Admin/Finance Job interview - High School

[Charliewarley7]

Hi I have an interview for a receptionist/finance officer at a high school. It says I will have a 30 minute intray exercise followed by an interview can anyone tell me what to expect on the intray exercise ?

It will most likely be a prioritise and action intray test. So different scenarios and how you would respond and in what priority order.

Good luck!

Thank you 😊

You'll also probably have a safeguarding part in the interview somewhere so review their policy.

agree with @OhhhhhhhhBiscuits
in all instances the children’s safety comes first which may be obvious but they will prob throw in an ‘angry parent’ who wants immediate attention or headteacher wanting you to do something which may seem urgent but isn’t.

You could also be asked to write a letter for a school trip and as it’s a financial role too, they may ask you to do simple sums regarding clubs fees/school fees or something like that.

good luck!

When I have 30 minutes previously it was two exercises. Write a letter and calculate school/club fees but they were simple calculations.

Thank you so much I have been reading up on their school policies and safeguarding etc

Ok lovely I'm more nervous of the intray task than the interview itself

I recently started work in a private school in a finance role, I do not have a background of working in schools. My practical tests involved writing a letter to a parent about non payment of fees, I was also provided with a large excel spreadsheet and had to do some changes on it and also filter the data to seer some questions.

I was questioned fairly extensively on safeguarding, even though they knew I do not have experience working with children and would need to attend safeguarding training, they still I think wanted to see what my natural responses would be to a number of different situations.

There were also the usual interview style questions about prioritising, improving processes etc.

I am applying for a senior finance officer in a high school academy. Do you know what test I’ll have? And what financial questions they may ask? So I can be prepared. I’m worried the nerves will get to me and I’ll fail an excel spreadsheet task

Take time to double check your figures. The number of people who get basic addition wrong is unbelievable!

As people have said keep safeguarding at the forefront of any answer. Make it clear you would Always report concerns or niggles immediately to DSL or using their safeguarding system
Good luck. You've got this 👏

I have an interview coming up for a facilities and finance officer job at a SEN school. Anyone have any idea what will be on the test before the interview. I know it will be related to RM finance and Oracle.

Hello, I know this was last year. Please would you kindly let me know how your interview went? I have a finance manager interview at an academy coming up. Not sure what to expect. I don’t come from a school background but from a finance background.

I have a Finance Officer interview very early tomorrow morning (it's basically a fancy title for Finance Manager's Assistant) for a learningtrust that overseeseveral schools. I have experience in finance and education, safeguarding is very fresh in my mind, and I'm still nervous! It's been decades since my previous paid role. Any advice?