About this role
Permanent, Full-Time (35 hours per week), £32,000 - £35,000 per annum, On-Site
Join Our Finance Team as a Finance Assistant
Help support the smooth financial running of a historic and thriving academic community.
The College is seeking an organised, enthusiastic, and detail-driven Finance Assistant to join our friendly Finance Office. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys variety in their work, values accuracy, and takes pride in providing excellent service.
You will be an integral part of a small and supportive team that keeps the College’s financial operations running efficiently. Your work will directly support our students, Fellows, staff, and wider community—helping ensure that everyone’s financial records are clear, accurate, and well-managed.
What You’ll Be Doing
You’ll take a lead role in student and member billing, administering scholarships, bursaries, grants and prizes, credit control, bank reconciliations, and maintaining accurate financial records. As part of the wider Finance team, you’ll also have opportunities to support accounts payable, gifts and donations administration, rental income, and month-end processes.
You’ll be a key point of contact for students, Fellows, and staff, answering day-to-day queries with clarity and professionalism. If you enjoy working with people as much as you enjoy working with numbers, you’ll fit in well here.
What We Offer
The College provides a generous benefits package, including:
30 days of annual leave plus bank holidays Free lunch on working days Contributory pension scheme (OSPS) Private medical insurance (optional) Access to the College Fitness Room Cycle to Work and EV salary sacrifice schemes Season ticket loans A supportive, welcoming community where your work makes a visible difference
Working hours are typically Monday–Friday, 9am to 5pm with one hour unpaid break for lunch. There is flexibility for the postholder to start earlier or later in order to travel to College. The postholder will need to have a flexible approach to working hours, particularly during busy periods, such as the start of the academic year.
What We’re Looking For
You’ll bring an AAT qualification (or equivalent experience), a solid understanding of accounting principles, and hands-on experience in finance administration—particularly reconciliations, billing, and payment processing. Confidence with accounting software and Excel will help you hit the ground running. Most importantly, you’ll show initiative, accuracy, and the ability to communicate financial information to non-specialists with ease.
If you’ve worked in higher education or are familiar with student billing systems, even better—but this is not essential. What matters most is your commitment to integrity, teamwork, and great service.
How to Apply Applications are welcome from candidates who meet the essential criteria and are motivated to contribute to a high-performing finance function within an academic setting.
For further information and to apply please click the 'Apply' button above.
The closing date for applications is 09.00am on Monday 12th January 2026.
Merton College is an Equal Opportunities employer