Senior Finance Officer in Manchester

Hopwood Hall College has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Finance Officer to join a vibrant further education college with its learners at the heart of everything we do. We are looking for a talented and forward-thinking finance officer who thrives on continuous improvement and embracing new technologies to enhance the service provided.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a welcoming and supportive team, who work collaboratively and effectively within the college.

1. To be responsible for the production of the rolling 18-month cash flow forecast for the College comparing actual income and expenditure to budget and analysing large variances in the month.

2. Carry out day to day treasury activities ensuring that the colleges investment income is maximised by ensuring accurate cashflow forecasting and placing of deposits in line with Treasury Management policy and procedures.

3. Lead on the monthly bank reconciliations for all the Colleges bank accounts.

4. To ensure the capital projects processes are followed in line with financial regulations, issuing of capital codes and the monitoring of spend each month end and producing the capital spend summary as part of the management accounts.

5. Ensure that the fixed asset register is maintained and reconciled monthly, and depreciation calculated in line with depreciation policy as part of month end and year end process.

6. Be responsible for ensuring that all balance sheet reconciliations at the month and year end of fixed assets, depreciation, all loans, deposits, VAT and bank accounts of the college and its subsidiary.

7. Oversight and review of all claims and monitoring returns to the relevant funding agencies, ensuring a full audit trail and coding on the finance system is up to date and accurate on a monthly basis.

8. Provide the training and maintenance and development of the new Finance system both within Finance team and the wider college management.

9. Support the Assistant Director of Finance & Estates with the budget setting cycle including non-pay budget preparation and consolidation and including uploading budgets and support with the returns to the funding agency as required.

10. To complete the quarterly VAT returns within deadline and ensure the college is both compliant and maximising the recovery of VAT.

11. Assist in the preparation of statutory accounts and funding body returns in line with the year-end timetable and month end timetable.

12. Undertake value for money reviews as directed by the Assistant Director of Finance to ensure contributions are optimised.

13. To liaise with auditors providing assistance, support and access to relevant and appropriate information, records and files. To implement all audit recommendations within agreed timescales in relation to treasury management.

14. To provide guidance and training to all College staff on financial procedures and budget holder responsibilities and other related queries including the attendance at open days, enrolment sessions and community fun days as necessary

15. To provide line management support to the staff involved in cashbook and the preparation of grant claims.

16. Any other duties of a similar level of responsibility as may be required.

Qualifications
Essential Criteria

AAT Level 4 Qualified or above

How Identified: Certificates

Desirable Criteria
CCAB part or fully qualified
Management or Customer Service qualification
How Identified: Certificates

Experience
Essential Criteria
Significant financial management experience working in a busy finance office with minimal supervision.
How Identified: Application / Interview

Desirable Criteria
Experience of producing rolling cash flow forecasts for more than one company within the group
Experience of managing investment and loan portfolios
Experience of business planning & understanding forecasts
Experience of managing staff
How Identified: Application / Interview

Specialist Knowledge
Essential Criteria
Experience of balance sheet reconciliations
Experience of completing bank reconciliations & developing a robust cash flow model
Experience of producing timely and accurate financial management information for key stakeholders and staff at all levels.
Experience of capital accounting and maintaining a fixed asset register
Experience of VAT reporting
Capital and Revenue grant monitoring and claims.
Investigation of anomalies and variances.
How Identified: Application / Interview

Desirable Criteria
Familiar with cash flow forecasting and in year monitoring to maximise interest receivable for the College.
Familiar with VAT partial exemption

IT Skills
Essential Criteria
Intermediate use of Microsoft applications particularly Word and Excel,
Experience of using financial software systems.
How Identified: Application / interview