Finance Manager | Secondary School | Guildford

Marchant Recruitment; Guildford; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Supportive leadership

Excellent location

Job summary

Marchant Recruitment in Guildford, Surrey, is seeking an experienced Finance Manager for a well-established secondary school starting September 2026.

This hands-on role covers day-to-day finance management, budgeting, forecasting and longer-term financial planning, with support to senior leaders and preparation for audits.

You will work independently, maintain accuracy with strong Excel skills, and contribute to value-for-money improvements in an education setting.

Qualifications

• Solid experience in finance, accounting or financial management.
• Experience in education settings preferred but other sectors considered.
• Strong Excel skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Managing the school's day-to-day finance function
• Preparing budgets, forecasts and regular financial reports
• Monitoring expenditure and variances
• Processing invoices, purchase orders and payments
• Completing bank reconciliations
• Supporting payroll and pension administration
• Managing supplier accounts and procurement
• Preparing information for audits and reporting
• Working with budget holders across the school
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes and value for money
• Providing financial information to senior leaders

Skills

Finance management

Budgeting

Forecasting

Excel

Stakeholder communication

Education

Professional accounting qualification (CIMA/ACCA)

Tools

Sage/Xero

Job description

Finance Manager | Secondary School | Guildford Marchant Recruitment•Guildford, England, United Kingdom

A well-established secondary school in Guildford, Surrey is looking for an experienced Finance Manager to join its business support team from September 2026.

This is a hands‑on role with responsibility for the day‑to‑day management of the school's finances, alongside supporting senior leaders with budgeting, forecasting and longer‑term financial planning.

It's a good opportunity for an experienced finance professional who enjoys working independently, takes pride in accuracy and wants to use their skills in an education setting.

The Role

You'll have responsibility for a broad range of financial duties, including:

Managing the school's day‑to‑day finance function

Preparing budgets, forecasts and regular financial reports

Monitoring expenditure and investigating variances

Processing and overseeing invoices, purchase orders and payments

Completing bank and financial reconciliations

Supporting payroll and pension administration

Managing supplier accounts and procurement processes

Preparing financial information for audits and reporting

Working with budget holders across the school

Identifying opportunities to improve financial processes and value for money

Providing financial information and advice to senior leaders

About You

The successful candidate will have solid experience in finance, accounting or financial management, with the confidence to take ownership of a busy finance function.

Previous experience within a school, academy or other education setting would be advantageous, but relevant experience from the commercial, charity or public sectors will also be considered.

You’ll be highly organised, numerate and comfortable working with confidential information. Strong Excel skills and excellent attention to detail are essential, along with the ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.

Salary & Benefits

September 2026 start

Employee Assistance Programme

Supportive leadership team

Excellent location and transport links in Guildford