Finance Manager

Do you have experience within Finance management in either a professional or school capacity? Our thriving academy is looking to appoint a dedicated and resourceful individual as Finance Manager to oversee financial duties across Harris Academy Sutton.

About Us

We are a growing Academy and from September 2022 we will have our first set of Year 11 students. We are now well settled into our £40 million state-of-the-art Passivhaus building  and are looking for a committed and professional Business Manager to support our team.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your responsibilities will include:

• Creating Purchase Orders, monitoring goods incoming, and matching invoicing processes
• Obtaining authorisation, coding and posting purchase invoices
• Raising cheques / BACS for Purchase Invoices
• Making Payments, including the raising and checking of the monthly BACS run
• Journal Entries on Accounting System
• Reconciliation of academy credit card
• Liaising with budget holders, producing half-termly reports of account balances  
• Maintenance of Fixed Asset Register
• Assisting Finance Business Partner in monthly Balance Sheet Reconciliations. 
• Administering finances in relation to peripatetic Music tuition, Music subsidies, Food Technology consumable costs 
• Raising sales invoices for lettings
• Supporting the Academy in finding ways to raise capital funding and financial support for any capital spend projects
• Finding ways to achieve better value for money
• Maintaining the contract register
• To ensure all matters regarding insurance are dealt with in line with Federation procedures
• To ensure the academy's financial procedures operate in accordance with statutory guidelines and regulations
• Supporting the process of and responding to audit reports and implementing recommendations
• Monitoring financial and quality issues relating to academy meals contract
• To work with FBP when contracts are due for renewal
• Communicating any concerns regarding contracts with suppliers as required
• Supporting in any tendering process
• Supporting the Academy in finding ways to raise capital funding. 
• Reviewing contracts and bids
• Leading, managing and advising on decisions on the management/selection of preferred suppliers
• Working with Finance Business Partner and Principal in agreeing priorities for expenditure
• Academy Asset Register
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• Monitoring Academy capital assets
• Ensuring all Academy assets are recorded on a single central register
• Informing the Principal of any losses during the year
• Adhering to the guidance in the Academy’s financial handbook on asset management
• Ensuring Academy purchases are carried out as per the DfE ‘Academies financial handbook

Lettings 

• Overseeing the contract with the lettings provider and liaising with them
• Liaising with the Premises Manager and ensure the Academy are fulfilling the contract

Other Duties 

• Maintaining the Business Continuity Plan and Risk Register
• Covering duties at lunch time and break time as appropriate
• Preparing reports

Qualifications & Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• Qualifications to A level or equivalent
• Knowledge of school finance systems
• Knowledge of a variety of financial recording systems
• Knowledge of the budget setting process
• Understanding of the role and function of external audit
• At least three years’ experience working in a finance department
• Experience of working within financial controls
• Experience of assisting with budget setting and budget management

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.

We look for talented individuals who share our vision for creating exceptional places of learning, and are committed to ensuring that every child in London has access to the best possible education.

In addition to the opportunities for career progression, training and development, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.