Finance Manager

Government jobs, apprenticeship; Leighton Buzzard; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leadership team

Friendly staff

Development opportunities

Role variety

Finance team leadership

Contribute to school

Job summary

Greenleas School in Leighton Buzzard is seeking a Finance Manager to oversee the school’s financial operations and support budget planning and reporting.

You will lead day-to-day finance processes, including invoicing, reconciliations and financial reporting, while ensuring accurate records and strong governance. This role collaborates with the Business Manager to support pupils and staff.

Qualifications

• The successful candidate will have strong financial management and accounting skills.
• Experience managing invoicing, reconciliations and financial reporting.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Comfortable using financial systems and maintaining accurate records.
• Experience supporting budget monitoring and financial planning.
• Able to manage and support Finance Assistants and maintain governance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the school's financial operations including delegated and external funding.
• Support with budget planning, forecasting and financial monitoring.
• Prepare financial reports and management accounts for senior leaders and governors.
• Monitor income and expenditure and advise budget holders.
• Manage invoicing, sales ledger processes and credit control.
• Lead and develop Finance Assistants and support payroll and HR administration.

Skills

Financial management

Invoicing

Budget monitoring

Financial reporting

Leadership

Attention to detail

Job description

Job details

Job role

• Administration, HR, data and finance

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Working pattern

Full time

Contract type

Permanent

Full time equivalent salary

£31,022.00 - £33,699.00 Annually (FTE)Pay award from April 2026 pending

Finance Manager job summary

Role Summary

Position: Finance Manager

Reporting to: Business Manager

Responsible for: Finance Assistants (x2)

Contract: 37 hours per week | Permanent This is a 52 week post, there may be some flexibility around working time, applicants should be aware that some holiday working is essential.

Salary: £31,022 - £33,699 (depending on experience)

Start Date: Autumn 2026

Closing Date:

Make a real impact in a school community

A great school relies on strong financial leadership behind the scenes. At Greenleas School, we are looking for a skilled Finance Manager who will play a key role in ensuring our financial systems run effectively and that resources are managed in the best possible way to support pupils and staff.

Working closely with the Business Manager, you will oversee the school's financial operations, support strategic budgeting, and lead day-to-day finance processes. This is an excellent opportunity for an organised and proactive finance professional who enjoys working in a collaborative environment where their work directly supports education.

About Greenleas School

Greenleas School is a welcoming and supportive school community where staff work together to provide 'excellence, enrichment and enjoyment' for pupils to learn and thrive. We pride ourselves on our collaborative culture, strong leadership and commitment to continuous improvement.

Our staff are at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to providing a positive working environment where people feel valued, supported and able to develop professionally.

We are a two-site school in Leighton Buzzard providing education to nearly 700 children aged 2-9 years. Our annual budget is in excess of £4 million and includes self-generated income of more than £150k.

We expect all our staff to model our values and strive and are committed to providing training and opportunities for all staff to do so. Our Office Team is outstanding and work closely to deliver exemplary service to our internal and external clients.

What We Offer

• A supportive and collaborative leadership team
• A welcoming and friendly staff community
• The opportunity to develop leadership experience through managing a small finance team and contributing to strategic financial planning within the school.
• Opportunities for professional development and training
• A varied role combining operational and strategic finance responsibilities
• The opportunity to lead and support a small finance team
• The chance to make a meaningful contribution to the success of the school

What We Are Looking For

The successful candidate will:

• Have strong financial management and accounting skills
• Have experience managing financial processes such as invoicing, reconciliations and financial reporting
• Be highly organised with excellent attention to detail
• Be confident using financial systems and maintaining accurate records
• Have experience supporting budget monitoring and financial planning
• Be able to manage and support the work of Finance Assistants
• Demonstrate professionalism and discretion when handling confidential information
• Work effectively with senior leaders and the wider school team

Experience in a school finance environment would be advantageous but is not essential. Candidates with strong finance experience in other sectors are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management

Oversee the school's financial operations including delegated and external funding

Support the Business Manager with budget planning, forecasting and financial monitoring

Prepare financial reports and management accounts for senior leadership and governors

Monitor income and expenditure and advise budget holders

Finance Operations

Manage invoicing, sales ledger processes and credit control

Authorise purchase invoices and oversee debt management

Prepare month-end, quarter-end and year-end processes including reconciliations and VAT returns

Maintain financial records including petty cash and the asset register

Early Years and Income Activities

Oversee financial processes relating to Early Years funding claims and invoicing

Support financial monitoring of income-generating activities such as lettings and extended provision

Payroll and HR Administration

Check payroll information for accuracy

Maintain personnel records and HR data within school systems

Support the preparation of the School Workforce Census

Team Leadership

Line manage Finance Assistants and support their professional development

The Impact of Your Role

As Finance Manager, you will play an important role in ensuring that the school's financial resources are managed effectively and transparently. Your work will directly support the smooth running of the school and help ensure that funding is used to provide the best possible learning environment for our pupils.

We welcome applications from candidates with experience in schools, the public sector or private sector finance roles who are interested in applying their skills within an education setting.

We operate a safer recruitment policy and follow the CBC Code of Practice. Our recruitment process includes undertaking online searches in line with the requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education. This post will involve regular contact with children, and therefore is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants are therefore not entitled to withhold information about convictions, cautions or bind-over orders which for any other purposes are "spent" under the provisions of the Act. Any information that is "protected" under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 will not appear on a DBS certificate and does not need to be declared. Guidance on this can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974

Successful candidates will be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a self-declaration related to their criminal record or any information that would make them unsuitable to work with children. Additional checks in relation to the Childcare Disqualification Regulations will be undertaken for successful candidates. If you have lived or worked outside of the UK, additional information may be required from you to satisfy safer recruitment checks.

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.

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

Greenleas School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. We will carry out enhanced DBS checks where necessary on all staff and take references. Please note that online searches are undertaken as part of the safer recruitment process.

Central Bedfordshire Council Schools are equal opportunities employers and welcome applications from all members of the community.

Please advise us if you have a disability, learning difficulties, medical conditions or needs for which you would like us to make reasonable adjustments so that your application and working experience is more accessible.