parent queries regarding funding and account balances in a clear and professional manner.
• Maintain accurate funding records and documentation.

Enrolment & Revenue

• Manage the administrative process for new enrolments, including enquiries, deposits, registration forms and settling-in arrangements.
• Maintain an accurate enrolment and enquiry pipeline.
• Liaise closely with Nursery Managers regarding children's start dates and availability.
• Monitor available places across the nursery settings.
• Support forward planning and occupancy management.
• Work with managers to help maximise occupancy and optimise nursery revenue.

Children's Records & EY Administration

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date children's profiles and records.
• Ensure child information is accurately recorded across relevant systems and platforms.
• Support compliance with Early Years requirements relating to children's records and funding.
• Ensure documentation is maintained accurately and is readily available for audit purposes.

Administrative & Site Support

• Provide general financial and administrative support to the nursery management team.
• Visit each nursery setting periodically, where required, to provide on-site support and carry out financial or administrative checks.
• Conduct periodic audits and checks to ensure processes are being followed consistently.
• Assist with maintaining audit-ready financial and administrative documentation.
• Build effective working relationships with Nursery Managers and other members of the leadership team.
• Support the organisation with other financial and administrative tasks as required.

• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Numerically confident and comfortable working with financial information.
• Experienced in finance administration, accounts or a similar role.
• Confident using QuickBooks, Xero and Microsoft Excel.
• Able to manage reconciliations, budgets, invoices and financial records accurately.
• Comfortable dealing with confidential and sensitive financial information.
• A clear, professional and approachable communicator.
• Confident communicating with parents about financial matters.
• Able to work independently and manage competing priorities.
• Proactive, reliable and able to meet deadlines.
• Comfortable working across multiple nursery settings.
• Interested in contributing to improved financial efficiency, occupancy and business performance.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience within a nursery, Early Years or childcare setting.
• Experience with Early Years funding and relevant funding portals.
• Experience managing parent accounts and nursery invoicing.
• Experience with enrollment and occupancy administration.
• Experience working across multiple sites or settings.
• Experience monitoring budgets and financial performance.
• Previous experience working with nursery managers or childcare business owners.

• GCSE English and Mathematics grades A- C (or equivalent)
• A recognised bookkeeping, accounting or finance qualification, or equivalent relevant practical experience.

• AAT Level 2, Level 3 or above in Accounting or Bookkeeping, or an equivalent qualification.
• A qualification in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or a related subject.

• Current Safeguarding certification.

• Commitment to continuous professional development.
• Physically able to carry out the requirements of the role.
• Flexibility to work various shifts as needed.
• Enhanced DBS on the update service (or willingness to apply for one)*.