Finance Manager

Government jobs, apprenticeship; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave entitlement

Cycle to Work Scheme

Free on-site parking

Employee Assistance Programme

Ongoing professional development

Job summary

Chosen Hill School in Gloucestershire is seeking a Finance Manager to lead the school’s financial operations and support strategic decision‑making. This role works closely with the Business Manager, SLT and Governors to manage budgets, reporting and statutory returns.

The successful candidate will provide high‑quality financial insight, ensuring regulatory compliance and robust financial controls while contributing to educational outcomes.

Qualifications

• AAT or higher accounting qualification is essential.
• Significant experience in financial management, budgeting and reporting.
• Strong management accounting and forecasting skills.
• Ability to present financial information clearly to stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Proven leadership, organisational and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the school's financial management systems and processes.
• Lead annual budget planning, reporting and statutory returns.
• Manage external and internal audit processes and financial controls.
• Provide high-quality financial insights to support strategic decisions.
• Support the Senior Leadership Team and Governors with financial reporting.

Skills

AAT qualified

Higher accounting qualification

Financial management

Budgeting

Forecasting

Leadership

Communication

Education

AAT or higher accounting qualification

Job description

Job details

• Job role: Administration, HR, data and finance


• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored


• Working pattern: Full time: Monday - Thursday 08:00 - 16:00 with a 15:30 finish on Fridays. 37 hours per week, Term Time Only plus 3 weeks holiday working (equivalent to 40 weeks)


• Contract type: Permanent


• Pay scale: Grade 8, Scale Points 25-30

What skills and experience we're looking for

At Chosen Hill School, finance is about far more than balancing budgets. It is about ensuring that every financial decision helps create opportunities for young people to thrive.

We are seeking an ambitious and highly skilled Finance Manager to lead the School's financial operations and play a key role in supporting strategic decision-making. This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified accounting professional who is looking to apply their expertise within a successful and values-driven organisation, where their work will have a direct impact on students' education and future outcomes. You will be joining the school at a time when this key Finance role will evolve, with the changing requirements of the DfE, the development of the school and it's staff.

Working closely with the Business Manager, Senior Leadership Team and Governors, you will take responsibility for the school's financial management systems, annual budget planning, management accounts, statutory returns, audit processes and financial reporting. You will provide high-quality financial insight and analysis that supports informed decision-making across the organisation.

With the school continuing to grow and develop, regulatory expectations becoming increasingly sophisticated, and a forthcoming transition within the senior business leadership team, this role presents an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious finance professional to make a lasting impact and develop their career within education.

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Is AAT qualified or holds a higher accounting qualification


• Has significant experience in financial management, budgeting and reporting


• Possesses strong management accounting and forecasting skills


• Can confidently produce and interpret financial information for a range of stakeholders


• Has excellent analytical skills and attention to detail


• Demonstrates strong leadership, organisational and communication skills


• Can build positive working relationships across the school community


• Experience within the education sector is welcomed but not essential.

Why Chosen Hill School?

Chosen Hill School is a thriving and highly successful comprehensive academy, judged Good by Ofsted in all categories. Situated between Gloucester and Cheltenham, we serve approximately 1,400 students, including over 200 students in the Sixth Form.

We are proud of our reputation as a welcoming and supportive community where staff, students and families work together with trust, respect and high expectations. This role offers the opportunity to become part of a school that values professional expertise and recognises the importance of strong financial leadership in delivering exceptional educational outcomes.

What the school offers its staff

• Local Government Pension Scheme


• Generous annual leave entitlement


• Cycle to Work Scheme


• Free on-site parking


• Employee Assistance Programme


• Ongoing professional development opportunities


• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of young people

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

Commitment to safeguarding

\"Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone's responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has an important role to play in safeguarding children. School staff are particularly important as they are in a position to identify concerns early and provide help for children to prevent concerns from escalating. All school staff have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.\" (Keeping Children Safe in Education, 2022)