Lara Richards has 14 years of experience working in administration roles for a further education college. She is currently employed as a Student Services Adviser, which involves tasks like processing invoices, purchase orders, and assessing financial aid applications. Previously she worked as an Administration Assistant in admissions, which included reconciling cash payments. She has been studying accounting qualifications through distance learning and aims to complete her AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting by autumn 2016. Her skills include communication, working to deadlines, teamwork, and maintaining confidentiality.

1. Lara Richards
116 Victoria Road, Brynteg, Wrexham, LL11 6NL | 07902799874 | lararichards1976@gmail.com
PROFILE
I have worked for my current employer, a further education college, for 14 years. I am currently employed as
a Student Services Adviser. My role involves various areas of work, including raising and verifying invoices,
raising purchase orders and receipting goods, assessing applications for student financial aid, and using
spreadsheets to record and analyse data. In my previous role as an Administration Assistant within the
Admissions department, I was responsible for counting monies, taken by approximately 7 members of staff,
and reconciling against financial reports.
It is performing tasks such as these which lead me to research accounting as a profession, after which I set
myself a career goal to work in a finance/accounting capacity. Thereafter, I enrolled onto the AAT Level 2
Certificate in Accounting (distance learning), which I studied during evenings and weekends alongside my
full-time job. I passed this qualification in March 2015, and have since enrolled onto the subsequent level, the
AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting, once again via distance learning. I have completed 50% of this
qualification, and I aim to complete it by autumn 2016.
KEY SKILLS
• Excellent communication skills (face-to-face, email, and telephone)
• Experience of working to tight deadlines
• Work well within a team, or on my own
• Experience of confidentiality in the workplace
• Knowledge of cash reconciliations
• Knowledge of purchase ledger, sale ledger, and payroll (workplace and/or study)
WORK EXPERIENCE
Student Services Adviser | Coleg Cambria Feb 2014 to Present
Further education college
• Processing and raising invoices
• Raising purchase orders and receipting goods
• Using spreadsheets to record and analyse data
• Advising current and prospective students on a variety of issues including financial support
• Assessing applications for student financial aid and assisting students completing student grant forms
• Acting as a representative of the college at internal and external events
• Responding to incoming enquiries via email and telephone
• Interviewing prospective students to assess their suitability for courses
Administration Assistant (Admissions) | Coleg Cambria Jul 2001 to Feb 2014
Further education college
• Counting monies and checking against till reports for accuracy
• Recording student college applications
• Interviewing prospective students to assess their suitability for courses
• Communicating with tutors and arranging interviews for courses
• Responding to enquiries in person, by telephone, and via email
• Nominated for ´Staff Member Of The Year´
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2. Telesales Representative | Wrexham Mail Mar 1999 to Jul 2001
Local newspaper
• Sold advertising space by telephone
• Won the ´Runner Up Salesperson Of The Year´ award in 2000
Customer Service Representative | Manweb Oct 1997 to Sep 1998
Utilities provider
• Worked in a call centre responding to incoming telephone enquires
EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS
First Intuition College – AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting In progress
Home Learning College - AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting 2015
Distance learning
Home Learning College - AAT Level 2 Award Computerised Accounting 2015
Home Learning College - AAT Level 2 Certificate Bookkeeping 2015
Coleg Cambria - NVQ Level 4 Advice and Guidance 2011
Coleg Cambria – ECDL Parts 1 and 2 Pass 2009
Coleg Cambria - Level 3 NVQ Customer Service 2005
University of Salford - Bachelor of Science Business Information Systems Management (Pass with Honours)
1998
Yale College (now Coleg Cambria) - A Levels English Literature (D)
French (E) 1994
Groves High School - GCSEs Welsh (A)
English Language (B)
Mathematics (C)
English Literature (C)
French (C)
History (C)
Science Double Award (D:D)
Information Technology (D) 1992
REFERENCES
References available on request.
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