Financial Officer

Job Title: Financial Officer

Salary: SCP 24-31, including fringe £27,225-33,119 (pro rata for TTO plus 15 days)

Line Management: No line management responsibilities.  

Key Relationships: Headteacher, Board of Governors and Operations Manager

Responsible to:  Headteacher and Board of Governors

Hours of work: 1 day a week 8:30-4:30 (term time only) plus 15 days additional work agreed with Headteacher 

Forest Bridge School  is a free school for children with autism.  We opened our doors in September 2015.  We are now an Ofsted "Good" school and we are currently just over half way to fulfilling our intial growth plan.  We are looking for someone with the experience and knowledge of academy finance to support us as we continue to grow and move into our purpose built site in 2020.

Key Tasks

• Provide leadership and professional financial management for Forest Bridge School.

 • Deliver comprehensive financial planning, ensure robust financial systems and controls to safeguard finances and ensure efficiency and value for money.

 • Manage and develop the central finance services 

• Ensure compliance with charity regulations, the Academies Financial Handbook, the Education & Skills Funding Agency Financial Handbook the Governance Handbook, the Trust’s school funding agreements, and FBS financial procedures. 

• Regular reporting to and attendance at the governors meetings and committees, including detailed monthly management accounts to allow forecasting and budget management. 

• Support Grant applications and Condition Improvement Fund bids to the DFE. 

• Play a key role in the governance, development and implementation of strategies and projects, including supporting the growth of FBS

Leadership and management

• Act as the Chief Financial Officer 

• Ensure school policies related to finance are regularly updated and fit for purpose.

• Play a key role in financial due diligence for the school

Financial Management

• Prepare and submit financial returns, including the annual accounts, to the ESFA, government departments, and Companies House

• Oversee the preparation and development of the monthly management accounts. 

• Present detailed management information to trustees, governors, and senior management.

 • Ensure compliance with financial accounting procedures. 

• Maintain and update the financial procedures manual and scheme of delegation, for approval by governors

• Liaise with auditors and facilitate all audit arrangements.

 • Implement internal and external audit requirements. 

• Report on all financial compliance matters to the governors and head teacher.

• Manage VAT claims in line with financial regulations. 

• Benchmarking costs and expenditure where possible to ascertain how effective the Trust is in obtaining value for money.

Financial Planning

• Working alongside Trustees and the Executive Team, to  ensure robust financial management in support of the FBS’s growth strategy. 

• Responsible for ensuring the finance function is able to deliver on all statutory obligations, and provide first class support on all financial matters. 

• Develop the annual and 3-year forecast budgets for approval by the FBS Resources committees

Other specific duties 

• Attend, as required, any relevant meetings, including but not limited to, Trustees, Governors, FBS Resources Committee meetings. 

• Participate in the performance review process. 

• To undertake, as required, any other duties and responsibilities relevant to the job as directed by the head teacher and governing body

Training and development 

• To participate proactively in training and development including qualification development required in the job role.

If you are interested in applying for this post, we encourage you to make contact at head@forestbridgeschool.org.uk

Applications are due on Friday the 21st of June at 12pm.

Staff and governors of the school are committed to safeguarding and child protection and promoting the well-being of all our children and young people. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for successful candidates