Finance Manager

Global Accounting Network Limited; Ewhurst Green; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Global Networks is partnering with a global education business in East Sussex (Bodiam) to recruit a Finance Manager who will lead the finance function for a portfolio of 1–3 schools. You will advise school leaders, drive financial performance and support enrolment and revenue initiatives to achieve budget, growth and profitability objectives.

You will act as trusted advisor to Bursar, School Principal and leadership teams, support monthly reporting, forecasting and debt recovery controls, and

Qualifications

• Must be 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.

Responsibilities

• Act as trusted finance advisor to 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 enrolment and ancillary revenue growth initiatives with approved P&L for each initiative.
• Support monthly financial reporting processes across the school, ensuring timeliness and accuracy.
• Support monthly financial review meetings with stakeholders.
• First point of contact for finance shared services for the school.
• Support annual budgeting and periodic forecasting processes for the school.
• Advise on compliance and policy changes as a technical accounting expert.
• Provide oversight to ensure payment arrangements balance family circumstances with debt recovery controls.
• Assist with complex parent fee collection matters.
• Monitor adherence to approved payment plans and escalate high-risk cases.
• Analyse collection performance and identify opportunities to reduce aged debt and improve cash conversion.
• Liaise with Admissions to monitor agency commissions and discounts; maintain records per discount strategy.

Skills

Operational partnering

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial reporting

Stakeholder management

Multi-site experience

Education

Part-qualified 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 elevate 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)