Management Accountant in Bristol

In this role, you will work closely with Principals, senior leaders, academy staff and central colleagues, providing effective business partnering, robust month-end reporting and expert financial guidance. You will play a pivotal part in delivering accurate forecasting, insightful analysis and strong financial controls – ensuring our academies can manage their resources efficiently, compliantly and sustainably.

Responsibilities

• Build trusted, professional relationships with stakeholders at all levels, offering expert financial advice, guidance and challenge.
• Lead month-end processes, including reconciliations, prepayments, accruals, income deferrals, payroll reporting and balance-sheet reviews.
• Produce clear, accessible financial reporting, translating complex financial information into meaningful insights that support effective decision-making.
• Support annual budget setting for multiple academies and monitor in-year performance, identifying risks, opportunities and key financial trends.
• Analyse expenditure – including non-staffing spend – to identify trends, cost-saving opportunities and efficiencies.
• Maintain and enhance financial controls, ensuring compliance with CLF Financial Regulations, ESFA requirements and GDPR legislation.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in HR, IT, Estates and Operations, providing high-quality management information to support organisation-wide planning and understanding.
• Deliver training and guidance to academy and central staff on financial procedures and the use of financial systems.

We are seeking a skilled, proactive and detail-driven Management Accountant to deliver high-quality financial support, insight and analysis across our central team and academies. This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative and forward-thinking finance function, where your expertise will directly contribute to strong financial management, informed decision-making and improved outcomes for staff and students across the Cabot Learning Federation.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of finance regulations, month-end processes and annual budget preparation.
• An AAT qualification and/or newly qualified accountant status.
• Experience working with financial systems and maintaining accurate, reliable data.
• Excellent analytical skills with high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to work with a wide range of stakeholders.
• The ability to work independently, manage competing deadlines, lead on key financial processes and exercise sound judgement.
• Strong IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel and financial systems.
• A proactive, solution-focused approach, using initiative to drive improvements and deliver high-quality outcomes.
• High levels of discretion, professionalism and commitment to confidentiality.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, equality, safeguarding and the values of working within an education environment.

Benefits

• The opportunity to influence financial decision-making across a diverse portfolio of academies.
• Varied, meaningful work that directly supports education outcomes.
• Opportunities to lead project work and contribute to process improvements.
• Flexible, hybrid working from home and our Kingswood, Bristol office.
• Career development pathways within the Central Team and the wider trust.
• A collaborative culture that values accuracy, insight, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Generous annual leave.
• A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression, through a range of training, apprenticeships and in-role/wider-trust development opportunities.
• Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
• A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
• Additional benefits like cycle-to-work scheme, on-site parking and many more!

Why work at CLF?

We are a diverse and inclusive community of 36 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others. We are an equal-opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from under-represented and global majority groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.