Finance Manager - Education Sector (Manchester)

UK Management College Ltd; Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

UK Management College Ltd in Manchester seeks a Finance Manager to support the Head of Finance and lead a small Finance Team in delivering accurate financial operations across the organisation.

You will manage month-end/year-end processes, prepare management accounts, and ensure reconciliations and payroll transfers are completed on time while maintaining strong internal controls. This is a growth-focused position in the education sector.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a finance or accounting environment, ideally within education/public sector/not-for-profit.
• Strong knowledge of financial processes, accounting principles, reconciliations, and financial controls.
• Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate and resolve financial discrepancies.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing deadlines.
• Confident managing and developing a small team.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues at all levels.
• Ability to explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership of responsibilities, and use initiative.
• Strong IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel and financial/accounting systems.
• High level of integrity and discretion when handling confidential information.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and maintaining professional knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the day-to-day activities of the Finance Office, ensuring an efficient and effective finance service.
• Provide line management to Finance Office staff, including regular supervision, performance reviews, appraisals, and identification of training and development needs.
• Allocate and prioritise the workload of Finance Office staff, providing guidance and support where required.
• Ensure all financial transactions are processed accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with Financial Regulations and internal procedures.
• Assist the Head of Finance with month-end and year-end procedures, ensuring all relevant financial activities are completed within agreed deadlines.
• Prepare monthly management accounts, budget statements, financial reports, and other financial information as required.
• Ensure control account reconciliations are completed accurately and on a timely basis, investigating and resolving discrepancies.
• Review financial information and identify variances, errors, or unusual transactions, escalating significant issues where appropriate.
• Ensure the accurate and timely transfer of payroll data into the finance system and reconcile payroll-related control accounts.
• Monitor income and expenditure and support budget holders with financial information and budget monitoring.
• Assist with the preparation, monitoring, and review of budgets and forecasts.
• Maintain accurate financial records and ensure appropriate supporting documentation and audit trails are maintained.
• Support internal and external audit processes, providing information and responding to queries as required.
• Ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations, policies, procedures, and statutory requirements.
• Maintain awareness of relevant financial developments, guidance, and protocols issued by the Department for Education (DfE), funding bodies, and other relevant organisations.
• Support the Head of Finance in ensuring appropriate financial controls are maintained across the organisation.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, systems, controls, and reporting.
• Provide financial guidance and support to colleagues and budget holders across the organisation.
• Maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive financial, payroll, employee, and organisational information.
• Undertake other reasonable finance-related duties as required by the Head of Finance.

Skills

Finance management

Team leadership

Financial reporting

Budgeting

Reconciliations

Financial controls

Excel

Communication

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent qualification

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Excel

Job description

UK Management College Ltd in Manchester seeks a Finance Manager to support the Head of Finance and lead a small Finance Team in delivering accurate financial operations across the organisation.

You will manage month-end/year-end processes, prepare management accounts, and ensure reconciliations and payroll transfers are completed on time while maintaining strong internal controls. This is a growth-focused position in the education sector.