Finance Business Partner

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for a Finance Business Partner to support some of our academies with clear financial insight, smart budgeting, and data-driven decision-making. You'll work closely with Principals and senior leaders, acting as a trusted advisor and helping drive efficiencies across our schools.

If you're an analytical, confident finance professional with strong stakeholder skills, we'd love to hear from you.

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.

We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.

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.

Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.

To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the Why Work For Us page.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Financial Analysis & Reporting
  • In-depth Financial Analysis
    • Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports to assess business performance against targets and trends.
    • Perform analysis to guide strategic decisions.
    • Analyse margin performance, cost drivers, and overheads, recommending opportunities for efficiency and savings.
    • Produce and review monthly balance sheet reconciliations to ensure accuracy and reliability of reports submitted to stakeholders.
  • Reporting & Commentary
    • Prepare accurate and insightful financial reports including dashboards, variance reports, and commentary for business reviews.
    • Translate raw financial data into actionable insights tailored to specific audiences (e.g. operations managers, Principals, department budget holders).
    • Identify data anomalies and validate results by reconciling figures with source systems.
• Business Partnering
  • Stakeholder Collaboration
    • Act as a financial advisor to various departments/Schools, supporting them in managing budgets, understanding performance, and planning.
    • Build trusting relationships with stakeholders by being approachable, knowledgeable, and supportive.
  • Decision Support
    • Provide financial modelling to support business cases, changes in trends, and contract negotiations.
    • Assist managers in interpreting financial outcomes and guide them on how to improve profitability and efficiency.
• Risk Management & Compliance
  • Regulatory & Policy Compliance
    • Ensure adherence to relevant UK financial regulations, such as HMRC requirements, Companies Act, and internal financial controls.
    • Monitor adherence to internal financial procedures, policies, and delegated authorities.

For a full list of responsibilities, please download the Job Pack.

• A Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Part-qualified or fully qualified accountant (e.g., ACCA, CIMA, ACA)
• Commitment to ongoing professional development to remain current with UK financial regulations and best practices.
• A minimum of 3-5 years' experience in a finance role, ideally with exposure to financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Experience in a commercial or multi-site operational environment is advantageous.
• Demonstrable experience working with financial systems such as Oracle, SAP, or equivalent ERP solutions for financial reporting and analysis.

For a full job specification, please download the Job Pack.

Harris has 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.

You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
• Annual performance and loyalty bonus
• Pension scheme…