Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Accountant in Paignton

Salary: £30,770.00 to £35,338.00 per annum, plus excellent benefits

Contract Type: Permanent, full time. 37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year

Location: Paignton, Devon

Join South Devon College and play a key role in shaping our financial future. We are seeking a strategic and analytical finance professional to lead and develop our income management, financial planning and business partnering functions. Working closely with senior leaders, budget holders and our MIS team, you will provide expert financial insight, robust forecasting and performance analysis that supports informed decision-making and long-term financial sustainability. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact within a forward-thinking educational environment, helping ensure resources are effectively managed to support outstanding outcomes for our learners, communities and wider stakeholders.

If you are a collaborative and proactive finance professional with a passion for continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making and delivering meaningful change, we would love to hear from you.

We are looking for a finance professional with:

• AAT Level 4
• GCSE English and Maths (Grade C/Level 4 or above)
• Experience working within a sizeable, complex organisation

You will have advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including financial modelling, Pivot Tables and Power Query, alongside experience producing budgets, forecasts and financial reports. With strong analytical and problem-solving skills, you will be confident interpreting complex financial data, building effective relationships with stakeholders, and providing financial support and challenge to non-finance managers. You will be an excellent communicator, comfortable presenting insights to senior colleagues, managing competing priorities, and handling confidential financial information in line with GDPR requirements. A proactive approach and continuous improvement mindset are essential.

Our staff are integral to maintaining our passion and high-performance levels, and we reward our staff for this. Our benefits are designed to encourage a healthy work-life balance, and include:

• 25 days annual leave (pro-rata of fractional) including the option to purchase additional holiday days
• 1 additional day's holiday for your birthday (does not have to be used on your birthday)
• 1 additional day's holiday for every 5 years served
• Christmas Closure of up to 2 weeks in addition to annual leave entitlement
• Access to a wealth of training, apprenticeships and funded higher education opportunities as well as dedicated training days
• Local Government Pension Scheme Employer pension contributions of 18%
• Subsidised fitness suite facility, onsite hair and beauty salon, access to a wide range of catering facilities, outdoor gym and free eyesight tests
• Major supermarket and high street employee discount schemes
• Life Assurance (if member of pension scheme)
• On Site Nursery (Mama Bears)
• Employee Assistance Programmes
• Access to Blue Light Card membership
• Discounted travel schemes

Closing Date: Midnight, Sunday 04 October 2026

Interview Date: Monday 19 October/Tuesday 20 October 2026 (to be confirmed)

Please note that you will be required to be in possession of an Enhanced DBS Certificate or be willing to undertake an Enhanced DBS check as a condition of employment at the College.

This College is committed to Safeguarding/Prevent and promoting the welfare of students, including children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The College is committed to applying its Single Equality Scheme at all stages of recruitment and selection. Shortlisting, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, transgender status, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, colour, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion/belief, age, pregnancy or maternity leave, or union membership.

Reasonable attempts will be made to accommodate the particular needs of any candidate who has notified us of a disability. This may include changing the timing or location of any interview to enable the candidate to attend, providing information in different formats or larger type, etc.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare any cautions, convictions, reprimands and final warnings that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 and 2020).

Working at South Devon College, you can expect access to an exciting range of training, apprenticeship and opportunities for degree level study alongside your work to keep you at the top of your game, as well as generous holiday allowance of 25 days pro rata and a strong emphasis on work-life balance.

The staff at South Devon College are truly inspirational and this is a reflection on the whole College culture of continuous improvement and support for all of our students and communities. We aim to provide our learners with excellent teaching and learning. Our staff are highly adept at working with and developing skills and knowledge in learners from different backgrounds. Our staff have consistently high expectations of all students and generate high levels of enthusiasm for participation in, and commitment to learning.