Business Administration & Finance Apprentice - Hollingworth Academy Trust

Summary

Hollingworth Academy is seeking a motivated and organised Business Administration & Finance Apprentice to support the school’s finance and administrative functions. This role is ideal for someone looking to develop a career in business administration with a finance focus within an education setting.

Annual wage

£14,231.75 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

£7.55 per hour

Training course: Business administrator

Hours: 5 days per week (inclusive of 1 day at college) Employed for 36.25 hours per week 8am-3:45pm
36.25 hours a week

Start date: Monday 16 February 2026

Duration: 18 Months

Positions available: 1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

As a Business Administration & Finance Apprentice, you will support the Finance Officer and wider administrative team with day-to-day financial processing and general office duties. You will gain experience using a computerised accounting system and develop strong organisational and customer service skills.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Finance & Accounting Support

Carrying out day-to-day financial processes in line with the Trust Finance Policy using the Arbor accounting system
Generating purchase orders and processing purchase invoices
Generating sales invoices and processing journals
Preparing the weekly BACS payment run
Supporting the Finance Officer with additional finance tasks as required

Reconciliations & Reporting

Completing reconciliations including credit card, supplier statement and budget holder reconciliations
Supporting budget holders with day-to-day finance queries
Preparing financial reports from the accounting system as required

Customer & Stakeholder Support

Supporting parents with Arbor-related queries
Dealing with enquiries relating to invoices and orders
Ensuring invoices are processed promptly and paperwork is returned by budget holders
Administering debtor invoices and managing payments for external lettings

Trips, Visits & Lettings Administration

Assisting with the administration of school trips and visits
Supporting trip leaders and liaising with external agencies (e.g. travel companies)
Producing reports for trips from computerised systems
Monitoring the finance@, parentpayments@ and lettings@ email accounts

General Administration

General departmental administration and filing
Scanning and uploading financial invoices, remittances and supplier statements
Maintaining accurate records and supporting the smooth running of the finance office

Where you’ll work

Cornfield Street, Milnrow, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, OL16 3DR

Check your travel to work

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Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

ROCHDALE TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Your training course

Business administrator

Equal to Level 3 (A level)

Course contents

Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.

Produces accurate records and documents including: emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and present solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.

Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.

Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.

Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.

Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themself to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.

Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.

Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.

Your training plan

Business Administrator Level 3 Apprenticeship
Off-the-job training and regular reviews delivered by Rochdale Training
Workplace mentoring from the school’s finance and administration team

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE Maths and English (Grade Grade 4/C or above) essential

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Organisation skills
Number skills
Team working
Reliable and professional

Other requirements

The role involves working in a busy school environment.
You will be required to maintain confidentiality at all times.
A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check will be required prior to starting.

This is the first stage of your application process. Candidates who are successful at this stage will be invited in for a screening interview at Rochdale Training. You will be sent a link to book onto one of our screening sessions. If you have not heard from Rochdale Training within 3 working days of submitting your application, please reach out to the named contact on this vacancy.

About this company

Hollingworth Academy is a successful and inclusive secondary school serving the Milnrow and wider Rochdale community. The academy is committed to delivering high-quality education supported by strong operational, administrative and financial systems. This apprenticeship offers an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience within a busy school finance and administration team. The successful candidate will develop strong business administration and finance skills while working towards a Business Administrator Level 3 Apprenticeship.