finance manager Elland, England
Job description
Head of Finance
(Primary Academies)
Applications to be made on my new term by following the link below
https://www.mynewterm.com/jobs/745763991/EDV-2023-SPA-28316
(37 hrs per week, term time plus 15 days)
Full time
Required: ASAP
SCP34 (£40,478) – SCP36 (£42,503)
(Full time equivalent)
Actual salary at SCP34 - £37,131
Pay Award Pending from 1 April 23 – latest offer,
unaccepted, from the Local Government
Association is £1,925 increase per pay point.
Closing date: Monday 7th August 9am
Interview date: Friday 11th August 2023
South Pennine Academies
Head of Finance - Primaries
Job Description
Scale Grade 12 (SCP 34-36)
37 hours per week – Term Time only plus to 15 days (0.92 fte)
Purpose of the post
To undertake the Head of Finance (Primary) role in the Trust, ensuring that the Trust
Finance Handbook and Academies Finance Handbook are adhered to and that financial information and reports are accurate for all our Primary Academies. To advise Trust
Principals on the financial position at their academy and work with the Finance Director to enable the financial position to be monitored. In addition to provide support to the
Central Trust Finance Team.
To deliver a comprehensive finance service including the provision of strategic financial advice and guidance.
To be prepared to work across all our primary academies, number to be agreed, across the Trust, manage their own time to undertake the role and line manage staff allocated to support in this role. On average half a day a week will be required to undertake support for Central Trust Roles, including external audit preparation.
To line manage a team to support you in fulfilling this role and provide support and guidance to other Finance Managers across the Trust as required and agreed with the
Finance Director, including buddying new starters.
Key Areas
1. Finance responsibilities
2. Procurement Processes
3. Making payments – purchase invoices and payroll
4. Complete month end finance checks
5. Budget setting and monitoring
6. Main point of contact for audit at the academies
7. Undertake monthly payroll checks
8. Monthly financial reporting
9. Support for the Central Trust
1. Finance responsibilities
1.1. To deliver a comprehensive finance service including the provision of strategic financial advice and guidance.
10 | P a g e
1.2. Provide proactive and business focused advice to academies which support the Trust KPIs, strategic plans and reflect current legislation and guidance
1.3. Inform and advise the Finance Director on finance matters in order to identify trends and facilitate strategic decision making, including benchmarking.
1.4. Ensure finance records are appropriately maintained at academy level.
1.5. Attend and lead where required on Finance related meeting and forums across the Trust and externally.
1.6. Contribute to the Due Diligence process for academies joining the Trust for finance related matters.
1.7. Provide detailed analysis and evaluation of data and produce detailed reports
/ information as required.
1.8. Ensure financial data is maintained, stored and disposed of in accordance with the requirements of GDPR, HMRC rules and Trust policies.
1.9. Maintain confidentiality of Finance information and records at all times.
1.10. To deputise for the Finance Director where needed
2. Procurement Processes
2.1 Responsible for ensuring that Trust procurement procedures are adhered to for all orders.
2.2 Ensuring that Best Value is obtained for orders and appropriate approvals are obtained prior to orders being raised.
2.3 Working with admin support to ensure that all orders are input onto the finance system.
2.4 Maintaining relationships with suppliers.
2.5 To work with and provide information for the Finance Director and Operations
Director to improve central procurement and contract management.
2.6 To oversee significant Procurement projects for the Academies.
3. Making payments – purchase invoices and payroll
3.1 Ensuring invoices are received, approved and processed for payment.
3.2 Checking the accuracy of the posting of invoices.
3.3 Resolving purchase ledger queries.
3.4 Organise payments to suppliers on a timely basis (BACs and cheques).
4. Complete month end finance checks
4.1 Ensure all income has been received, coded and posted correctly
4.2 Ensuring sales invoices are raised in a timely manner and submitted to customers.
4.3 Ensure all payments have been correctly recorded, including charge cards, petty cash, payroll and purchase invoices.
4.4 Complete month end reconciliations in line with Trust procedures, including bank reconciliations and control account reconciliations.
5. Budget setting and monitoring
5.1 To work with the Principal and Finance Director in preparation of budgets and inputting information to budget software.
5.2 To work with the Principal and Finance Director in the development and implementation of Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning.
5.3 To input agreed budgets to the accounting system
11 | P a g e
5.4 To prepare monthly reports for the Principal to enable monitoring of budgets to be undertaken.
5.5 To work with the Principal and Finance Director to ensure budget targets are achieved and identify potential variances and actions required address these variances.
5.6 To prepare year end forecast outturn positions.
5.7 To utilise benchmarking information to understand performance and identify areas where efficiencies and effectiveness could be improved.
6. Main point of contact for audit at the academies
6.1 To work with the Finance Director to ensure that the academies are prepared for audit visits
6.2 To be the main point of contact for both internal and external audit visits and ensuring that they provide the necessary information.
6.3 To respond to audit queries in a timely manner.
6.4 To take responsibility for ensuring audit recommendations are implemented.
7. Monthly payroll checks
7.1 To undertake Trust monthly Payroll checks, in conjunction with the Principal and HR support, to ensure that existence and accuracy of payments
7.2 To authorise the BACS payment for payroll on a monthly basis
8. Monthly financial reporting
8.1 To produce monthly financial reports from the finance system for review and monitoring by the Principal and Finance Director
8.2 To meet with the Principal and Finance Director as required to discuss the financial reports
8.3 To identify from the financial reports any potential favourable or adverse variances and forecast outturn compared to budget.
9. Support for the Central Trust
9.1 To work with the Finance Director to provide training and development of other
Finance Managers in the Trust, including induction, one to one support and formal training at Business Leads Finance Forums
9.2 To work the Finance Manager – Oldham Primaries to ensure a consistent approach across all areas we work within.
9.3 To support the Finance Director on the preparation of the Trust’s Financial
Statements, including preparation of working papers, the final TBs and the
Financial Statements in preparation for audit.
9.4 To work with the Finance Director on the development of systems and controls across the Trust and ensuring the efficient and effective use of Trust Finance systems, including training for finance staff.
9.5 To be a lead contact with our Finance System providers on the development of systems and how we can utilise the systems more efficiently and effectively.
12 | P a g e
10. General
The above list is not exclusive or exhaustive, and the trust may require the job holder to undertake duties commensurate with the level of the role.
The post will be based at the Trust in Elland; however, you will be expected to attend meetings and work from our other Academies and organisations as required currently located in Kirklees, Oldham and Halifax. The post will be categorised as a casual car user.
As part of you wider duties and responsibilities you are required to promote and actively support the Trust’s responsibilities towards safeguarding. Safeguarding is about keeping people safe and protecting people from harm, neglect, abuse and injury. It is about creating safe places, being vigilant and doing something about any concerns you might have. It isn’t just about the very old and the very young, it is about everyone who may be vulnerable.
You are expected to carry out your duties with due regard to current and future Trust policies, procedures and relevant legislation. These will be drawn to your attention during the recruitment process, induction, staff handbook, ongoing performance development and through trust communications.
Disclosure Level: Enhanced
Responsible to: Finance Director
Responsible for: Finance Manager , 2 Finance Officers
13 | P a g e
South Pennine Academies
Person Specification Head of Finance – Primary Academies
E = Essential D = Desirable A = Application I = Interview
1 Aptitudes:
1.1 To communicate effectively with suppliers, customers and E A/I colleagues
1.2 To work with accuracy and attention to detail E A/I
1.3 To prioritise and plan to ensure completion of tasks E A/I
1.4 To work to high levels of confidentiality E A/I
1.5 Strong written and verbal communication skills E A/I
1.6 To manage staff and work as part of a team E A/I
2 Characteristics
2.1 Self-motivated and hard working E A/I
2.2 Open and approachable E A/I
2.3 Honest E A/I
2.4 Displays commitment to the protection and safeguarding of E A/I children and young people
3 Skills
3.1 Highly skilled communicator E A/I
3.2 Self discipline E A/I
3.3 Teamwork and collaboration E A/I
3.5 Use of ICT E A/I
3.6 Experience of setting up and using spreadsheets E A/I
3.7 Driving licence holder and use of own vehicle E A/I
4 Qualifications and Experience
4.1 CIMA , ACCA or Equivalent (demonstration of relevant E A/I equivalent experience may be considered for the right candidate)
4.2 Previous experience of undertaking Finance Manager duties E A/I
4.3 Experience of computer-based accounting packages E A/I
4.4 Experience of working in the education, public or charity D A/I sector
14 | P a g e
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: £37,131.00-£38,988.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Elland, HX5 9DX: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 07/08/2023
