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Form of work
Salary- Permanent Secondary Finance Business Partner
- Growing Academy Trust in Northern Manchester
About Our Client
The Trust began in 2017, and they currently comprise of ten schools: seven primary and three secondary. Over the coming months and years more Catholic schools will join them on their journey.
They are part of the Diocese of Salford and their schools span the local areas of Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Salford and Wigan. Their Trust will consist of fourteen schools by summer 2024 and will continue to grow over the coming years in line with the Salford Diocesan Academy Strategy.
It is an exciting time to join the Academy Trust as they continue their growth plan. The expectation by 2030 is for their finance team to double in size and be at 67schools. With this plan their turnover will grow to nearly £150m and have around 4000 staff and nearly 25,000 pupils in 2030. This is a great opportunity for a Secondary Finance Business Partner to join the organisation and play a vital part in shaping this growth
The role will report directly into the CFO be responsible for the day-to-day financial management of the secondary schools in the trust, ensuring compliance with financial procedures and accounting requirements. The post holder will work closely with the CFO, central team and local leadership teams to ensure an effective and efficient finance service across the Trust. The post holder will provide Business Partner support to individual schools as required and will assist with central duties.
The role will be based between head office and the secondary schools this role will support around the northern part of Greater Manchester.
Job Description
As a Secondary Finance Business Partner, duties of the role will include:
Month end processes
- Ensure that month end processes are followed in line with Trust financial processes.
- Work with the Head of Finance and colleagues to produce monthly management accounts
- Maintain and update cash flow statements.
Budget Setting and monitoring
- Scrutinise monthly budget reports; provide commentaries on the results and on all significant variances from budget for all schools and take corrective action as appropriate.
- Oversee the school's annual budget process
Systems and Processes
- Authorise entries e.g. invoices and income for schools.
- Ensure financial system support and training is provided to schools as required.
School Business Partner
- Provide high quality financial advice and guidance to leadership and staff in designated schools
- Ensure transactional financial and procurement processes within the school are undertaken in line with Trust policies
Audit
- Work with the Head of Finance on internal and external audit preparation and provision of information to auditors.
- Responsible for monitoring the compliance at the school level with any issues which have been flagged by audit
- Ensure correct and consistent coding of transactions across the secondary schools in the Trust.
- Support the CFO in relation to any Internal Scrutiny programmes.
Payroll
- Responsible for checking the secondary school's payroll against the budget on a monthly basis and exploring/reconciling any issues as required
Other Duties
- Monitor and review information required for any financial risks identified on the Trust risk register or those of the secondary schools.
- Work with the Head of Finance to produce other mandatory or statutory returns and reports as required.
General Responsibilities
- Be aware of, and comply with all Trust policies and procedures, in particular those relating to child protection, health, safety and security, financial management, confidentiality and data protection.
The Successful Applicant
- Fully Qualified Accountant DESIRABLE
- You will have prepared financial plans and managed budgets ESSENTIAL
- You will have worked in an Academy Trust previously ESSENTIAL
- You will have the ability to analyse, interpret and report on complex financial and resources performance information to aid effective strategic planning and decision making ESSENTIAL
- You will have used computer-based systems and software such as Microsoft Office and accounting and payroll software ESSENTIAL
What's on Offer
- Salary c. £60,000
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- 28 days + bank holidays
- Free parking
- Flexible working hours
- Free gym
