Trust Specialist for Finance in Newquay

Kernow Learning is a primary specialist academy of 21 schools in Cornwall. All our schools celebrate their individuality whilst holding our trust's shared values, mission, and philosophy close to their heart. We believe that our trust is at the precipice of something great; through a mix of collective synchronicity and autonomy, our schools are working together to provide strength so that they can stretch their offer beyond expectations in their drive for excellence.

We are proud to be an Associate College of National Institute of Teaching; the only one in Cornwall.

About our Shared Services

Our trust has a centralised Finance Services Team, supporting our schools to ensure that they are appropriately resourced, and ensuring that our trust remains compliant and viable. This team sits within our Shared Services Team that performs a wide range of functions and services across a number of areas including finance, estates, IT, and HR, as well as our English Hub and Teaching School Hub (both linked to Trenance Learning Academy), and our Initial Teacher Education programme, KITE (Kernow Initial Teacher Education).

Kernow Learning is seeking an exceptional finance professional to become our Trust Specialist for Finance, the senior operational finance lead for the Trust. Working closely with the Chief Financial Officer, you will play a pivotal role in turning financial strategy into effective operational delivery, providing expert leadership across budgeting, financial planning, reporting, compliance and financial improvement. This is a rare opportunity to influence decision-making across a growing family of schools while helping ensure that every pound entrusted to us delivers the greatest possible impact for our children. This is a key leadership role within the Trust, with the postholder being able to balance providing strategic financial direction with hands on operational activity. Working closely with senior leaders, you will help secure the Trust's long-term financial sustainability, maximise resources to support educational outcomes, and ensure robust financial control, regulatory compliance and the effective stewardship of Trust finances. The Trust Specialist for Finance reports to the Chief Financial Officer and line manages the Finance team.

Financial leadership and strategy

• Support the Chief Financial Officer in developing and delivering the Trust's medium- and long-term financial strategy

• Lead the annual budget-setting cycle and multi-year financial planning across all schools and central services

• Produce forecasts, scenario models and sensitivity analysis to support strategic decisions, growth and financial sustainability

• Provide clear, evidence-based advice to the Chief Financial Officer, Executive Leadership Team, Headteachers and budget holders

• Contribute to integrated curriculum and financial planning, benchmarking and the identification of efficiencies and opportunities for reinvestment

• Deputise for the Chief Financial Officer on operational finance matters and attend leadership, committee or Trust Board meetings when required

Financial reporting, control and compliance

• Lead the production and quality assurance of monthly management accounts, forecasts, cash-flow information and performance reports for schools, executive leaders and trustees

• Maintain a robust Trust-wide financial control framework, including reconciliations, the scheme of delegation, separation of duties and consistent accounting practice

• Ensure compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook, funding agreements, charity and company law, tax, pensions and other applicable legislation

• Coordinate statutory and regulatory returns to the Department for Education, HMRC, pension schemes and other bodies

• Lead operational preparation for the external audit and internal scrutiny, and ensure recommendations are implemented promptly

• Support risk management, fraud prevention, regularity, propriety and value-for-money arrangements

• Oversee cash-flow monitoring, bank reconciliations and treasury administration

Finance service delivery and systems

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the finance service, setting priorities, service standards and clear ownership of work

• Line manage finance staff, setting objectives, monitoring performance, supporting wellbeing and ensuring cover and resilience within the team

• Oversee responsive, consistent and proportionate support to schools and budget holders

• Maintain the integrity and effective use of the Trust's finance and budgeting systems, including access controls, workflows and data quality

• Lead improvements to finance processes, guidance and training, making appropriate use of digital solutions and automation

• Ensure purchasing, payment, income, payroll-interface, VAT and other financial processes run efficiently and in line with Trust policy

• Work with colleagues in procurement, estates, HR and payroll to ensure joined-up controls and support decision-making

• Oversee financial records management, retention and archiving

Business partnering and team leadership

• Build effective relationships with Headteachers, school leaders, trustees, auditors, professional advisers and external agencies

• Challenge and support budget holders constructively, translating complex financial information into practical actions

• Develop financial capability across the Trust through guidance, briefings and targeted training

• Promote a culture of accountability, customer-focused service, collaboration and continuous improvement

• Plan team capacity and support recruitment, induction, development and succession planning

• Keep professional knowledge current in academy finance, accounting standards and regulation

Impact

The role makes a direct difference to how the Trust and its schools plan, spend and account for public funds:

• Headteachers and budget holders receive accurate, timely and accessible management information, with concise analysis of risks, variances and recommended actions

• Trustees and executive leaders have forecasts, scenario models and evidence-based advice to support strategic decisions and growth

• Schools benefit from integrated curriculum and financial planning, benchmarking and the identification of efficiencies and opportunities for reinvestment

• The finance team is well led, resilient and continuously improving its service

• Assurance is strong: audit and internal scrutiny are well prepared and recommendations are implemented promptly

• Processes become more efficient through better use of systems, digital solutions and automation

Together, this helps the Trust achieve financial sustainability and value for money while protecting public funds.

Important Information

Kernow Learning is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and follows the Safer Recruitment process. The successful candidate will be expected to share this commitment and will be required to undertake checks including an enhanced disclosure through the DBS process, as well as prohibition, S128, and Social Media/online presence checks.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. If you require any part of the application pack in an alternative format, or require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss your needs.

Unfortunately, we are not a sponsoring organisation for overseas candidates. This means that the successful candidate will need to possess the right to work in the UK or be able to secure the right to work in the UK independently.

For further information, or for support with the application process, please contact our HR Team on 01637 303106 or email hr@kernowlearning.co.uk.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date should we receive a sufficient volume of suitable applications. Early applications are therefore encouraged. However, if you require additional time to complete your application, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss this with you.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are not always able to provide feedback. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

If this role is not quite the right fit, but you are interested in opportunities within our central team or, one of our schools, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us to discuss current or future vacancies across the Trust, you can also view all current vacancies on our website.

As well as offering great schools to work in, wonderful children to work with, and fantastic colleagues to work alongside, our Trust is committed to providing colleagues with other benefits that make your employment with Kernow Learning the best it can be. We offer:

• A competitive salary and membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme

• Flexible and hybrid working, as set out above

• A range of CPD and training opportunities, both internally and externally, learning from local and national speakers and specialists to support your professional growth

• The support and skills of our networks of colleagues both within our schools and our Shared Services teams

• An opportunity to make an impact across our local communities.

• Access to full Employee Assistance Program offering 24/7 support and health and wellbeing benefits.

• Access to discounts through the Blue Light Card scheme with national and local retailers and service providers

• We are happy to discuss hybrid working however, there will be a regular requirement to be onsite.

About you

The successful candidate will combine strong technical finance expertise with the leadership, judgement and communication skills needed to deliver an excellent Trust-wide finance service.

Essential

• A full professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent), or equivalent professional knowledge and experience

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent professional knowledge and experience

• Substantial experience of preparing and explaining management accounts, budgets, forecasts and cash-flow information

• Experience of leading an annual budget cycle across multiple cost centres or sites

• Experience of managing and developing people, desirably a finance team

Demonstratable experience of strengthening financial controls, processes and systems and delivering measurable service improvement

• Experience of working with auditors and preparing year-end and statutory information

• Experience of presenting financial information and advice to senior leaders, committees or boards

• Strong technical accounting knowledge and understanding of financial control, audit, risk and governance

• The ability to interpret complex financial data, identify risks and communicate clear recommendations

• Advanced spreadsheet and financial systems skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to influence and challenge constructively

• Excellent planning and organisational skills, managing competing deadlines and cyclical priorities

Personal qualities

We are looking for someone who is trustworthy, ethical and committed to the proper stewardship of public funds. You will be confident and credible, with sound judgement and resilience under pressure; a collaborative, supportive leader who sets high standards; proactive and solutions-focused; and flexible and committed to continuous improvement. You will share our commitment to safeguarding children and young people, and to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable

Financial management experience in an academy trust, education or comparable regulated public-sector setting

• Experience of multi-academy financial systems, integrated curriculum and financial planning, and DfE returns

• Knowledge of the Academy Trust Handbook and academy funding, reporting and regulatory requirements

• Experience of Iris Financials and/or IMP Planner