Trust Finance Manager in Pershore

Salary: £31,537–£36,363 (subject to NJC uplift)

Grade: SC6 – SO1 (SCP 18-22 / SCP 23-25), depending on experience

Reporting to: CEO and Chief Finance Officer

Conditions of Service: 37 hours per week, full year

Overview

Role is an integral part of the Diocese of Worcester Multi Academy Trust (DoWMAT) Central Team, supporting the CFO in providing trust‑wide financial support and centralised cash management.

Main Purposes of the Role

Operate within the Central Team and provide an efficient, effective service in financial administration, working within agreed policies and procedures. Undertake financial administrative and organisational processes, contribute to the overall aims of the Trust, and be accountable for decision‑making, short‑term planning and dealing with unexpected problems within the Trust office. Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people within the Trust.

Key Responsibilities

• Build strong, collaborative working relationships with headteachers and school leadership teams, acting as a key finance contact for assigned schools.
• Contribute to the planning, development and organisation of the Trust’s finance systems, procedures and policies.
• Ensure compliance with Trust finance procedures, policies and recommendations, and that all financial business conforms to best value.
• Alert the CEO and CFO to any concerns with Trust school finances or Trust staff not meeting their financial obligations or not working in accordance with Trust policy and procedures.
• Assist in tracking the Trust's financial status and performance to identify areas for potential improvement.
• Under the guidance of the CFO, ensure timely and accurate preparation and submission of routine finance returns.
• Be integral to the delivery and completion of both internal and external audit processes.
• Prepare accurate and timely management accounts, providing analysis of forecast variances and working with school leaders to address any issues.
• Distribute financial reports, including monthly management accounts, and provide meaningful benchmarking.
• Prepare robust annual budgets and 3‑year financial plans with headteachers and identify budgets of concern to the CFO.
• Work with the CFO to ensure financial decisions are aligned with operational development plans.
• Serve as the initial point of contact for finance queries, offering support to school‑based staff.
• Complete and review the Trust cash book, ensuring payments are allocated correctly to supplier accounts, recording income accurately with high attention to detail.
• Review and authorise the weekly BACS report in line with Trust procedure, handling supplier remittances and Purchase Ledger queries.
• Complete and review month‑end processes in line with Trust procedures, including bank reconciliation, control account reconciliation, and closing/opening periods in the Trust finance system.
• Oversee the monthly commercial card statement reconciliation.
• Produce the monthly VAT126 return for review by the CFO.
• Maintain and update the Trust fixed asset register and monthly depreciation, as well as the Trusts contracts register.
• Prepare and distribute monthly salary reconciliation in line with Trust procedure.

Assist With Other Admin/Finance Tasks as Delegated

• Support the finance function in schools in the absence of school finance or office staff.
• Aid in seeking methods to minimise financial risk to the Trust.
• Identify efficiencies and potential savings.
• Establish and maintain strong communication lines with internal leadership and external agencies.
• Process and review purchase orders, purchase invoices, sales invoices, receipts, supplier request forms and journals.
• Review and input staff expense claims.

Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Pupils

Fully aware of, and understand, the duties and responsibilities arising from the Children’s Act 2004 and Working Together in relation to child protection and safeguarding children and young people. Follow the Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures adopted by the academy and DoWMAT. Keep appropriate records of concerns as required.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Contribute to a positive team atmosphere and the Trust’s public image.
• Act professionally and with integrity at all times.
• Assist with the general care and welfare of all pupils, maintaining a happy, safe environment at all times.
• Adhere to and maintain school routines and codes of conduct, including confidentiality.
• Support the aims and ethos of the Trust and schools at all times.
• Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participating in appropriate training activities.
• Undertake other duties and training reasonably required and consistent with the general level of responsibility of this job.
• Undertake Health and Safety duties commensurate with the post and/or as detailed in the School Health and Safety Policy.

Qualifications and Experience

• NVQ Level 4 or equivalent in finance or qualified by experience.
• Experience of financial administration work, including budget control.
• Qualified or part‑qualified (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, CIPFA).
• Experience in a school/academy trust environment.
• Desire to continue with further CPD.

Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to engage and communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders.
• Ability to support and respectively challenge leaders where appropriate.
• Ability to manage competing priorities.
• Ability to work proactively, plan and organise workload, optimise resources and complete targets within agreed timescales.
• Ability to organise effective and efficient office systems for record‑keeping, information retrieval and dissemination of data and documentation.
• ICT competency, in particular the use of Excel, including the manipulation of spreadsheets.
• Experience of working within a centralised function.
• Experience in using IMP software.
• Knowledge of education, academies, public/non‑profit organisations.
• Knowledge of the Academies Handbook.

Personal Qualities

• Personable, shares and listens to information, opinions and ideas, using a range of effective approaches.
• Organised, able to work independently, and adaptable.
• Acts with discretion and keeps confidentiality.
• Able to give supportive challenge to senior leaders and their staff, open to understanding their needs and can respond accordingly.
• A creative and positive mind‑set.
• Personal strength of character through transparency, integrity and fairness.
• Resilient attitude with the ability to learn.
• Hard working and enjoys being part of the team.
• Experience of supporting organisational change.
• Ability to communicate finance to non‑finance audiences.
• Ability to seek and identify improvement to processes.

Other

• Commitment to uphold and promote equality of opportunity.
• Demonstrates an understanding of safeguarding issues relevant to the post.
• Deep commitment to the vision, values and aims of the Trust.

EEO Statement

DoWMAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All employees are expected to adhere to the Equality Policy and Code of Conduct. The duties described in this job description must be carried out in a manner which promotes equality of opportunity, dignity and due respect for all employees and service users and is consistent with the DoWMAT Equality Policy and Code of Conduct. DoWMAT academies are a non‑smoking environment.

Contact

Please contact Becky Dutton, DoWMAT CFO at finance@dowmat.education.