Finance Manager

Global Accounting Network; Ewhurst Green; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Global Networks seeks a Finance Manager to lead the financial performance of 1–3 schools in East Sussex. You will partner with Bursars, School Principals and regional teams to drive profitability, cash flow, and sustainable growth, balancing commercial insights with robust controls.

The role requires part-qualified accounting credentials and experience supporting non-finance stakeholders, budgeting, forecasting and monthly reporting across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting operational leaders and non-finance stakeholders.
• Experience budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting.
• Multi-site business experience desirable.

Responsibilities

• Act as trusted finance advisor to school leadership and principals.
• Support school leadership in achieving financial and operational objectives.
• Challenge and support commercial decisions through financial analysis.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability and operating performance.
• Support enrolment and revenue growth initiatives with appropriate P&L oversight.
• Assist with monthly financial reporting processes across the school network.
• Lead monthly financial review meetings with senior leaders and regional finance teams.
• Provide oversight for debt collection and payment terms while balancing family circumstances.

Skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial reporting

Stakeholder management

Multi-site operations

Education

Part-qualified accounting qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

Job description

Global Networks are partnering with this impressive global education business in East Sussex (Bodiam) on the search for a Finance Manager. The Finance Manager acts as the key finance leader for a portfolio of 1–3 schools, partnering closely with School Principals and Regional Leadership Teams to drive financial performance, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth. The role combines commercial business partnering with financial performance management and operational support to ensure schools achieve their budget, growth, and profitability objectives. The Finance Manager will provide financial insight, challenge, and support to school leaders, enabling informed decision-making.

The Role

• Act as trusted finance advisor to the Bursar, School Principal and leadership teams.
• Support school leadership in achieving financial and operational objectives.
• Challenge and support commercial decision-making through financial analysis.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability and operating performance.
• Support and help drive enrolment and ancillary revenue growth initiatives, ensuring approved P&L accounts are in place for each initiative.
• Support monthly financial reporting processes across the school, ensuring timeliness, accuracy and relevance.
• Support monthly financial review meetings with the Bursar, school principal and regional finance teams.
• First point of contact for finance shared services for the school.
• Support annual budgeting and periodic forecasting processes for the school.
• Act as a technical accounting expert, advising on compliance and policy changes.
• Provide oversight and challenge to ensure payment arrangements balance family circumstances with appropriate debt recovery controls and liaise with debt recovery agencies.
• Support school leadership with complex parent fee collection matters.
• Monitor adherence to approved payment plans and escalat ... high-risk cases where appropriate.
• Analyse collection performance and identify opportunities to reduce aged debt and improve cash conversion.
• Liaise with Admissions to monitor agency commissions and student discounts. Maintain accurate records and ensure the school is following the broader discount strategy.

The Person

• At least Part-qualified (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience supporting operational leaders and non-finance stakeholders.
• Experience budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting.
• Multi-site business experience. (desirable)