Finance Manager

Engage Education Services has specialised in recruiting education staff in all roles for over a decade. We’re currently looking for an enthusiastic Finance Business Partner to work at a fantastic trust in Canary Wharf

Our team has built an excellent reputation in the local area, and we’re looking for more high-quality finance staff to work with these schools.

The working hours for this role are Monday to Friday, 8-4, 35 hours a week, 52 weeks (they might consider a later start/finish)

Working as part of the Central Finance Team, the role will report to the Head of Finance Business Partner at our head office in Tower Hamlets, but will require significant time to be spent on-site at the schools across the trust.

As a Finance Business Partner, you will play a crucial role in supporting budget holders in their financial and strategic decision making. Working within the central finance team you will be responsible for the month end reporting cycle, periodic forecasting and yearly budget setting. You will help translate financial information into insightful commentaries, and provide input into benchmarking, dashboarding and financial modelling.

1. Lead the Academy monthly financial reporting

2. Financial guidance and support to senior management and budget holders. Challenging and supporting senior management in managing spend on a portfolio basis. Recognising potential risks and opportunities and identifying solutions to manage them.

3. Leading the monthly management accounts to identity and address any areas of over / underspend, in partnership with Headteachers and Executive Headteachers

4. Presenting financial information to Senior Management Teams on a regular basis. Communicating complex financial issues to internal and external stakeholders, enabling individuals with little financial knowledge to understand key messages.

5. Providing sound financial advice and management to ensure that the financial implications have been properly considered, are affordable and recommendations reflect good Value for Money

6. Leading on financial planning and forecasting exercises, supporting and providing constructive challenges to business areas when identifying their funding requirements in-year and going forward. This will include working on significant fiscal events such as Spending Reviews.

7. Reviewing the monthly management accounts to identify and address any areas of over / underspend, in partnership with Headteachers and Executive Headteachers

8. Managing the annual budget setting and forecasting process for the designated schools, ensuring assumptions are sound, prudent and in line with Trust guidelines

9. Support with balance sheet, control accounts and cash flow management

10. Review and authorisation of Academy BACS runs along with the Head Teacher

11. Review of monthly credit card and petty cash reconciliations

12. Review and manage aged debtors and creditor reports and support finance officers in clearing balances

13. Review and manage payroll reports and highlight significant variations to budget to the Head Teacher

• A CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA qualification.

• Experience of working in the education sector

• Strong accounting knowledge and ability to explain concepts to colleagues.

• Extensive experience in financial management, including budget monitoring and risk management.

• Expertise in completing financial reports and handling both core transactional and strategic responsibilities.

• Sound organisation and time management skills with an attention to detail.

• Be able to adapt to changing priorities in a pressurised environment.