Finance officers often act as line managers to accounting or finance assistants, clerks and can work across one or more schools with various school staff. They will  have oversight of the basic accountancy functions at the school:

• Financial records
• Production and analysis of figures for the accountants or departmental heads
• Audit accounts
• Invoices
• Expenses claims
• Computerised accounting systems
  

When accountancy or finance assistants find mistakes or instances of mal-practice in invoices and expenses claims they refer them to the finance officer for action. In addition they will help with larger issues that might have to do with the whole council or a large school. For example they may play a key role in dealing with the financial implications of purchase and monitoring of services and goods in the school e.g. contractors, building, equipment, meals and so on. They may be responsible for staff budgets, payments to creditors and statistical returns. Sometimes they work in other directorates across the local authority, which may not have a professional accountant on its pay roll, where they could have special responsibility for ensuring that salaries and suppliers are paid on time.