Job Introduction
What’s it like being a Senior Administrative Officer in LAAT?
Introduction
At the heart of every thriving school is a dedicated office team. We’re looking for a passionate, organised individual to join our team as a Senior Administrative Officer, offering not just a job, but the chance to contribute to a supportive and caring school environment where no two days are the same.
As a Senior Administrative Officer, you will play a vital role in the daily life of our school as well as the wider trust.
Why this role matters
A Safe School Environment: Actively providing safeguarding assurances around visitor management and the single central record (SCR).
Positive School Culture: As the lead for the admin team, you help shape the first impression of the school — offering a warm, professional welcome to every visitor.
Supporting our School and Trust Community: By keeping the school’s back-office running smoothly so that teaching and learning can flourish.
This role is ideal for individuals who can be a positive role model with a strong background in administration, who enjoys responsibility and thrives on variety.
Key Responsibilities Include:
Safeguarding: Maintenance of the single central record (SCR) and safeguarding procedures for visitors to school.
Resources: Overseeing the purchase order process to support teaching and learning for staff and pupils, ensuring best value.
MIS and School Census: Management and accuracy of pupil data.
Compliance and GDPR: In all areas of the school and trust policies and procedures.
Administration and processes: Supporting central finance, payroll and Colleague Services (HR) functions with accurate, timely information and documentation.
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that the school back-office functions effectively. This support extends to managing the office and administrative functions, ICT services and day to day operation of the school.
To provide a full range of administrative and finance support to the School.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
Responsible for the management of the Bromcom system and administration ensuring both pupil and personnel records are updated and correct. Prepare Census information and upload within set timescales.
Responsible for overseeing the accurate the inputting and recording of payroll information as well as the preparation of paperwork for the payroll provider as required to ensure legislative compliance.
Checking payroll outputs and reports to ensure accurate pay records.
Management of the online cashless payment system.
Liaise with third party suppliers, e.g. Supply agencies, catering providers as required.
Oversee and support the roles and responsibilities of administration and clerical staff. This will include line management.
Ensuring that all financial systems and processes operating within the School are in accordance with the LAAT Finance Policy.
Processing purchase orders in line with the LAAT Finance Policy and monitoring the effective use of the procurement card, ensuring that transactions recorded and in a timely and accurate manner.
Obtaining quotes in line with the purchasing procedures set out within the LAAT Finance Policy where required.
Maintaining staff personnel files on the Trust HR MIS and ensuring compliance with pre-employment checks for volunteers, agency staff and checking of ID for all other colleagues.
Updating the staff personnel database in relation to specified areas of role, to include sickness absence, G&D records, training and induction.
Maintaining the School SCR for volunteers, agency staff and contractors
Travelling to attend training courses as required.
Other
The duties and responsibilities in this job description are not exhaustive. The postholder may be required to undertake other duties that may be required from time to time within the general scope of the post. Any such duties should not substantially change the general character of the post. Duties and responsibilities outside of the general scope of this grade of post will be with the consent of the postholder.
The postholder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with LAAT Equal Opportunities policies.
The postholder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the LAAT Health and Safety policies and procedures.
All employees need to be aware of the possible abuse of children and vulnerable adults and if you are concerned you need to follow the Academies’ Safeguarding Policy. In addition, employees working with children have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of during their work.
For an informal discussion about the role, or to arrange a visit, please contact enquiries@whaplode.laat.co.uk.
To apply please go to https://thelaat.co.uk/opportunities/
The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will require the successful applicant to undertake an enhanced criminal record check via the DBS.
Fluency Duty
In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
The school advertising the vacancy will contact you directly regarding the outcome of your application and any interviews. When interviews are taking place schools will follow all Government and Public Health England Guidelines.
All shortlisted candidates will need to verify their eligibility to work in the UK at interview.
