At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance business partnering, oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning across the Trust.
- Company: Consilium Academies serves communities in Salford, South Yorkshire, and the North East.
- Benefits: Offers high-quality professional development and meaningful career progression opportunities.
- Other info: Start date is September 2026; contract is permanent.
- Why this job: Shape the financial future of education while supporting organisational growth.
- Qualifications: Significant experience in financial management and understanding of the education sector required.
The predicted salary is between 55524 - 57580 £ per year.
Salary: NJC Grade 15 - SCP 44 - 46 (£55,524 - £57,580) – Contract: Permanent. Start date: September 2026.
Join Consilium Academies and Help Shape the Financial Future of Education. We are committed to Excellence and Equity with Integrity, serving communities across Salford, South Yorkshire and the North East. We are looking for an exceptional finance leader to join our central team as Head of Finance - Business Partnering.
About the Role
As Head of Finance - Business Partnering, you will lead our finance business partnering function, ensuring academy leaders and senior stakeholders receive high-quality financial insight, challenge, and support. You will oversee budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, procurement, benchmarking, and business partnering activities across the Trust. Working closely with the Chief Finance Officer and Head of Finance - Accounting, you will help shape financial strategy, support organisational growth, and ensure resources are aligned to educational priorities.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the Finance Business Partner team.
- Build strong relationships with Principals, school leaders and central teams.
- Deliver expert financial analysis, challenge and scenario planning.
- Lead the annual budget-setting process and monthly forecasting cycles.
- Support Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning across academies.
- Drive procurement planning and value-for-money initiatives.
- Lead financial benchmarking and performance analysis.
- Produce reports and present financial information to senior leaders and Trust committees.
- Support financial due diligence and onboarding of new schools.
- Ensure compliance with Trust financial policies, procurement regulations and Academy Trust requirements.
- Contribute to long-term financial planning and sustainability across the Trust.
About You
We are seeking an experienced finance professional who can combine technical expertise with strong relationship-building and leadership skills.
Essential
- Significant experience in financial management, budgeting and forecasting.
- Experience leading and developing finance teams.
- A strong understanding of financial controls, reporting and analysis.
- Experience providing strategic financial advice to senior leaders.
- Experience working within the education sector, particularly academies.
- Experience of financial consolidation across multiple sites or business units.
- Knowledge of the Academy Trust Handbook and DfE financial requirements.
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across Trust sites.
Desirable
- Professional accounting qualification or School Business Management qualification.
- Experience of Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning (ICFP).
- Knowledge of charity and company financial reporting requirements.
- Experience of income generation and bid writing.
Why Join Consilium Academies?
At Consilium, we believe our people are our greatest asset. We support colleagues through high-quality professional development, collaborative working and meaningful career progression opportunities. Our values of Excellence, Equity and Integrity underpin everything we do, creating a culture where colleagues are supported, challenged and empowered to thrive.
Consilium Academies is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointments are made subject to an Enhanced DBS Check, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. The Trust is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Head of Finance – Business Partnering in Manchester employer: Consilium Academies
Join Consilium Academies, where our values of Excellence, Equity, and Integrity guide our mission. Located across Salford, South Yorkshire, and the North East, we offer a supportive environment with a focus on professional development. We are committed to safeguarding children and promoting diversity within our workforce.
