Finance Manager

CBT Clinics Ltd; Uppingham; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Uppingham School is seeking a Finance Manager to lead the operational finance function, oversee accounting, reporting, budgeting and controls, and manage a team of six within a large independent school.

The role includes driving month-end close, balance-sheet reconciliations, VAT and Gift Aid work, and supporting the Financial Controller and CFO on statutory accounts and transformation programmes.

Permanent, full-time, 35 hours per week, with salary circa £50,000 depending on experience.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant or studying towards ACA/ACCA/CIMA
• Experience delivering month-end close in a complex organisation
• Experience with balance-sheet reconciliations, accruals, prepayments and fixed assets
• Experience managing ledger processes and strong internal controls
• Experience budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis with non-finance stakeholders
• Proven leadership of a finance team and handling deadlines
• Good VAT knowledge and supporting schedules for audit, Gift Aid, and statutory accounts
• Advanced Excel and finance-system skills

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the transactional finance team with clear expectations
• Plan and deliver monthly and annual close timetable with journals and reconciliations
• Prepare monthly management accounts with variance commentary for stakeholders
• Own monthly balance-sheet reconciliations including accruals and fixed assets
• Support budgeting and forecasting with robust assumptions
• Provide insightful analysis to improve financial performance
• Attend budget-holder meetings and present results
• Maintain fixed asset register and capital expenditure controls
• Prepare schedules for VAT, tax and Gift Aid reporting
• Oversee purchase ledger, sales ledger and cashbook activities
• Assist with external audits and statutory accounts
• Lead finance-system change and process improvements

Skills

Leadership & People Management

Month-end & Year-end close

Financial reporting & commentary

Budgeting & Forecasting

VAT, Gift Aid & tax knowledge

Excel & Finance systems proficiency

Education

Qualified Accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) or actively pursuing

Tools

Excel

ERP/Finance system

Job description

Salary: Circa £50,000, commensurate with experience

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week, 52 weeks per year

Contract: Permanent

Uppingham School, founded in 1584, is a leading co-educational independent boarding school which runs 24/7 in term-time. It has a strong academic profile and excellent pastoral care with an international reputation, and state-of-the-art science, sports and music facilities. Its c. 800 pupils, aged 11-18, are accommodated in 15 boarding houses, taught by over 20 academic departments, and participate in numerous extra-curricular activities such as sports, music and drama. The School employs c. 550 staff and is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, welcoming applications from anyone who feels they could fulfil the role.

The Role

The Finance Manager is responsible for the operational finance function of UGS, leading a team of six and overseeing financial accounting, transaction processing, management reporting, budgeting support and financial control. The role owns a timely and accurate month-end and year-end close, prepares management information and balance-sheet reconciliations, ensures the integrity of income, expenditure and fixed-asset records, and manages the core purchase ledger, sales ledger and cashbook activities. You will support budget holders with forecasts, cost analysis and financial discipline, develop clear procedures and controls, and provide the Financial Controller with reliable information for statutory accounts, audit, tax and wider decision-making. This is also an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in a significant finance transformation programme, helping to modernise systems, reporting, controls and financial processes across the School.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious accountant to take ownership of a broad finance function and work closely with the Financial Controller and CFO within a large and complex organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing the transactional finance team, setting clear expectations, deadlines and cover arrangements
• Planning and delivering the monthly and annual close timetable, including journals, reconciliations and a complete close pack
• Preparing accurate monthly management accounts with clear variance commentary for the Financial Controller, CFO and budget holders
• Owning the monthly balance-sheet reconciliation process, including accruals, prepayments, deferred income and provisions
• Supporting the annual budget and in-year forecasting processes, working with budget holders on robust assumptions
• Acting as a trusted finance partner to budget holders across the School, providing challenge, insight and support to improve decision-making and financial performance
• Attending budget-holder meetings, explaining results and forecasts, and producing focused cost analysis
• Maintaining the fixed asset register and ensuring capital expenditure is correctly authorised, recorded and classified
• Preparing supporting information and reconciliations for VAT, tax and Gift Aid reporting
• Ensuring school-fee, ancillary-income, commercial-income and supplier-expenditure records are complete and accurate
• Managing the purchase ledger, sales ledger and cashbook teams, including banking and bank reconciliations
• Maintaining financial controls, process manuals and month-end checklists, and supporting fraud prevention
• Overseeing finance-related contracts and reconciliations, including support for the catering contract
• Preparing schedules and evidence for external audit and statutory accounts
• Acting as a key operational lead for finance-system and process change, including testing, training and workflow design
• Driving continuous improvement in financial processes, controls and ways of working, ensuring procedures remain efficient, scalable and well documented

What We're Looking For

• Qualified accountant, or actively studying towards a recognised professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)
• Experience of delivering month-end and year-end close in a complex organisation
• Strong practical experience of management accounts, balance-sheet reconciliations, accruals, prepayments, deferred income and fixed assets
• Experience of managing purchase ledger, sales ledger and cashbook processes, with a sound understanding of end-to-end financial controls
• Experience of budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis and working directly with non-finance budget holders
• Experience of leading and developing a finance team and managing competing deadlines
• Good working knowledge of VAT and the ability to prepare robust supporting schedules for tax, Gift Aid, audit and statutory accounts
• Strong Excel and finance-systems skills, with experience of process improvement, data handling, reporting and system implementation or development
• Ability to turn detailed financial information into concise, practical commentary and actions
• High standards of accuracy, completeness and personal accountability
• Organised and calm under pressure, with the ability to prioritise and meet firm reporting deadlines
• Analytical and curious, with the confidence to challenge constructively and resolve underlying issues
• Clear, approachable communicator who can build effective relationships with finance colleagues and budget holders
• Committed to continuous improvement, good controls and practical service delivery

Safeguarding

The post-holder's responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom they are responsible, or with whom they come into contact, will be to adhere to and always ensure compliance with the School's Safeguarding (Child Protection) Policy.

Contract type

Permanent

Hours

Full time

Circa £50,000, commensurate with experience