Finance Business Partner

Newham Community Learning; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave

Professional development opportunities

London location

Work-life balance initiatives

Job summary

Newham Community Learning is seeking an experienced Finance Business Partner to join the Trust Finance Team at the Central Office in London. You will manage monthly and year-end processes, balance sheet reconciliations, accruals and prepayments, and contribute to payroll journals and VAT returns.

You will support intercompany activity, cashflow forecasting and fixed assets, liaise with payroll providers, and assist with annual external audits and ESFA reporting.

Qualifications

• Strong financial accounting experience and a sound understanding of accounting principles and financial controls.
• Experience preparing and reviewing reconciliations, journals, accruals, prepayments and balance sheet accounts.
• Confident with monthly and year-end processes and meeting strict deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail and reliability of financial information.
• Experience supporting external audits, statutory accounts and financial returns.
• Knowledge of governance, compliance and financial procedures.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills; able to investigate discrepancies.
• Communicates effectively with schools, leaders, auditors and external bodies.
• Organised, proactive and able to manage competing priorities in a busy finance environment.
• Collaborative and focused on providing high-quality financial service across the Trust.

Responsibilities

• Manage monthly and year-end accounting processes including balance sheet reconciliations, accruals and prepayments.
• Prepare payroll journals and reconciliations; support VAT and statutory returns.
• Oversee intercompany transactions, trial balances, cash flow forecasting and fixed asset records.
• Contribute to the annual external audit process and ESFA/DfE reporting where required.
• Liaise with payroll provider; work with CFO, Financial Controller and Procurement Manager to ensure robust processes.
• Support development and improvement of financial accounting systems and PS Financials.

Skills

Financial accounting

reconciliations

Journals

Accruals & prepayments

Month-end processes

Year-end processes

Attention to detail

External audits

Governance & compliance

Analytical skills

PS Financials

Communication

Organisation

Collaboration

Tools

PS Financials

Job description

Finance Business Partner

Job Role: Finance Business Partner

Location: Newham Community Learning Trust Central Office, Pretoria Rd, London E16 4NP (Eastlea Community School)

Closing Date: 22nd November 2026

Newham Community Learning is a Multi-Academy Trust serving children and young people in East London. We believe every young person deserves an excellent education, whatever their background. Our commitment to equality and social justice shapes how we lead, how we spend, and how we hold ourselves to account.

About this Role

We are looking for an experienced and detail-focused finance Business Partner to join our Trust Finance Team. Working closely with the Chief Finance Officer and Financial Controller, you will play a key role in delivering accurate and effective financial accounting processes across the Trust, supporting strong financial controls, compliance and high-quality financial reporting.

You will take responsibility for a range of monthly and year-end accounting processes, including balance sheet and control account reconciliations, accruals and prepayments, intercompany transactions, trial balances, cashflow forecasting and fixed asset records. You will also prepare payroll journals and reconciliations, support VAT and statutory returns, and contribute to the annual external audit process, including ESFA and DfE reporting, HMRC and pension-related submissions.

Working closely with our schools, you will help ensure financial transactions are accurate, timely and compliant with Trust policies and procedures. You will also liaise with our payroll provider and work alongside the CFO, Financial Controller and Procurement Manager to ensure financial processes are robust, consistent and delivered within required deadlines.

The role will also provide an opportunity to contribute to the continued development and improvement of our financial accounting systems and processes, including PS Financials.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who:

• Has strong financial accounting experience and a sound understanding of accounting principles and financial controls.

• Has experience of preparing and reviewing reconciliations, journals, accruals, prepayments and balance sheet accounts.

• Is confident working with monthly and year-end financial processes and meeting strict deadlines.

• Has excellent attention to detail and takes pride in ensuring financial information is accurate, complete and reliable.

• Has experience supporting external audits, statutory accounts and financial returns.

• Understands the importance of compliance, governance and financial procedures.

• Has strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate discrepancies and resolve issues effectively.

• Is confident working with financial systems and spreadsheets; experience of PS Financials would be advantageous.

• Can communicate effectively with colleagues across schools, senior leaders, auditors and external organisations.

• Is organised, proactive and able to manage competing priorities in a busy finance environment.

• Works collaboratively and is committed to providing a high-quality financial service across the Trust

This is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional with strong financial accounting experience who is looking to make a meaningful contribution to a growing Trust and play an important role in maintaining high standards of financial management and accountability.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a forward-thinking multi-academy Trust, making a real impact on staff and students.

• Local Government Pension Scheme.

• Generous annual leave entitlement

• A supportive, values-led culture in the heart of London.

• Access to professional development and training opportunities.

• Employee wellbeing initiatives and a focus on work-life balance.