Finance Manager

North Star Community Trust are a family of academies built on the belief that we are Stronger Together. The Trust plays a vital role in the communities it serves, creating real, lasting change through education, opportunity and support. The Trust’s vision is to help every child succeed at school and in life. We live by the values of Education, Community, Opportunity, ensuring every pupil receives an excellent education, feels part of a strong and caring community, and has the chance to grow into a confident, well‑rounded individual.

We are looking for an experienced and proactive Finance Manager to join our Trust, which includes four academies and a Central Services team. This is a key role supporting the Finance Director in delivering effective financial management across our Trust. This is a varied and hands‑on role combining operational finance with strategic support. You will oversee day‑to‑day financial processes including banking, reconciliations and income management, while also contributing to higher‑level activities such as management accounts, budgeting support, and financial analysis. You will act as a key point of contact for finance across the Trust, providing guidance, training and first‑line support to staff. The role also involves maintaining and improving financial systems and processes, ensuring compliance with financial regulations (including VAT and audit requirements) and supporting procurement and contract management activities. Working across multiple sites, you will build strong relationships with colleagues at all levels, contributing to a collaborative and high‑performing finance function.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys both detail‑oriented financial work and influencing wider organisational success through high‑quality financial insight and support. If you’re passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a forward‑looking Finance team shaping the future of our Trust, we’d love to hear from you!

We are looking for a skilled and proactive finance professional who’s comfortable handling a variety of financial tasks, from day‑to‑day transactions to supporting management accounts. You will have an AAT Level 4 qualification and experience working in a busy finance environment where juggling multiple priorities is the norm. You will be confident using financial systems and Microsoft 365 to deliver accurate and timely information. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as you will be working with colleagues across the Trust, including school leaders and budget holders. Being organised, detail‑oriented and able to work independently as well as part of a team is key, along with meeting deadlines, maintaining accuracy and identifying ways to improve processes. Above all, you will be motivated to make a real difference, helping our schools achieve the best outcomes for their pupils.

Our pledge is to offer a supportive, caring, meaningful place to work and learn. Being an employer of choice is our continued aspiration. We offer a range of benefits to our staff:

• Access to NSCT Health Cash Plan, covering a range of healthcare cover, benefits, perks and discounts
• Career pathways and leadership development
• Continuous professional development and training opportunities
• Promote manageable workloads and support a healthy work life balance
• Generous pension scheme
• Subsidised lunches in our canteen
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff referral bonus scheme
• Free onsite parking

If you’re passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a forward‑looking HR team shaping the future of our Trust, we’d love to hear from you! Shortlisted candidates may be invited to interview before the closing date. Early applications are strongly encouraged, as the vacancy may close early.

We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment. As part of our recruitment process, the successful candidate will be required to undergo safer recruitment checks, including enhanced clearance through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and any other pre‑employment checks relevant to their role.

We are committed to fostering a positive and inclusive working culture that reflects our Trust's ethos of being Stronger Together. The Trust is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all. It aims to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit.