Finance Manager

Wade Macdonald; Royal Wootton Bassett; Hybrid; GBP 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking a Finance Manager in Royal Wootton Bassett to provide vital financial insights to support decision-making in an educational environment. Responsibilities include preparing management accounts, leading budgeting processes, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. Candidates should hold a professional accounting qualification and have experience in financial management.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in financial management, reporting, and business partnering.
• Strong knowledge of financial controls, budgeting, and forecasting.
• High attention to detail and analytical capability.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts and lead budgeting processes.
• Monitor monthly expenditure and identify trends.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations including SORP.

Skills

Financial management

Budgeting

Forecasting

Microsoft Excel

Interpersonal skills

Education

Professional accounting qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ACA)

Tools

Accounting systems

Job description

Finance Manager - Wiltshire - £55,000 - Hybrid working

Role Summary

As Finance Manager, you will act as a trusted business partner working in an Educational environment. Providing timely and insightful financial information to enable informed decision-making. You will be responsible for preparing monthly management accounts, leading budgeting and forecasting processes, and ensuring adherence to financial procedures and controls. This is a pivotal role in helping to deliver exceptional educational outcomes through sound financial stewardship.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Headteachers and the Head of Finance to prepare annual budgets and financial forecasts.

• Perform all month-end accounting processes, including journal postings for accruals and prepayments.

• Produce and present monthly management accounts, variance analysis, and supporting narrative to senior stakeholders.

• Lead financial review meetings with budget holders and provide financial insight to support strategic and operational decisions.

• Monitor monthly expenditure and identify trends or variances, offering remedial guidance where required.

• Prepare detailed financial reports for the Board, highlighting key risks and opportunities.

• Provide financial data to support grant and funding applications, and assist with grant expenditure claims.

• Undertake monthly balance sheet reconciliations including fixed assets, depreciation, and payroll.

• Support the implementation and refinement of financial procedures and internal controls.

• Ensure compliance with financial regulations including SORP, and audit requirements.

• Work closely with the AP/AR Manager and Finance Officers to align financial operations with school activities and calendar events.

• Review and approve supplier payment runs, charge card usage, and other transactions within agreed delegations of authority (SODA).

• Build effective working relationships with Office Managers, SEND Leads, Heads of Department, and other budget holders.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Professional accounting qualification (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, ACA) or qualified by experience in a similar role

• Proven experience in financial management, reporting, and business partnering

• Strong knowledge of financial controls, budgeting, and forecasting

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to present financial information to non-financial stakeholders

• High attention to detail and analytical capability

• Proficiency in accounting systems and Microsoft Excel

• Willingness to travel across school sites

Desirable:

• Experience in education, multi-academy trusts, or public sector finance

• Knowledge of SORP, Academyand grant funding compliance