Financial Accountant

PARTNERSHIP LEARNING; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A multi-academy trust in London is seeking a committed finance specialist to enhance its finance operations. The successful candidate will work closely with the finance team to manage systems, budgeting, and audits. A qualified accountant (or soon to be qualified) is preferred. This role offers a competitive salary within the Partnership Learning Main Scale and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Local government pension scheme

Car user allowance

Cycle to work scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Professional development opportunities

Supportive working environment

Qualifications

• Strong track record in finance operations.
• Experience in budget setting and monitoring.
• Excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Refine the finance function across the Trust.
• Manage systems, banking/treasury, and audits.
• Work closely with schools and the Director of Finance.

Skills

Communication skills

Financial operations

Budget management

Accountancy

Education

Qualified accountant or soon to be qualified

Job description

Overview

Salary: Partnership Learning Main Scale – Points 44-48 (£57,915 - £62,691)

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Locations: Partnership Learning MAT Office, Trust school sites and central meeting venues as required. A proportion of remote working with the agreement of the Director of Finance.

Dates: Apply by 12 Noon on Monday 27 October 2025; Interviews 12/13 November 2025; Start Date: January 26 or as soon as possible after

Partnership Learning is seeking an enthusiastic, committed finance specialist with a strong track record to be a key member of the Central Finance Team and support the further development of the finance operations of the Trust. They will be a qualified (or soon to be qualified) accountant. This is an exceptional opportunity and will provide excellent scope for widening and deepening professional skills and experience.

About Partnership Learning

Partnership Learning is a growing multi-academy trust which currently has 20 schools – primary, secondary, all-through, special and UTC - serving 14,000 pupils, in Hillingdon, Barking and Dagenham, Southend, Havering and Waltham Forest. The Trust believes in high levels of autonomy remaining at school level, with finance teams within each school carrying out day to day financial activities and processing – overseen and supported by the Central Finance Team as required.

The Trust is on a sound financial footing, with annual income of over £135m and with reserves of around £18m.

The Central Finance Team currently consists of six staff (Director of Finance, two Financial Accountants, Trainee Accountancy Officer, Finance Officer and Finance Apprentice).

About the Role

The successful applicant will work closely with the Director of Finance, Central Finance Team and schools to further refine the finance function across the Trust and ensure that it remains on a sound financial footing – in order to support its educational objectives.

The role covers all aspects of finance (including systems, banking/treasury management, budget setting + monitoring and closure of accounts including external audit) and so will provide excellent scope for widening and deepening professional skills and experience.

We are looking for an ambitious, enthusiastic individual with excellent communication skills and experience across a range of financial activities as set out above. Whilst this role would be suitable for an individual with an education finance background and experience in these areas would be welcomed, it would also be appropriate for a flexible individual with different but relevant skill-sets and experience who is capable of adapting their skills to an education environment

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Local government pension scheme
• Car user allowance
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Excellent professional development opportunities
• Supportive and collaborative working environment
• Salary will be paid on the Partnership Learning Main Scale, on a five-point range starting at £57,915 and rising through annual incremental progression (subject to successful appraisal) to £62,691.
• Partnership Learning’s Terms and Conditions for central team posts closely follow those for equivalent-level Local Government posts.

Applications can be made online only, by application form available at Partnership Learning website. CVs will not be accepted.

Partnership Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its pupils and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced criminal record check via DBS will be undertaken for the successful candidate. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and a comprehensive screening process, including a disclosure check, will be undertaken on all applicants.