Finance Business Partner - School Lead

Reading Borough Council; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave entitlement

Hybrid working opportunities

LGPS pension

Life Assurance for LGPS members

Modern Civic Offices in Reading

On-site nursery provision

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice

Job summary

Reading Borough Council is recruiting a Finance Business Partner - School Lead to head schools finance support, working with maintained schools to ensure strong financial management and outcomes for children and young people.

The role involves strategic finance leadership across schools, budget setting, forecasting and reporting, with hybrid working from Civic Offices and schools. The ideal candidate will have CCAB qualifications and significant school finance experience.

Qualifications

• A recognised professional financial qualification (CCAB or equivalent).
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Five years' experience in a School Business Manager role or equivalent local authority school finance position.
• Experience supporting schools through financial challenges and recovery planning.
• Experience in business partnering and influencing financial decision-making.
• Strong knowledge of school funding, legislation and statutory financial frameworks.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge, including year-end processes.
• Experience managing budgets within a complex organisation.
• Excellent financial analysis, forecasting and reporting skills.
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to explain complex financial information clearly.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to provide constructive challenge.
• A proactive, collaborative and solutions-focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with headteachers, governors and school finance staff to promote effective financial management.
• Support schools with budget setting, forecasting, monitoring and financial planning.
• Provide expert advice on school funding, statutory requirements and the Scheme for Financing Schools.
• Support schools with financial difficulties, including those with licensed deficits.
• Lead the Local Authority's financial support role where delegated authority has been removed from a school.
• Identify financial risks, trends and opportunities and support early intervention.
• Lead and develop the Orovia-based school budget planning tool.
• Deliver financial training for governors, headteachers and SBMs.
• Facilitate school finance forums, SBM networks and engagement events.
• Prepare and present financial reports for Schools' Forum and other stakeholders.
• Support month-end, year-end and statutory reporting processes.
• Lead SRMA reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage and develop the SLA offer to schools.
• Lead independent reviews of School Fund accounts.
• Line manage SBMs and casual School Business Managers.
• Promote governance, financial control and best practice in Reading schools.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication & presentation

Financial analysis & forecasting

Advanced Excel & modelling

Financial governance & controls

Education

CCAB or equivalent

Tools

Orovia

Job description

Finance Business Partner - School Lead

Company: Reading Borough Council

Salary: £51,928 to £62,671 a year

Hours: Full-time

Location: Reading, RG1 2LU

Working pattern: On-site

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 6 Nov 2026

Closing date: 15 Nov 2026

Summary

The role is hybrid working with a combination of Civic Offices, local schools and home working.

Are you an experienced school finance professional looking for an opportunity to make a real difference to education outcomes across Reading?

We are looking for an experienced and professionally qualified finance specialist to lead our schools finance support offer and work alongside maintained schools to deliver strong financial management, sustainability and the best possible outcomes for children and young people.

Working closely with headteachers, governors, School Business Managers, education colleagues and senior council leaders, you will provide expert financial advice, support and constructive challenge across a wide range of school finance matters. You will play a key role in helping schools navigate an increasingly complex financial landscape while ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and the Scheme for Financing Schools.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence strategic decision-making across the borough, support schools facing financial challenges and help shape a sustainable future for education services.

Reading Borough Council is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We are a Disability Confident Employer and are committed to the recruitment and continued employment of disabled people.

About the role

As Schools Finance Lead, you will act as a trusted adviser to maintained schools and council stakeholders, providing high-quality financial insight, support and challenge.

Working alongside the Strategic Finance Business Partner, you will:

• Build strong relationships with headteachers, governors and school finance staff to promote effective financial management and strengthen financial capability.
• Support schools with budget setting, forecasting, monitoring and financial planning.
• Provide expert advice on school funding, statutory requirements and the Scheme for Financing Schools.
• Support schools experiencing financial difficulties, including those operating licensed deficits.
• Lead the Local Authority's financial support role where delegated authority has been removed from a school.
• Identify financial risks, trends and opportunities and support early intervention where required.
• Lead and develop the schools budget planning tool (Orovia).
• Deliver financial training and development opportunities for governors, headteachers and School Business Managers.
• Facilitate school finance forums, SBM networks and engagement events throughout the year.
• Prepare and present financial reports for Schools' Forum, the Strategic School Finance Group, senior leaders and other stakeholders.
• Support robust month-end, year-end and statutory reporting processes.
• Lead School Resource Management Advisor (SRMA) reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage and develop the Finance Service Level Agreement (SLA) offer to schools.
• Lead independent reviews of School Fund accounts.
• Line manage the School Finance Accountancy Assistant and Casual School Business Managers.
• Promote strong governance, financial control and best practice across Reading schools.

About you

We're looking for someone who combines strong technical accounting expertise with excellent relationship-building and influencing skills.

You'll bring:

• A recognised professional financial qualification (CCAB or equivalent).
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• A minimum of five years' experience in a School Business Manager role or equivalent local authority school finance position.
• Significant experience supporting schools through financial challenges and recovery planning.
• Experience of working in a business partnering environment and influencing financial decision-making.
• Strong knowledge of school funding, relevant legislation and statutory financial frameworks.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge, including year-end processes.
• Experience managing and influencing budgets within a complex organisation.
• Excellent financial analysis, forecasting and reporting skills.
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to explain complex financial information clearly.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to provide constructive challenge.
• A proactive, collaborative and solutions-focused approach.

You will be passionate about supporting schools, improving financial resilience and helping education leaders make informed decisions that deliver the best outcomes for children and young people.

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas forward. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you'll enjoy working in a friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Life Assurance for LGPS members.
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading.
• Outstanding on-site nursery provision.
• Season Ticket Loan scheme.
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme.

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.