School Finance Officer - #2132687

Working Days:Flexible - to be agreed with the Trust
Start Date:ASAP - ideally next week

We are recruiting for an experienced Senior Finance Officer to join the Central Finance Team of an established education Trust.

Previous experience working in a school, academy or Multi-Academy Trust finance environment is essential for this position. We are looking for someone who understands the specific financial processes, reporting requirements and procedures within an educational setting and can confidently support schools from the outset.

This is a part-time position working across 2 days per week, with the days flexible to suit the successful candidate and the Trust.

Working closely with the CFO, the Senior Finance Officer will take a key role in supporting the financial operations across the Trust's schools, ensuring accurate financial records, robust processes and compliance with relevant regulations and Trust policies.

• Supporting the CFO with the effective running of Trust finances.
• Overseeing financial processes and procedures across Trust schools.
• Preparing financial reports for the CFO, Executive Team, Headteachers and Trust Board.
• Supporting schools with their day-to-day finance requirements.
• Assisting with annual school budget setting, budget monitoring and forecasting.
• Preparing and reviewing monthly management accounts.
• Monitoring income and expenditure and ensuring accurate month-end and year-end reporting.
• Supporting salary forecasting and payroll-related financial processes.
• Completing and reviewing financial reconciliations.
• Supporting internal and external audits.
• Assisting with annual statutory accounts and audit evidence.
• Supporting VAT, pension and other statutory returns.
• Developing and improving financial systems and processes across schools.
• Supporting Finance Assistants and school-based Business/Office Managers.
• Ensuring compliance with Trust financial procedures and relevant education-sector requirements.
• Working with Local Authorities and external finance consultants.
• Identifying opportunities to improve financial efficiency and value for money.

The successful candidate must have previous finance experience within a school, academy or Multi-Academy Trust setting.

You will ideally have experience of:

• School/Academy finance systems and processes.
• Budget setting and monitoring within an educational setting.
• Management accounts and financial reporting.
• Forecasting and reforecasting.
• Bank and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Payroll and pension reconciliations.
• VAT and statutory returns.
• Supporting internal/external audits.