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- Tasks: Manage finance operations and support budgeting across a secondary school.
- Company: Values-led education trust with a supportive team culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension, professional development, and progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education while developing your finance skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in finance management and strong Excel skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Manchester (hybrid/office-based)
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience + pension and benefits
Start date: ASAP
A large, values-led education trust is seeking a proactive, detail-driven Finance Manager to join its central finance team in Manchester. This is a key role supporting strong financial management across a secondary school, ensuring excellent financial controls, timely reporting, and high-quality support to budget holders.
The role
Reporting into senior finance leadership, the Finance Manager will oversee day-to-day finance operations and provide accurate management information to support decision-making. You will work closely with school and central colleagues to ensure financial compliance, value for money, and effective forecasting.
Key responsibilities
- Produce monthly management accounts, including variance analysis and reporting packs.
- Support budgeting and forecasting across multiple sites/teams.
- Maintain strong financial controls (purchase-to-pay, approvals, reconciliations, audit trails).
- Oversee balance sheet reconciliations and ensure an accurate month-end close.
- Partner with budget holders to provide guidance, challenge, and support (including training where helpful).
- Drive continuous improvement in finance processes and systems (automation/standardisation where possible).
What we’re looking for
- Proven experience in a Finance Manager role within education.
- Strong month-end, budgeting, and forecasting capability.
- Excellent Excel skills and confidence producing clear, accurate MI.
- Able to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.
- Organised, solutions-focused, and able to manage competing priorities.
- Experience in education/public sector is desirable but not essential.
Benefits
- Purpose-led organisation with a supportive team culture.
- Professional development and progression opportunities.
- Competitive benefits package (details available at application stage).
Interim Finance Manager FTC in Manchester employer: Panoramic Associates
Contact Detail:
Panoramic Associates Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Finance Manager FTC in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector and let them know you're on the hunt for an Interim Finance Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your financial management skills. Be ready to discuss your experience with budgeting, forecasting, and producing management accounts. We want to see you shine when it comes to explaining complex financial concepts to non-finance folks!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving abilities! Think of examples where you've improved finance processes or tackled challenges in previous roles. This will demonstrate your proactive approach and fit perfectly with the values-led culture of the organisation.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our supportive team culture.
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Finance Manager FTC in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your finance management experience, especially in education, and showcase your Excel prowess. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Finance Manager role. Share specific examples of your past achievements and how they relate to the responsibilities listed in the job description. Let us know what makes you tick!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since you'll be working with non-finance stakeholders, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to communicate complex financial information clearly. In your application, consider including examples of how you've successfully explained financial concepts to others in the past.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you get all the latest updates. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our values-led organisation!
How to prepare for a job interview at Panoramic Associates
✨Know Your Numbers
Make sure you brush up on your financial knowledge, especially around budgeting and forecasting. Be ready to discuss your experience with month-end processes and how you've handled variance analysis in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since you'll be working closely with non-finance stakeholders, practice explaining complex financial concepts in simple terms. Think of examples where you've successfully communicated financial information to help others understand.
✨Demonstrate Your Organisational Skills
Prepare to talk about how you manage competing priorities and ensure strong financial controls. Have specific examples ready that highlight your ability to stay organised and solutions-focused in a fast-paced environment.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Be ready to discuss any initiatives you've led or been part of that aimed at improving finance processes. Whether it's automation or standardisation, showing your proactive approach to enhancing efficiency will impress the interviewers.