Interim Head of Finance

A Multi-Academy Trust is seeking an experienced Interim Finance Manager to provide critical support during a period of transition. This role will focus on strengthening financial controls, supporting audit readiness, and ensuring continuity across finance operations. Key Responsibilities Knowledge Capture & Handover Work closely with the Head of Finance to map duties, deadlines, controls, and key contacts Document file locations, system processes, and review points Develop and maintain a live handover and process log Core Finance Controls Oversee month-end close processes, including journals and reconciliations Manage bank authorisations and checks Ensure robust financial controls and maintain a clear audit trail Audit Readiness & Coordination Take ownership of the audit evidence tracker Allocate requests and proactively chase responses Review completeness and coordinate audit activity to meet timelines (including mid-October deadlines) Funding, VAT & Compliance Manage VAT claims, General Annual Grant (GAG) and other funding reconciliations Oversee payroll and pension documentation Ensure compliance with related-party disclosures and governance requirements Systems & Process Transition Support implementation and testing of a new purchase ledger system. Ensure new processes are thoroughly documented and understood by the wider team Team Coordination Reduce single-person dependencies by sharing knowledge across the team Clarify roles and responsibilities Produce practical process notes to support ongoing operations Candidate Profile Proven experience in a Finance Manager or senior finance role within the education sector - ideally Multi Academy Trusts. Strong understanding of financial controls, audit processes, and compliance Experience with systems implementation and process improvement Ability to work autonomously and manage multiple priorities in an interim environment Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills Why Apply? Opportunity to make an immediate impact within a growing MAT Key role influencing financial governance and operational stability Collaborative leadership team and purpose-driven environment Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays