Administrative Assistant

Overview

We are looking for an Administrative Assistant who:

Has some experience with financial processing or bookkeeping
Can offer excellent customer service to the children, parents and staff
Has high expectations of themselves, pride in their work and surroundings
Is hard working, an intuitive team player and is able to use their own initiative in being solution focused
Wants to contribute to the school as a whole

As a member of our staff you can expect:

Brilliant children – enthusiastic and able, with excellent attitudes to learning
Strong leadership; a school that is well organised and managed
A fantastic staff; supportive and friendly
High quality CPD supporting you to be the best
Excellent resources

Job Description

Main Purpose of the Job

Under the guidance of senior staff, be responsible for undertaking administrative, financial and organisational processes within the school. Assist with the planning and development of school general office services.

Tasks

Organisation

Undertake reception duties, answering routine telephone and face to face enquiries and signing in visitors
Deal with complex reception/visitor etc matters
Assist in arrangements for school trips, events etc.

Administration

Undertake financial administration of sale invoices
Produce financial statements and reports
Provide general clerical/admin. support e.g. photocopying, filing, faxing, complete standard forms, respond to routine correspondence
Manage and maintain manual and computerised records and management information systems
Produce lists/information/data as required e.g. pupils data
Undertake typing and word-processing and other IT based tasks
Provide personal, administrative and organisational support to other staff
Sort and distribute mail
Undertake administrative procedures
Complete and submit complex forms, returns etc, including those to outside agencies eg. DfE
Undertake the administration of payroll systems

Resources

Undertake general financial processing e.g. orders including requisitions and invoices
Maintain stock and supplies, cataloguing and distributing as required
Operate relevant equipment/lCT packages (e.g. Microsoft and Google suites, databases, spreadsheets, internet)
Undertake research and obtain information to inform decisions
Provide advice and guidance to staff, pupils and others

Responsibilities

Comply with and assist with the development of policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
Be aware of and support diversity and ensure equal opportunities for all
Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the school
Appreciate and support the role of other professionals
Establish constructive relationships and communicate with other agencies/professionals
Attend and participate in relevant meetings as required
Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required
Recognize own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to advise and support others
Undertake any other duties commensurate with the level of the post, as required to ensure the efficient and effective running of the Department/Section.

Undertake any other duties commensurate with the level of the post, as required to ensure the efficient and effective running of the Department/Section.

Equalities

Ensure implementation and promotion in employment and service delivery of the Council's equal opportunities policies and statutory responsibilities.

Person specification

EXPERIENCE (Essential Requirements)

Experience of development, management and operation of administrative systems

Experience of financial data inputting

QUALIFICATIONS/TRAINING (Essential Requirements)

NVQ 3 or equivalent qualification or experience in relevant discipline

Very good numeracy/literacy skills

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS (Essential Requirements)

Effective use of ICT and other specialist equipment/resources

Working knowledge of Access Education or other financial databases

Full working knowledge of relevant polices/codes of practice and awareness of relevant legislation

Ability to relate well to children and adults

Work constructively as part of a team, understanding school roles and responsibilities and your own position within these

Ability to self-evaluate learning needs and actively seek learning opportunities

CIRCUMSTANCES

The person undertaking this post must have a current enhanced DBS. If a candidate does not have this status then they will be required to complete an application only if recruited to this post.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Understanding of and commitment to the Council’s/School’s equal opportunities policies.

PHYSICAL

Generally must meet London Borough of Lewisham requirements for the post.

Salary & contract

35 hours a week, term time only

Scale 4 - £33,513 to £34,488 (full time equivalent)

Pro rata (take home pay before deductions) - £28,209.33 to £30,098.21

Location

John Ball Primary School
Southvale Road
Blackheath
London
SE3 0TP

Supporting documents and application form

Deadline and how to apply

To apply, please send completed Application Form, Safer Recruitment form and Equalities Monitoring form to Penny Ashcroft, hr@johnball.lewisham.sch.uk

Please use the job title as reference for your application.

Closing Date: Monday 5 October 2026 at 9am

Interview Date: Friday 9 October 2026

Start Date: Monday 2 November 2026

John Ball Primary School is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all members of the community, regardless of gender, age, marital status, disability, ethnicity, religion, belief or sexual orientation. As we are working to become a racially just school we welcome applications from black and global majority groups. We also welcome applications from males.

We operate a blind shortlisting process and will redact personal information before presenting applications to the assessors so they are unable to determine age, background etc.

John Ball Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff, volunteers and external agencies to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check, internet profile check, medical clearance and satisfactory employment references.