Finance Manager

Job title: Finance Manager

Location: Barnsley and Sheffield

Salary: Starting salary of £51,000 to £53,500 gross per annum dependent upon experience

Contract: Full-time, fixed-term to cover maternity leave

Start date: As soon as possible

We are seeking to appoint a highly skilled and experienced individual to manage Finance over the Yorkshire Cluster of United Learning academies.

The successful post-holder will undertake this role for the duration of a maternity leave cover arrangement. The anticipated duration of the appointment is 12 to 14 months, including handover periods.

The Yorkshire Cluster comprises four secondary academies based in Barnsley and Sheffield: Barnsley Academy, Fir Vale Academy, Sheffield Park Academy and Sheffield Springs Academy.

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a key leadership role within the Cluster, maintaining high standards of service delivery, overseeing financial systems and processes and leading the Finance Team.

This role requires a highly focused individual who is organised and passionate about making a difference to our academies and local communities.  The successful candidate will be an efficient and proactive professional with exceptional attention to detail.  This is a challenging and rewarding role offering the opportunity to make a significant impact across the Cluster.

We will offer you:

• Highly competitive pay above national average.

• 26 days annual leave plus 8 statutory bank holidays per annum.

• An additional day’s paid leave awarded per annum (a personal leave day).

• Excellent facilities and resources.

• Access to an outstanding professional development programme.

• A respectful working environment.

• Supportive, friendly colleagues who are committed to each other’s professional development.

• A chance to become part of United Learning, one of the largest groups of academies in the country.

• Opportunities to work collaboratively with colleagues in each academy across the Cluster and United Learning.

• Excellent employee benefits which include a highly sought-after pension scheme with high employer contributions.

• Access to training through the Apprenticeship Levy.

• Benefits platform.

• Free on-site parking.

• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

• We encourage open and regular conversations about work-life balance.

We are looking for:

• An experienced line manager with excellent communication and team building skills.

• A reliable, highly motivated and self-driven individual.

• A finance professional with significant and demonstrable financial management experience.

• Experience of managing finance within a multi-site organisation or in a comparable environment.

• Strong problem-solving capabilities.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to set expectations and balance competing priorities.

• Excellent report-writing skills and the ability to present information to a range of audiences.

• Excellent IT skills.

• Ability to effectively contribute to the review and development of policies and procedures.

• You must have strong organisational skills, a keen eye for detail, high standards and take pride in your work.

• The ability to manage a varied and changing workload with autonomy, resilience and professionalism.

• A positive, proactive and professional approach at all times.

Please see the job description and person specification for further detail.

To apply, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button at the top of the advert on our website using the following link to our vacancies page: Sheffield Park Academy Vacancies and complete our online application form.  Please note that CVs are not accepted.  The closing date for this post is midnight on the 25th October 2026.  Interviews will take place soon after.

If you would like to discuss this exciting opportunity, please contact hr@unitedlearningyorks.org.uk

United Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  Employees will, in accordance with statutory guidance, be subject to a comprehensive checking process including references from current and previous employers, health, Right to Work in the UK, an Enhanced DBS check and a further check against the appropriate barred list.