Finance Manager

Finance Manager

Full-time or part-time (four or five days per week (30 - 37.5 hours), on a full-year basis)

Full time equivalent salary is around £45,000, depending on experience

The Post:

We are seeking a caring, capable, committed and suitably qualified Finance Manager to join our dedicated support team. 

The Finance Manager will play a key role within the College, ensuring that a high quality, effective and service-orientated financial provision is available to colleagues, parents, and other stakeholders across the College.

We would welcome applications from candidates wishing to work full-time or part-time (four days per week). This is a full-year post, requiring the successful candidate to work both during school closure periods, and during term time.

The full-time equivalent salary for this role is around £45,000, depending on experience.

Job Description:

In all duties, the Finance Manager is supported by and works alongside members of the College Leadership Team, with designated and specific line management. 

• Maintain, monitor, develop and implement financial procedures / systems, overseeing all financial activity for the College.

• Maintain systems and procedures that ensure financial transactions are recorded and reported accurately, and in accordance with the financial regulations.

• Manage the budgeting process for the College, providing information, support, guidance and challenge to budget holders.

• Prepare monthly and termly management accounts and all balance sheet items, including income and expenditure, bank accounts, VAT, debtors / creditors, accruals, pre-payments, depreciation, deferred income and accruals, fees and cashflow, for reporting to line management, the Head and Governors, as appropriate.

• Manage the month end and year-end close and the provision of information to the external auditor.

• Oversee the production of the VAT return for the Trust.

• Oversee accounting for funds, including deposits, fees, bursaries and scholarships.

• Review monthly payroll, in conjunction with Human Resources, to ensure remuneration is accurate, prior to approval.

• Oversee the Financial Management Information System (iSAMS) and ParentPay online system.

• Provide detailed financial management information, as required.

• Carry-out ad-hoc projects to support the strategic development and direction of the College, as necessary.

• Foster a service-orientated ‘can do’ approach and a culture of support within the finance department, encouraging mutually supportive working relationships.

• Work closely with, and develop / train, the Finance Officer / Assistant when required.

Please see attached document for additional information, including an introduction from the Head.

Person Specification:

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

Qualifications:

• ACA / ACCA qualified

Experience:

Please note that previous experience working in a fee-paying school environment, or within the education sector as a whole, in a similar role, is desirable, but not essential. 

• Evidence of financial management experience, supporting the day-to-day operations of an organisation, adhering to financial regulations

• Proven track record of managing financial systems and a good working knowledge of principles and methods of financial control and reporting, including the preparation of financial accounts

• Experience of supervising / managing colleagues within a financial environment

• Experience of budgetary planning and monitoring / management

• Evidence of contributing to financial planning at a strategic level, in order to inform decision making.

Skills / Personal Qualities:

• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

• Strong time management / organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines whilst work under pressure.

• Attention to detail, accurate and methodical.

• High standard of literacy and numeracy, reflecting the College’s high standards in this area.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal and an ability to explain sensitive matters and contractual terms to people on a personal level, in in writing, face-to-face or over the telephone.

• Ability to deal with sensitive information with the utmost discretion and to maintain confidentiality at all times.

• Ability to think strategically.

• A team player, willing to support other members of the finance team, and whole College staff body, with the ability to work using their own initiative.

• Ability and willingness to adapt to and embrace change.

• Willingness to learn new skills and promote new initiatives.

• Willingness and adaptability in tackling the variety of tasks arising in a school environment.

• Willingness to be flexible regarding the variety of tasks arising within the College environment, and to be flexible regarding working hours, within reason, in response to the needs of the College.

• Willingness to attend evening meetings and events as required (not a frequent requirement).

• Commitment to CPD and training opportunities.

Safeguarding & Child Protection:

Abbey Gate College is committed, as a priority, to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

Applicants will, therefore, be subject to stringent vetting and induction processes, including an enhanced DBS disclosure. References for shortlisted candidates will be requested prior to interview; please inform your referees. 

Whilst criminal convictions are not necessarily a bar to appointment, this safety consideration will be central to all decisions regarding the employment of staff, approval of volunteers, and standards of external contractors.

Equal Opportunities:

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and to treating all staff with dignity and respect. Therefore, applications from individuals are encouraged, regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships. 

Process for Applications:

• Closing date for applications: Wednesday 13th July 2022 at 9.30am.

Please complete the online TES application form, or, you may complete our Abbey Gate College application form (available at https://www.abbeygatecollege.co.uk/about-us/vacancies/ ). 

Please also include a covering letter, which should be addressed to our Head, Mr Craig Jenkinson, outlining your interest in, and suitability for, the role and the College. 

Your completed application form and covering letter should be returned to Mrs Sue Moran, HR and Staff Wellbeing Manager, at: sue.moran@abbeygatecollege.co.uk  by the above closing date.

Should you require any additional information or assistance regarding your application, please also contact Sue Moran. 

Please visit our website at www.abbeygatecollege.co.uk  for more information about the College.