Assistant Finance Manager

Government jobs, apprenticeship; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) seeks an Assistant Finance Manager to oversee finance functions across two or more academies, ensuring value for money and robust financial controls. You will assist in budgeting, forecasting, and liaising with the Finance Manager and Senior Leadership Teams to drive financial performance.

The role requires experience in academy finance, with strong accounting knowledge and a commitment to safeguarding and compliance within the Trust.

Qualifications

• Educated to A Level or equivalent with extended experience in financial regulations and accounting standards.
• Part-qualified (CIMA, ACCA, ICAEW, or similar) or actively working towards qualification.
• Solid knowledge of VAT and preparing financial accounts relevant to academy schools.

Responsibilities

• Supervise day-to-day finance operations and staff across two or more academies.
• Prepare financial reports for stakeholders and maintain data within the Academy Financial Information System.
• Set and deliver the annual budget with Finance Manager and Senior Leadership Team.
• Oversee procurement procedures to ensure best value across goods and services.

Education

A Level or equivalent

Tools

Academy Financial Information System

Job description

Job details

Job role

• Administration, HR, data and finance

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Subject

Accounting

Working pattern

Full time: Monday to Friday 37 hours, whole year.

Contract type

Permanent

Full time equivalent salary

£40,777 - £44,075

What skills and experience we're looking for

Role: Assistant Finance Manager

Academy: Outwood Alternative Provision Eston

Start Date: ASAP

Salary (Actual Salary): £40,777 - £44,075

Working Pattern: 37 Hours Per Week, Monday to Friday, Whole Year

Are you ready to take the next step in your financial career and oversee operations across multiple academies? Apply for the Assistant Finance Manager post, which offers an exciting opportunity to manage financial resources, lead day-to-day finance operations, and work alongside the Finance Manager and Senior Leadership Teams across two or more schools. In this role, you will play a key part in budget setting, forecasting, and procurement to ensure financial efficiency and maximum value for money is achieved across the Trust.

Welcome from the Principal

Thank you for your interest in the vacancy at Outwood Alternative Provision Eston.

We are a unique centre providing a safe and nurturing environment for vulnerable students who exhibit challenging behaviours and are at risk of exclusion. Our dedicated staff is passionate about providing bespoke, additional support to ensure behavioural, social, emotional, or mental health challenges are never a barrier to success.

With smaller class sizes and an adapted curriculum, we prioritise personal development and student well-being without compromising academic progress. We hold unconditional positive regard for our students, considering strong professional relationships as our first intervention. Our goal is to ensure all students succeed and transition to their next stage with confidence and self-belief.

If you believe every student deserves a champion and share The Outwood vision of raising standards and transforming lives, we would be delighted to welcome you to our team.

If you have any questions or would like to visit the school, please contact Jade Franks at [e-mail].

Responsibilities

The Assistant Finance Manager (AFM) role ensures the efficiency of the finance function across two or more academies by effectively managing financial resources and securing maximum value for money. Key responsibilities include supervising day-to-day finance operations and staff, preparing financial reports for stakeholders, and maintaining data within the Academy Financial Information System.

Working in liaison with the Finance Manager and Senior Leadership Team, the AFM plays a central role in setting and delivering the annual budget, monitoring medium-term plans, and maintaining strict budgetary control. Additional duties cover managing bids for additional funding, overseeing cash flow and bank reconciliations, and directing procurement procedures to ensure 'best value' across all goods and services.

Qualifications

We are looking for a candidate educated to A Level or equivalent with extended experience in the field, who is ideally part-qualified (CIMA, ACCA, ICAEW, or similar) or actively working towards qualification. You will bring solid knowledge and hands‑on experience in financial regulations, accounting standards, VAT, and preparing financial accounts relevant to academy schools. Demonstrating a strong track record of continuous professional development, you thrive in high‑performing environments, embrace a continuous improvement philosophy, and work positively with non‑finance stakeholders and partners.

What the school offers its staff

Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) places staff development at the heart of its strategy to deliver excellence, aiming to recruit, develop, and retain the best staff through the Outwood Institute of Education (OIE).

What will we do for you

We offer a supportive package focusing on professional advancement, secure benefits, and work-life balance:

• Secure Pay & Pension: Competitive salary, automatic pay progression, and enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Training & Progression: Access to diverse CPD opportunities, including apprenticeships and vocational qualifications.
• Flexibility & Leave: Flexible family policies, enhanced occupational benefits (with no qualifying period), and 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays for non-term time staff. (Holiday for part-time staff is calculated on a pro‑rata basis)
• Wellbeing & Perks: Dedicated mental well‑being strategy, free on‑site parking, employee discounts, and access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):

• childcare disqualification
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
• medical
• online and social media
• prohibition from teaching
• right to work
• satisfactory references
• suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.