Finance Business Partner

EA First Compass House; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A Multi-Academy Trust in Kent is seeking a Finance Business Partner to provide financial support to a cluster of schools. The role requires at least 3 years of finance experience in the education sector, and offers a salary of up to £42,000 with benefits including a Local Government Pension Scheme and annual leave. The candidate will collaborate with headteachers on budget setting and ensure efficient financial operations across schools.

Benefits

28 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Local Government Pension Scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• 3+ years experience in finance within School or Not-for-Profit sector.
• Experience with internal and external audit queries.
• Must have experience with payroll, bank, and charge card reconciliations.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial support to schools within the Trust.
• Ensure smooth financial operations in schools.
• Lead budget holder meetings with headteachers.

Skills

Financial support

Budget setting

Management reporting

Audit support

Financial partnering

Education

CCAB, CGMA/CIMA, or CIPFA qualification

Job description

We are pleased to be supporting a Multi-Academy Trust in Kent to recruit a Finance Business Partner. This role is paying up to £42,000 per annum, plus Local Government Pension Scheme.

A Kent based Multi-Academy Trust with Primary Schools in the local area.

Finance Business Partner:

• Provide financial support to a cluster of schools within the Trust.
• Ensure the financial operations within the cluster of schools runs smoothly and efficiently.
• Collaborate with the central finance team.
• Lead budget holder meetings with headteachers and wider key stakeholders within the Trust.
• Complete annual budget setting for each school within your cluster.
• Provide management reporting.
• Ensure timely and accurate payroll, bank, and charge card reconciliations.
• Conduct balance sheet reviews and prepare year-end accounting journals.
• Approve order requisitions and supplier payments.
• Support internal and external audits.
• Provide expert financial guidance to partner schools, travelling to schools for meetings when required.
• Contribute positively to the Trust's ethos and aims.
• Follow the Academy Trust policies.

Finance Business Partner:

• You will ideally be working towards a CCAB, CGMA/CIMA, or CIPFA qualification. Note, qualified by experience will be considered.
• At least 3 years experience working in a finance function within the School or Not-for-Profit sector.
• A track record of budget setting and monthly management reporting.
• Previous experience supporting with internal and external audit queries.
• Ability to evidence finance business partnering with non-finance stakeholders.
• You must have experience completing payroll, bank, and charge card reconciliations.
• Ability to commute to schools within your cluster when required.
• Ideally you will have an understanding of the Academy Trust Handbook.

Finance Business Partner:

• £40,000 - £42,000 per annum (2025 pay award pending).
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• 36 hour per week.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Sports & leisure discount scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Heath Cash Plan Scheme.
• Finance Training offer (inc. CIPFA training & apprenticeships).

EA First Ltd are acting as an Employment Agency for this permanent vacancy.