Finance Business Partner

Suffolk Jobs Direct; Haverhill; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational organization is seeking a Finance Business Partner to join their Finance Team. The role involves supporting schools in financial management, including budgeting and financial forecasting. Candidates should be experienced professionals with strong finance skills and a driving licence for travel. This permanent position offers a supportive working environment and hybrid working options to balance home and on-site tasks. Applications are encouraged from individuals seeking part-time or flexible work arrangements.

Benefits

Family-friendly policies

Investment in training and development

Career development opportunities

Wellbeing and staff benefit packages

LGPS pension scheme

Qualifications

• Experienced finance generalist with strong employee relations skills.
• Must hold a current driving licence for travel purposes.

Responsibilities

• Line managing Finance Administration staff across schools.
• Preparing budgets and financial forecasts.
• Providing budget monitoring reports and variance analysis.
• Ensuring month-end procedures are accurate and compliant.
• Overseeing effective financial administration processes.

Skills

Finance management

Employee relations

Budget preparation

Financial forecasting

Variance analysis

Job description

• Unity Schools Partnership
• Address: Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 8QP
• Salary: £30,165 - £32,252 per annum (£39,862–£42,620 FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) pro rata - USP Grade 6, Spine Points 24–27)
• Hours: 28 hours per week, 52 weeks per year
• Contract: Permanent, required as soon as possible
• Reference: 8214

Are you an experienced finance generalist with strong employee relations skills, looking to join a supportive Finance Business Partnering team?

Unity Schools Partnership is seeking a flexible, motivated, and committed Finance Business Partner to join our Finance Team. We offer an excellent employment package, including hybrid working that allows you to design your working week in collaboration with your manager through a blend of home and on-site working.

As Unity Schools Partnership is a growing multi-academy trust, we have schools in the Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk areas. We look to allocate schools with travel distances in mind, this role would benefit someone who lives in East Anglia and is willing to be flexible. The closest Unity Schools Partnership location to your home address is considered the base for work. This can be discussed further at interview.

About the role

As a Finance Business Partner, you will play a key role in supporting schools across our trust.

Your responsibilities will include:

• line managing Finance Administration staff across schools
• preparing budgets and financial forecasts
• providing budget monitoring reports and variance analysis
• ensuring month-end procedures are accurate, robust, and compliant
• overseeing effective financial administration processes and ensuring adherence to financial regulations.

Due to the multi-site nature of the role, you must hold a current driving licence. Our travel claims policy ensures you are fully supported with travel requirements.

About us

Unity Schools Partnership is a Multi-Academy Trust of 40 schools. We are ambitious, values-driven, and believe remarkable improvements can be achieved when we work together.

Working with Unity Schools Partnership means joining a team committed to ethical leadership, continuous improvement, and making a meaningful impact.

We can offer you:

• Job satisfaction through positively impacting the lives of our students
• A friendly and supportive working environment
• Family-friendly policies
• Supportive and positive management
• Investment in your training and development
• Excellent career development opportunities
• Wellbeing and staff benefit packages
• LGPS pension scheme

For more information

Please read the Job Description (pdf) and the Candidate Information Pack (pdf).

To find out more about us, please visit our website.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Joanne Gent by emailing [e-mail].

How to apply

Please complete your application by visiting our recruitment portal.

Closing date: 9am, 5 January 2026.

Interview date: 13 January 2026.

Please note we may hold interviews as and when applications are received and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date. We only accept applications submitted online via our careers website and which are completed before the closing deadline. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible and advise you check the job information as per the listing on our careers site.

In line with safer recruitment, we are unable to accept CVs. Failure to complete an application form satisfactorily may result in not being shortlisted for the post.

Unity Schools Partnership is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks. We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.

We care deeply about inclusive working practices and diverse teams. If you’d prefer to work part-time or as a job-share, we’ll facilitate this wherever we can – whether to help you meet other commitments or to help you strike a great work-life balance. We’re keen to ensure we’re designing an organisation that works for everyone, so we particularly encourage applications from different under-represented groups.