Finance Manager - Trust-wide Accounting & Leadership

Overall purpose and description of the role: The Finance Manager (FM) plays a key role in supporting the Deputy Chief Finance Officer (DCFO) and Chief Finance & Operations Officer (CFOO) in delivering a high quality, customer-focused finance service across the Trust. This role is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the wider finance team and for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and consistency of financial accounting across all academies. The Finance Manager will consolidate financial data from individual academies, maintain central financial records, and ensure compliance with statutory requirements, Trust policies, and best practice standards. Acting as the link between the wider finance team and senior finance leadership, the Finance Manager will provide technical guidance, quality assurance, and support the Trust’s financial compliance.

Key Responsibilities & specifications

• Team Leadership: Line manage Finance Assistants, Procurement Assistants, and Finance Apprentices. Provide day-to-day guidance and support to the wider finance team, particularly those responsible for data input, ensuring consistent and high-quality financial practices across the Trust. Act as the primary liaison between the finance team and the DCFO, facilitating effective communication and operational alignment.
• Financial Accounting & Assurance: Consolidate financial data from all academies into central reports, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and completeness. Assist the DCFO in the preparation of monthly management accounts for all academies and central services. Review and verify financial transactions processed by the wider team, ensuring accuracy, consistency and compliance with Trust policies and financial regulations. Maintain and manage the Trust’s fixed asset register. Reconcile the Trust central bank account and deposit facilities, ensuring the integrity of financial records. Produce the Trust’s VAT return and ensure compliance with HMRC requirements. Oversee the completion of monthly finance tasks and checklists, ensuring procedures are followed accurately and on time. Coordinate and manage key finance processes such as BACs payments and journal adjustments, ensuring consistency and high standards across the team.
• Technical Guidance & Compliance: Provide expert financial advice and technical guidance to the wider finance team, promoting adherence to accounting standards, regulatory requirements, and sector best practice. Support the DCFO in the preparation of monthly management accounts, budget forecasts, and year-end procedures, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and transparency. Ensure financial operations are fully compliant with the Trust’s Financial Regulations, Scheme of Delegation, and all relevant legislation, including ESFA guidance and statutory reporting requirements. Actively monitor and evaluate compliance with internal financial controls, policies, and procedures across all academies and central services. Conduct regular checks and assurance activities to identify gaps, risks, or non-compliance, and escalate concerns appropriately. Promote a culture of financial accountability and control, ensuring that all team members understand and apply financial policies consistently. Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of financial systems, control frameworks, and reporting mechanisms to support effective governance and decision making.
• Year-end & Audit: Support year-end financial procedures, ensuring timely and accurate completion of data for annual accounts preparation. Assist the CFOO in preparing the Trust’s statutory financial statements. Liaise with external auditors during the annual audit, coordinating the provision of required information from the wider central team.
• Central Services & Collaboration: Work closely with Trust finance leads to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting. Support the DCFO and CFOO in Trust-wide financial planning and strategic initiatives. Contribute to the development and implementation of financial systems and processes that improve efficiency, consistency, and control.

Qualifications: Significant experience in a senior finance role, ideally within the education or public sector. AAT Level 3 or above or equivalent. Ideally working towards or holding a professional accountancy qualification (ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA).

Skills & Experience: Strong technical knowledge of financial accounting and reporting. Proven experience in managing and developing finance teams. Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to high standards of accuracy. Ability to interpret financial data and provide clear, actionable insights. Experience in preparing VAT returns and managing fixed assets. Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships across teams.

Ethics and Professional Conduct: All staff are expected to uphold consistently high standards of ethical and professional behaviour. In your role, you must demonstrate integrity, accountability, and leadership in line with the Seven Principles of Public Life: Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, Leadership. As a representative of the trust, the post-holder must: Build respectful, professional relationships and maintain appropriate boundaries. Show tolerance and respect for others, embracing cultural diversity. Uphold fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect. Ensure personal beliefs do not influence or compromise professional responsibilities. In your role in the Trust, you are expected to: Act in the best interests of the trust and its community. Model ethical behaviour and professionalism. Accept accountability and operate within relevant statutory frameworks. Commit to ongoing professional development and contribute positively to the wider education system. Be attentive to potential discrepancies or concerns, and act with professional curiosity and healthy professional scepticism. Be aware of and follow the trust’s whistleblowing and reporting procedures, ensuring that safeguarding, integrity, and transparency are upheld at all times.

Other Requirements: Commitment to the Trust’s values and objectives. Willingness to work flexibly and travel between Trust sites as required. Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment.

Dimensions: Direct line management responsibility for Finance Assistants, Procurement Assistants, and Finance Apprentices. Annual budget of up to £75 million across the trust. Number of sites - up to 12 academies.

Work/Business contacts: Internal: Senior executive leadership team, headteachers, heads of service, central team members, and academy teachers and support staff. External: Auditors, Department for Education, Local Authorities, Suppliers, Contractors, Bank, Parents.

Expertise in Role Required: Essential: Extensive relevant experience in a senior finance role. AAT (Intermediate level) or equivalent. Proven experience of delivery of wide range of Finance services. Proven ability to interpret and provide advice on a diverse range of accounting issues. Experience of successfully leading a team. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Substantial experience of preparing monthly financial reports and statutory compliance such as VAT returns. Substantial experience of managing a finance team's month end routines. Desirable: Relevant accountancy qualification (AAT Level 4, ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA) or working towards. Experience of working in an academy or school setting. Experience of assisting in preparing statutory financial accounts for audit.

Other (Physical, mobility, local conditions): Essential: Has the ability to travel around the trust area. Is willing to work flexibly within scope of overall hours. Has a full current UK Driving Licence. Has access to a motor vehicle and is prepared to use it for business purposes.