Finance Manager

Finance Manager

Annual Salary: £50,000 - £70,000 (Based on Experience & Qualifications)

Location: NW London

Job Type: Maternity Cover/Fixed Term Contract

Reed are acting on behalf of a prestigious secondary school in Northwest London, who are seeking a Finance Manager to join their team on a maternity cover basis. This role is ideal for someone with a strong background in school finance management, possessing extensive knowledge of ESFA financial requirements and reporting. The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining and enhancing our financial systems and processes, ensuring compliance and efficiency.

Day-to-day of the role:

• Conduct general bookkeeping tasks including invoice entry, ordering, payments processing, credit control, and filing.
• Coordinate the monthly payroll run, liaising with the Head Teacher and third-party payroll provider.
• Prepare and submit annual employee salary statements and maintain the salary budget file.
• Manage pension queries from staff members and the pension provider.
• Handle stakeholder management responsibilities with all external suppliers, including invoicing and coordinating contract negotiations.
• Perform ongoing financial analysis of the school’s secondary activities such as School Clubs, private nursery provision, and SEN department.
• Prepare monthly management accounts for review by the Finance & Audit Committee and approval by the Chair of Finance and Chair of Governors.
• Conduct monthly bank reconciliations and investigate any discrepancies.
• Prepare and submit VAT returns and Gift Aid claims to HMRC.
• Lead the external audit process, including preparation and coordination of responses to audit queries.
• Prepare the 3-year BFRO school budget for review and approval by the Finance & Audit Committee and Governing Board and submission to ESFA.
• Manage the pensions auto-enrolment process and submit key Companies House requirements including Annual Accounts and Annual Return.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Accountancy qualification (AAT, ACCA, ACA or equivalent).
• Extensive knowledge of the financial workings of a school and ESFA financial requirements.
• Proven experience in budget monitoring, account reconciliation, and financial reporting.
• Proficiency in a range of computer applications including financial management systems.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to maintain efficient record-keeping systems.
• Excellent communication skills to interact with various stakeholders including staff, governors, and external suppliers.
• Ability to work independently and manage workload to meet deadlines while maintaining accuracy in all financial transactions.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary.
• Opportunity to work in a supportive and dynamic environment.
• Professional development opportunities.

This role is office based.