Finance Business Partner

Minerva Learning Trust; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 49,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Minerva Learning Trust is seeking an experienced Finance Business Partner to support school leaders and senior stakeholders across the Trust. This permanent, full-time role focuses on financial planning, budget management and decision-making within a growing multi-academy trust.

You will work with the CFO and Senior Finance Manager to ensure sound financial controls, provide analysis, challenge and guidance to budget holders, and lead and develop the finance team.

Qualifications

• Experience of management accounting, month-end processes, balance sheet reconciliations, budget monitoring and financial reporting within a complex organisation.

Responsibilities

• Support school leaders and senior stakeholders with financial planning and decision-making across the Trust.
• Act as a trusted adviser to budget holders, providing financial analysis and challenge.
• Lead, support and develop the Trust's Finance Officers and ensure sound controls.

Job description

Post: Finance Business Partner
Location: Minerva Learning Trust Central Office
Pay scale: NJC Grade 9, point 36: £48,738 to 40: £53,051 gross per annum
Contract: Permanent, full time, 37 hours per week, 52 working weeks
Start date: January 2027 (or as soon as possible)

We are seeking an experienced Finance Business Partner to support school leaders and senior stakeholders across the Trust. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in financial planning, budget management and decision-making within a growing multi-academy trust. Working closely with headteachers, the Senior Finance Manager and Chief Financial Officer, you will help ensure that resources are deployed effectively to maximise outcomes for children and young people. You will act as a trusted adviser to school leaders, providing financial analysis, challenge and support to aid decision-making. You will help budget holders understand their financial position and identify opportunities to improve value for money and financial sustainability.

The successful candidate will:

• Be self-motivated and have the ambition to develop as a leader with the support of the Trust.
• Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, enabling you to build positive relationships and provide high-quality support to school leaders.
• Work in liaison with the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Finance Manager to ensure the accuracy and sound control of financial transactions in line with the Trust Finance Policy and statutory frameworks.
• Have experience of management accounting, month-end processes, balance sheet reconciliations, budget monitoring and financial reporting within a complex organisation.
• Lead, support and develop the Trust's Finance Officers, promoting high standards, accountability and continuous improvement.
• have a sound understanding of current financial regulations, internal controls and good governance practices.
• Be able to work with Trust Central Team to contribute to the management of workloads and support the professional development of colleagues across the finance team

What we can offer:

• Be a member of the Trust Central Team and join a strong and dynamic team of professionals across our organisation.
• Be supported in the continued development of a career in Finance.
• Have access to the Trust comprehensive professional development programme.
• Access to a range wellbeing and employee support initiatives
• Have access to the local government pension scheme and terms and conditions aligned to the National Joint Council for Local Government Services
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 31 days after five years’ service.
• Continuous service may be recognised for eligible employees transferring from specified public sector organisations, preserving relevant employment benefits

This is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional looking to broaden their experience and develop their career within an ambitious multi-academy trust. You will work closely with senior leaders across the organisation and contribute directly to ensuring resources are used effectively to support educational excellence.

The closing date is at 9am on Monday 26 October 2026, and interviews will take place on 05 November 2026.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment, further information can be found in our child protection and safeguarding policy on our statutory information page on our website Statutory Information – Minerva Learning Trust. The successful candidate will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In line with KCSIE, the trust/school will be carrying out online searches on shortlisted candidates as part of their due diligence.