Job type
TemporaryLocation
StratfordWorking Pattern
Flexible Working,Full-timeSpecialism
Part Qualified AccountantIndustry
Education & TrainingPay
55,000
School Finance Manager
The Finance Manager with the academy headteacher is responsible for the financial management of each academy, therefore a strong relationship with headteachers is essential. The Finance Manager supports the Senior Leadership Team at each academy.
Core Purpose
Within the academies, the Finance Manager works with the headteacher and the senior leadership team
with overall responsibility for all aspects of financial management. The role includes
with overall responsibility for all aspects of financial management. The role includes
- being responsible for financial planning in relation to the business and support services of the academy, including the financial implications of delivering the academy improvement plan, and ensuring that the academy uses its resources effectively and efficiently at all times;
- to ensure a high level of financial control across the academies;
- as a member of the finance team to be involved in creating and delivering our shared vision, raising standards, working with the team to develop and implement improved systems and processes which support all academies, provide training and support to academy staff as needed
- to generate and co-ordinate new income streams which are supportive of the ethos of the trust
In respect of the Central function, this role will be responsible for accurate and timely inputting of day to day transactions, debtors and creditors management, payroll processing and reconciliation of relevant control accounts to support the Financial Controller.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Development and preparation of annual budgets and forecasts for future years as part of the academies three year plans
- Monitor income and expenditure in relation to the academies budgets and produce monthly reports for Headteachers, budget holders and trust leaders on a timely basis
- Hold regular meetings with Headteachers and budget holders to review financial performance and focus on best value
- Keep all academies accounts and prepare income and expenditure reports and balance sheets in accordance with the DfE financial regulations, the Trust Finance Manual and other Trust financial policies
- Prepare accounts for submission to the Trust’s auditors
- Assist in the preparation for the annual audit, liaising with all parties involved
- Work with the Financial Controller to ensure effective financial control
- Maintain a complete, accurate and tidy purchase order system ensuring all invoices comply with the Trust’s procurement policy and delegated authorities
- Maintain and oversee all bank accounts including the academies’ and credit cards, completing monthly reconciliations
- Prepare and maintain monthly reconciliations for all control accounts for the academies
- Review, control and reconcile sales and purchase ledgers
- Ownership of each academies’ trial balance ensuring completeness and accuracy.
- Pursue income and sponsorship generation opportunities including the preparation and submission of applications and bids for the academies
- Be responsible for preparing cashflow projections and all elements of cash handling including collections and disbursements, banking, security and school trips
- Be responsible for the completion of the academies payroll, ensuring all forms including timesheets, new starter/leaver/variations are correctly authorised and submitted within required deadlines. Review accuracy of payments and reporting by the academies payroll provider, liaising with the provider as required.
- In conjunction with the nominated staff members, scrutinise and attend to the payment of all invoices and statements of account
- Be responsible for the issue of academy invoices, following up their prompt payment
- Understand and track all grant income due. Follow up grant income not received. Remain up to date on current funding guidance.
- For grant income, to support the senior team in all financial aspects, ensuring records are kept of all relevant income and expenditure to allow appropriate planning and spending, that is fully compliant with the terms of the grant.
- Carry out and keep analyses of costs and other statistical information
- Be conversant with the general principle of taxation applicable to the academy and the financial implications of charitable status
- Maintain all school insurances in all forms including assessments, claims and administration
- Maintain a list of approved contractors and suppliers to ensure best value
- Manage, negotiate and monitor all contracts, leases and relationships with external contractors
- Any ad-hoc project work as may be required from time to time.
- Prepare and maintain monthly reconciliations for Central office control accounts
- Maintain a complete, accurate and tidy purchase order system ensuring all invoices comply with the Trust’s procurement policy and delegated authorities
- Responsibility for posting all invoices received and preparing payment runs, including the sending remittances and subsequent filing (online, PSF and paper) of all purchase invoices.
- Raising and chasing sales invoices
- Review, control and reconcile sales and purchase ledgers
- Responsibility for the uploading of bank statements, posting of bank transactions and reconciling the bank account to the ledger
- Responsibility for the matching of all central team members’ credit card statements and receipts as well as posting onto PSF.
- Posting all journals, to include the monthly payroll journals, intracompany journals.
- Banking of any sales receipts
- Assistance with year end work and preparation
- Assistance with one off projects as and when required
- Assistance with staff wellbeing work to include maintenance of the eyecare voucher and Perkbox systems.
- Processing payroll and doing payroll admin such as collating starter/leaver info, overtime, expenses etc
- Liaising with suppliers, including supporting procurement work
