Regional Assistant Finance Manager

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Regional Assistant Finance Manager to be part of a team of the Finance team in South Bristol which currently supports 6 Oasis academies. We are looking for a passionate, committed and resilient individual who can work on their own initiative, has a "can do" attitude to problem solving, and relishes a challenge.

Specific Responsibilities     

1. To ensure the production of periodic budget monitoring reports, internal control checklists, audit workbooks and supporting information as required by the Academies and National Office

2. To assist in the production of sustainable annual budgets and long term financial plans for all Academies within the cluster 

3. To understand Academy funding and to assist in maximising Academy income and advising the Academy Leadership Teams of best practice 

4. To assist the Regional Finance Director in ensuring that Academies within the cluster make the best possible use of resources through effective strategic planning, including consideration of all financial implications ensuring value for money

5. To help to monitor Academies against established benchmarks and identify opportunities for savings  

6. To assist in the management of cluster transaction processing/ procurement  

7. To report financial activities of the cluster to the Regional Finance Manager in line with specified reporting deadlines 

8. In the absence of the Regional Finance Manager, to have responsibility for the management of key finance personnel within the regional team 

9. To assist the Regional Finance Manager with the management of all financial aspects of new Academies opening within the cluster 

 DUTIES (COVERING ALL ACADEMIES WITHIN THE CLUSTER): 

Resources

• Assist in ensuring the Academy makes the best possible use of resources through effective planning, considering all financial and other resource implications

• Approve and monitor payroll returns and carry out reconciliations with budget

• As a member of the Regional Leadership Team, to contribute to the strategic direction of the Academies and the development and implementation of the Academy Development Plan

• Assist in optimising the benefit to the Academies of funding from grants and other sources, by identifying funding opportunities, ensuring that opportunities are fully utilised, interpreting criteria and advising colleagues within the Academy Leadership Team to ensure that funding is appropriately used

• Assist in the development a three year financial plan for each Academy, taking into account DFE and relevant government guidelines and other sources of information in accordance with government budgets and within the parameters set by the OCL board and utilising the OCL budgeting template

• Prepare the monthly management accounts, forecasts and other financial and non-financial reports of the Academy explaining all significant variances to all relevant stakeholders, in accordance with agreed timetables, presenting reports to the Regional Finance Manager for discussion with Principals and the National Office.  

 

Systems

• Continue to develop and maintain a regional transactional processing centre

• Ensure that the Academies are compliant with group policies and assisting the Regional Finance Manager in ensuring that all of the Academies financial processing and reconciliations are performed as outlined in the OCL Finance Regulations

• Assist in providing systems and accounting support to Academies and the regional processing team 

 

Management

• Alongside the Regional Finance Manager, provide strategic support to the Principals and Academy Councils on all aspects of Academy business management

• Support the Regional Finance Manager to manage all aspects of finance across the Academies.

• In the absence of the Regional Finance Manager, supervise designated finance staff working collaboratively to ensure best value for money across the Academies and provide effective support, guidance, challenge and information

• Assist the Regional Finance Manager in providing support, guidance, challenge and information to budget holders 

• During preparation of management reports, use financial management information, especially benchmarking tools, to identify areas of relative spending, assess trends and directly advise the Principals and other members of the Academy Leadership Groups accordingly

 

Internal and external audit

• Assist the Regional Finance Manager during internal and external audit visits and reporting, answering queries in a timely manner, and assisting in the implementation of suggested improvements  

The duties of this post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or level of responsibility entailed.  

The person undertaking this role is expected to work within the policies, ethos and aims of the Academy and to carry out such other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Principal. The postholder will be expected to have an agreed flexible working pattern to ensure that all relevant functions are fulfilled through direct dialogue with employees, contractors and community members.

Health and Safety Statement

So far as is reasonably practicable, the postholder must ensure that safe working practices are adopted by employees, and in premises/work areas for which the postholder is responsible, to maintain a safe working environment for employees and service users.  These are defined in the Oasis Community Learning Health and Safety policy, departmental policies and codes of practice.

Safeguarding Statement

Oasis Community Learning is committed to the safe guarding of all of its young persons and expects all staff, volunteers and adults to work within the parameters of the policies and procedures as agreed by the Executive Board to ensure the safety of all young persons within its care.

Safeguarding Children

Oasis Community Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.  We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.

The duties of this post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or level of responsibility entailed.

Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours, which flow from the Oasis ethos. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.