Head of Finance in London

Thank you for your interest in joining Anthem. We are a dynamic organisation committed to supporting thousands of children and young people to achieve great things through one of our schools. Anthem is one of the most established school trusts in the country, serving nearly 8,000 students across primary and secondary schools in the East Midlands, London and the Thames Valley. As a multi-academy trust, Anthem is first and foremost a school improvement organisation, committed to creating ambitious and successful schools where everyone thrives, guided by our values of integrity, collaboration and excellence.

Job purpose

To lead Anthem’s financial operations, ensuring robust financial management and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. The role includes responsibility for year‑end accounts, monthly VAT returns, cash flow monitoring, and ensuring the accuracy of financial transactions. The post holder will have line management responsibility for the Senior Finance Officers / Finance Administrators to support the delivery of high-quality financial services across Anthem schools.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Lead the preparation of annual statutory accounts, ensuring compliance with company law, charity law and the DfE directives.
• Prepare and submit monthly VAT returns, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Monitor weekly cash flow, identifying risks and opportunities to maintain financial stability.
• Ensure all financial transactions are recorded accurately, in line with Anthem Finance Handbook and procedures.
• Line management of Senior Finance Officers / Finance Administrators, providing leadership, support and development opportunities to enhance team performance.
• Implement and maintain strong internal controls to safeguard Anthem’s financial assets.
• Liaise with the Estates team to ensure that expenditures relating to the annual School Condition Allocations are kept within the grant received.
• Maintain the fixed asset register, ensuring reconciliation to balance sheet nominals, updated and accurate.
• Act as the Finance System Administrator, leading on enhancement projects and supporting schools to ensure that the system is fit for purpose.
• Collaborate with external auditors to ensure year‑end tasks are completed within agreed timelines and ensure that findings are addressed promptly.
• Provide advice to schools particularly on VAT, HMRC, etc related matters.
• Support the Executive Director of Finance in financial strategy development and long‑term financial planning.
• Deputise for the Executive Director of Finance during absences.
• Some travel between schools and the Head Office will be required, including travel for face‑to‑face meetings and training.
• Other duties commensurate with the post as directed by the Executive Director of Finance.

These duties and responsibilities should be regarded as neither exhaustive nor exclusive as the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonably determined duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grading of the post.

Benefits

As part of Anthem Schools Trust, staff benefit from a supportive working environment and access to a range of employee benefits, including health and wellbeing support, professional development opportunities and financial benefits.

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff, visitors and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, suitable references and other essential checks. Staff involved in recruitment and selection are trained in safer recruitment, and all staff and volunteers undertake child protection training.