Finance Manager

This is an exciting role reporting to Director of Finance and Operations and managing the finance for a private school. You will ideally be an experienced Finance Manager with experience of working in education. In this role you will prepare budgets and forecasts and ancillary information for Finance Committee meetings. It is essential you can also support the payroll process. You will line manage 3-4 accounts staff.

Your role as Finance Manager:

• Assume overall day to day responsibility for the finance function, ensuring adequate processes and controls are in place.
• Take responsibility for accuracy of accounting records including, control accounts, bank reconciliations and nominal ledger review, including any ad hoc journals, in conjunction with other team members.
• Develop and prepare regular management information, including management accounts, budgets and reforecasts, and cashflow statements for internal use.
• Prepare information for termly Governors' finance committee, attend termly Governors' finance meeting.
• Advise on and track KPIs as required by the DFO.
• Lead on the termly fee billing cycle, ensuring, with the help of the Finance Officer, that fee bills are complete and accurate.
• Lead on credit control process.
• Liaise with academic and operational staff to coordinate the annual budget process.
• Liaise with external stakeholders - banks, auditors, insurance companies, HMRC, etc
• Respond to in year budget queries from colleagues.
• Lead on and prepare for annual external audit for main school, trading subsidiary and related charity.
• Monitor cash levels effectively and coordinate cash requirements with Foundation/Head Office.
• Maintain the Fixed Asset / WIP ledger.
• Maintain accounting records for associated charity and trading entity, including VAT and Gift Aid returns.
• Support the payroll administrator with the two monthly payrolls, check monthly payroll and prepare sign-off sheet for DFO. Act as liaison with payroll bureau.
• Support the Payroll-Co-ordinator with regards to salary queries (in liaison with the HR Manager), and pension queries.

Personal Specification

• Degree level or equivalent.
• Professional qualification in a relevant field.
• Experience of effective financial management and budgeting.
• Ability to contribute effectively to the strategic development of the School.
• Financial literacy (budgeting, cost management, financial planning, and reporting) with strong analytical skills and the ability to present financial information clearly and concisely.
• Technical and IT literacy (including use of a finance database).
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Committed team player with a collegiate and collaborative approach.
• Ability to motivate and engage others.
• Comfortable working at both a strategic and operational level.