Overview
In this role, you will lead the financial management across a cluster of academies to ensure strong financial control and compliant use of resources. You’ll partner with senior leaders to guide budgeting, forecasting and reporting, while developing a high‑performing finance team. You will drive improvements in financial processes and act as the main liaison for audits and external stakeholders. This is a chance to contribute to educational excellence through robust financial leadership.
Pay / Benefits
- salary 51-53k plus SYPS
- permanent contract
- full-time / flexible working
- opportunity to influence educational outcomes
- collaborative leadership environment
Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the Cluster Finance Team with coaching and performance management
- Oversee month-end processes, reporting and ESFA/compliance with accounting standards
- Provide financial advice to academy leaders on budgeting and decision-making
- Lead annual budget setting, forecasting and long-term financial planning for the cluster
- Monitor budgets, identify efficiencies and drive continuous improvements in controls
- Coordinate internal and external audits as the key contact
- Ensure accurate processing of income, expenditure, orders and payments across academies
- Build strong relationships with academy leaders, central finance teams and external stakeholders
Key requirements
- Qualified or part-qualified finance professional (or equivalent experience)
- Strong experience in financial management, budgeting and forecasting
- Previous leadership experience with the ability to develop and motivate finance teams
- Excellent analytical, organisational and stakeholder management skills
- Experience in education, public sector or not-for-profit environments is advantageous
- analytical thinking
- stakeholder management
- leadership and people development
- financial management
- budgeting
- forecasting
Cluster Finance Manager in Sheffield employer: Hays
Join a well-established ecological consultancy in Kent that prioritises work-life balance and professional development. With a collaborative team culture and a commitment to delivering high-quality ecological advice, this company offers meaningful career progression opportunities for ecologists. Enjoy flexible working arrangements and the chance to work on diverse projects across the South East and beyond.
