Finance Manager

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Finance Manager to lead the day-to-day financial operations of our School and its associated entities. Reporting directly to the Bursar, the Finance Manager will manage a small team and oversee the daily operations of the school and subsidiaries including ensuring robust financial controls, accurate reporting, and contributing to the strategic financial planning. This role is pivotal in supporting the School’s long-term sustainability and compliance, and will suit a qualified accountant with strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills - ideally with experience in the education or charity sector.

• Oversee daily financial operations and all aspects of the accounting function, ensuring strong processes and internal controls;
• Maintain accurate accounting records including control accounts, bank reconciliations, and nominal ledger review. Review all key reconciliations on a monthly basis;
• Ensure the School’s accounting records are maintained in compliance with all relevant Companies and Charities legislation including GAAP, Charities SORP and Charities Commission guidance, in addition ensuring processes and accounting treatments are aligned to the Foundation’s;
• Prepare the yearend pack for the School as part of the audit and statutory accounts process led by the Foundation Office;
• Lead and prepare for the annual external audit, ensuring deadlines are met;
• Prepare annual accounts for the subsidiaries;
• Produce monthly management accounts, budgets, reforecasts, and cashflow statements providing clear information and recommendations
• Provide support with completion of payroll, salary and pension queries, and oversee monthly payroll journals;
• Monitor budget performance and KPIs, investigate variances and provide explanations and recommendations for adjustments as needed;
• Assist with cash flow management by producing regular cash flow forecasts, ensuring liquidity for operational and capital needs;
• Oversee collection and repayment of pupil deposits;
• Co-develop and maintain a 5-year financial scenario plan in IMP, the Forecast and Budgeting tool, with the Bursar;
• Assist in the development of long-term financial plans and forecasts, including pupil numbers, staffing, tuition and expense projections;
• Prepare financial reports for the Governors’ Finance Committee;
• Advise on and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs);
• Oversee the termly fee billing cycle and ensure accuracy with support from the Finance Team;
• Oversee the Fees in Advance scheme and accounting for the scheme including year end disclosures;
• Oversee registration income (working with admissions team and Fees Officer as appropriate);
• Oversee the VAT process for the School; reviewing VAT reporting and reconciliations for accuracy, review VAT quarterly return, and Capital Goods Scheme for the School. Liaise with the Foundation Office who are responsible for the group VAT submission, play a proactive role in the VAT working group with Foundation and other School’s to ensure VAT is treated consistently and accurately across the group;
• Oversee appropriate use of school credit cards as part of budget monitoring, and ensuring policy is adhered to;
• Manage the credit control process;
• Coordinate the annual budget process with academic and support staff, partnering with the to ensure budget alignment with the School’s priorities and goals;
• Liaise with key stakeholders including parents, auditors, HMRC, the Foundation and insurance providers;
• Be an advocate for budget control across the school; respond to in-year budget queries from staff and prepare accurate financial reports to enable effective decision making;
• Maintain the Fixed Asset and Work-in-Progress ledgers Including monthly review of fixed asset additions and depreciation journals for accuracy. Reviewing estimated useful asset lives and making recommendations to Bursar where appropriate;
• Manage the accounting for the School’s pension schemes;
• As part of a small and collaborative team, the Finance Manager will on occasion be required to undertake tasks outside their core finance remit, including junior-level duties or general administrative…