Finance Funding Officer

Finance Funding Officer

Full Time / 37.50 hours per week / Monday to Friday

Hybrid - some travel expected to our HO in Northampton

Salary: Starting at £28K

Closing Date: 20th November 2026 or sooner if right candidate is hired - ALL applications need to have a full and relevant CV attached to be considered.

Purpose of Role:

As a Funding Officer, you will provide exceptional administrative support to our Nursery Managers and the Finance team.

You will complete funding claims for the nurseries on the relevant platforms and portals. Ensuring Estimate claims, Actual claims and adjustments are completed accurately and in line with the deadlines provided termly by the relevant local authorities.

Reconcile claims and payments, highlighting inaccuracies in payments and liaising with local authorities to resolve discrepancies.

Work with nursery management and administrative teams to ensure funding rules and local authority rules in relation to funding claims and documents are met.

Answer queries in relation to funding processes and claims to support Bright Horizons funding offer.

What We Can Offer You:

• Our benefits include, but are not limited to;

• Flexible working and holiday entitlements

• Discounted childcare

• Quarterly Employee Appreciation Weeks

• Annual gala award evening

• Fantastic range of discounts on high street retailers, grocery stores, cinema tickets, holidays and more

• Wide range of wellbeing resources, supporting our teams for the ups and downs of daily life

Why Bright Horizons?

Our support functions enable our nurseries to deliver the best possible care and education to over 10,000 children across the UK. Through this support, our nurseries can deliver excellence – with 98% of our 270+ portfolio being rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.

We’re on a mission to change the future for children, families, and the people we work with, and are committed to progressive working values like flexibility, work-life balance, and wellbeing.

Key Accountabilities:

• Provide support to Nursery Managers on Funding

• Track funding Entitlement

• Liaise with local authorities to maintain relationships and make sure funds are paid in accordance with contracts

• Maintain bank and balance sheets reconciliations

• Identify and highlight to the Finance Funding Manager any issues causing non-process of funds

• Assist with internal & external audit processes

• Have a customer centred approach to the running of the function

• Promote good working relationships, dealing (where possible) with communication breakdowns before they arise, and defusing tense situations.

• Work in partnership with the rest of the Finance team, and wider business colleagues

Essential Experience:

• Previous experience within a financial administrative role

• Microsoft Excel to an intermediate level

Desirable Experience:

• Accounting qualification advantageous, but not essential

• Previous experience within Funding advantageous, but not essential

Qualifications:

• GCSE Math's and English

Personal attributes

• Demonstrates consistent behaviours aligned with our HEART principles, acting with Honesty, Excellence, Accountability and Respect in all interactions, decisions and ways of working.

• Able to work in partnership with both internal and external contacts, including Local Authorities

• Understanding of confidentiality, and the ability to work within this

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbally, with the ability to have empathy

• Ability to identify concerns, prioritise critical issues and resolve complex dilemmas in a fair, open and reasoned manner.

• Reflect on the quality of own performance. Respond positively to direction and improve own performance. Know when to seek advice and support.

• Ability to self-manage, be flexible, adaptable, proactive and embrace new ways of doing things. Ability to learn new processes and utilise internal software/database

Why Bright Horizons?

Our support functions enable our nurseries to deliver the best possible care and education to over 10,000 children across the UK. Through this support, our nurseries can deliver excellence – with 98% of our 270+ portfolio being rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.

We’re on a mission to change the future for children, families, and the people we work with, and are committed to progressive working values like flexibility, work-life balance, and wellbeing.

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.

Proud to be a Great Place to Work for 20 years. Apply today!

We look forward to receiving your application!