Finance Manager

Greenleas School; Linslade; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Greenleas School is seeking a Finance Manager to lead the school’s financial operations and support strategic budgeting to ensure resources are used effectively for pupils and staff.

Working with the Business Manager, you will oversee day-to-day finance processes, manage a small team, and contribute to financial planning within a collaborative education environment.

Qualifications

• Strong financial management and accounting skills.
• Experience with invoicing, reconciliations and financial reporting.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Confident using financial systems and maintaining records.
• Experience leading a small finance team and budget monitoring.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Financial management

Budgeting

Accounting

Financial reporting

Invoicing

Cash management

Team leadership

Record-keeping

Tools

Finance software

Job description

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

When you join Greenleas School, you will benefit from:

• 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 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.