Finance Manager/Controller

About the role:  Leigh Academies Trust have a rare opportunity and are seeking to appoint an experienced finance professional to work with our Central Kent Cluster of academies.  This is a dual role encompassing both Finance Manager and Finance Controller responsibilities playing a pivotal role within the cluster.  The purpose of this role is to develop and manage a comprehensive financial service for the Principal of Mascalls Academy, and to provide support to the Principals and finance staff of other academies in the Central Kent area (currently four primary academies based in Maidstone).

Our successful applicant will hold a higher level professional qualification in finance, and ideally has experience/good working knowledge within a School or Academy financial environment. For an overview of the specific duties and key responsibilities, please consult the Job Description and Person Specification.

This role is primarily based at Mascalls Academy and is divided as follows; 0.6fte Finance Manager, 0.4fte Finance Controller.  The working basis is 37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.  The position will be available from early June 2017 but we can accommodate the successful candidate’s notice period if it extends past this date.

If you would like to arrange an informal conversation regarding the role prior to applying, please contact Olivia Couzins (Talent Manager) on olivia.couzins@latrust.org.uk with your details and availability.

Being part of Leigh Academies Trust:  Leigh Academies Trust currently operates fifteen academies across the South East and Kent area, plus one in the pre-opening phase. We are responsible for the education of nearly 10,000 pupils from ages 3 to 19. The Trust seeks excellence in all that it does. Our mission is to shape the lives of young people for the better and in doing so, transform the communities in which they live. Our academies have benefited from over £100m of capital investment and are privileged to employ over 1,500 highly talented staff between them.  For more information on working for the Trust please visit our careers pages

What are we looking for in you?  As a Trust, we seek to recruit talented individuals that can not only help to build the success of our academies but also people that are engaging and passionate about what they do. We believe that the successful candidate will be out-going, highly personable and have considerable discretion. They will have very high professional standards, be highly organised and demonstrate integrity in all they do.  First rate IT and literacy skills are essential. You will be comfortable in dealing with a range of stakeholders from central and local government officials, senior staff, governors, sponsors and a diverse range of individuals and groups within the local community.

Diversity at our core:  As a Trust we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals we all bring something unique to the role regardless of age, gender, race, beliefs or disabilities which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding children and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.  Our commitment to safeguarding is underpinned by robust processes and checks which are in place across the Trust.