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We are seeking a highly organised and detail-oriented Finance Manager to lead the day-to-day management of the school’s finance function.
Reporting to the School Business Manager (SBM), you will ensure financial processes are accurate, efficient and fully compliant with regulatory and audit requirements. You will act as the key link between the finance team, senior leadership and external partners.
This is a pivotal role combining hands-on oversight of financial operations with responsibility for maintaining strong financial controls, supporting decision-making and ensuring effective financial governance.
The school operates an in-house payroll function, and you will oversee payroll processes, including reviewing changes, validating reports and ensuring appropriate authorisation and compliance, while maintaining clear separation between processing and approval.
Key Responsibilities
1. Lead daily finance operations, ensuring income, expenditure, reconciliations and payroll transactions are accurate and timely
2. Maintain and strengthen financial controls in line with regulations, procedures and audit requirements
3. Support budgeting, forecasting and financial planning, producing management accounts and analysis
4. Monitor financial performance, identifying risks or anomalies and taking appropriate action
5. Oversee payroll processes, ensuring accuracy, validation and proper authorisation prior to sign-off
6. Line manage finance staff, allocating workloads, developing capability and promoting best practice
7. Act as the main contact for auditors and external advisors, ensuring records and systems are well maintained
About You
You will be a qualified finance professional or have equivalent experience, with a strong background in financial operations.
You will have a solid understanding of financial controls, compliance and audit processes, along with experience in budget monitoring and financial reporting. You will be confident analysing financial information and able to challenge and support colleagues constructively.
You will demonstrate strong organisational and analytical skills, with high levels of accuracy and attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
You will be an effective communicator, able to explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues and work collaboratively with senior leaders.
Experience of supervising staff is essential, along with the ability to maintain confidentiality and professional integrity. Experience in a school, academy or public sector setting is desirable but not essential.