Finance Lead

Finance Lead
£47,532 – £50,574 per annum

About the Job

You will lead the financial and contract compliance functions within Our Newham – Learning & Skills, ensuring the effective management of the service’s financial systems, payroll, and reporting processes. As Finance Lead, you will be responsible for overseeing the service’s financial health, ensuring compliance with funding regulations, and identifying new income streams to diversify revenue.

Working closely with the Head of Operations, you will provide accurate financial forecasts, advise on budget positions, and contribute to strategic decision-making that supports the service’s growth and sustainability. You will manage the service’s cost centres and financial systems, conduct periodic reviews, and lead internal audits to ensure accountability and accuracy.

You will also take a leading role in contract management, ensuring that commercial arrangements deliver value for money and are renewed in a timely manner. As part of your responsibilities, you will identify and secure additional funding opportunities to maximise the impact of the service on Newham residents.

About You

You are an experienced finance professional with a track record of managing financial processes and systems, preferably within an education or local government setting. You have a solid understanding of funding rules, payroll procedures, and financial reporting, and you are skilled in providing insightful budget analysis to drive informed decision-making.

You will have a qualification in a financial discipline (Level 4 or higher) or demonstrable equivalent experience, along with proficiency in financial software systems. You bring excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial information into clear guidance for non-financial stakeholders.

As a proactive and collaborative leader, you are committed to improving processes, driving efficiencies, and ensuring financial compliance across the service. You are adept at building relationships with internal and external partners to secure funding and deliver value-for-money services.

You are passionate about supporting adult learners and committed to Newham’s ethos of equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring that financial decisions contribute positively to the lives of residents.

You have a proactive approach to taking on additional responsibilities as required to ensure the effective delivery of the service and to support learners in achieving their goals.

About ONLS

Our Newham Learning & Skills is an adult education service providing learning to residents in the borough. We pride ourselves on supporting the needs of our local communities with a firm focus on putting our students at the heart of everything we do. We believe in lifelong learning and empowering people to reach their full potential.

We are part of Newham’s Community Wealth Building strategy, underpinned by the principles of economic, social and environmental justice; so that long-term prosperity, wellbeing and fairness for all our residents in the Borough is achieved.

The CWB strategy will help the Council tackle injustices residents face with an unrelenting focus on poverty in the Borough, as well as addressing racial and gendered disparities that exists.

Application Process

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact David Pearson, Head of Operations (MIS & Learner Experience), by email at

The closing date for the receipt of applications is Monday 10th March 2025 at 12pm. You will be notified if your application has been successful. Interviews will be scheduled w/c 17th March 2025.

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

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