Financial Controller

Arts Educational Schools London; Chiswick; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

ArtsEd is a dynamic performing arts school in London. This role leads and supervises the day‑to‑day activities of the finance department, supporting the Director of Finance and Operations and providing analysis of management and financial accounts.

Key duties include overseeing termly management accounts, annual statutory accounts, external audits, and the review of internal controls and financial procedures, plus payroll, budgeting and governance reporting.

Responsibilities

• Leading the preparation of the Termly Management Accounts for discussion with the Director of Finance and Operations.
• Oversee preparation of the company’s annual accounts in accordance with company and charity law.
• Make appropriate arrangements for an annual external audit and liaising with the auditors during their audit work.
• Ensure reporting meets compliant standards with statutory law and financial regulations.
• Ensuring all balance sheet control accounts are correctly reconciled and that there is a detailed audit trail at each balance sheet date.
• Prepare and maintain the Fee Schedule and reconcile to Management and Financial accounts.
• Take lead responsibility for Fee invoicing to make sure all fees are raised correctly and in a timely manner and that all in year changes are correctly implemented.
• Take lead responsibility for the validation of Bursaries and advising management as appropriate.
• Manage the payroll and approval of any monthly payroll adjustments for staff including pension contributions.
• Take lead responsibility for payroll and salary related expenses, ensuring all changes are appropriately authorised and approved.
• Actively participate in the Budget process preparing prior year information for guidance for presentation to the those charged with governance.
• Support Management with guidance and instruction on all financial queries and best practice.
• Provide management with regular actual v. budget information.
• Attend all Finance Committee meetings with the Director of Finance and Operations and to take minutes at the meeting if required.
• Attend such other meetings with management and Trustees as may be appropriate.
• Assist in the completion of the OFS return.
• Assist in the completion and reconciliation of the quarterly VAT returns.
• Meeting with the Director of Finance and Operations on a regular weekly basis to discuss financial and other related issues and to advise of possible financial problems, opportunities, or upcoming issues.
• Manage, mentor, and motivate the finance department staff.
• Reviewing financial systems and leading the implementation of new developments as appropriate.
• Any other tasks as might be reasonably requested.

Job description

ArtsEd is an energetic, creative space in which highly talented young people are supported to achieve to the best of their abilities in both vocational and academic studies. Our mission is to create outstanding and innovative young performers equipped for the constantly evolving demands of today’s performing arts industry.

In 2023 we were awarded TEF Gold, the highest rating from the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework and, for the third year running, we were ranked in the top-five drama schools for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey.ArtsEd Day School & Sixth Form enjoys a consistent position as the most academically successful performing arts school in the UK.All pupils are inspired by a strong sense of family and shared purpose to achieve their full potential right across the curriculum.And outside of school hours, we offer a wide range of evening, weekend and holiday courses for all ages and abilities.

Role Description

The main purpose of the role is to lead and supervise the day-to-day activities of the finance department, provide support to the Director of Finance and Operations and operational management in the analysis and understanding of the management and financial accounts, and to review and improve internal financial controls and financial processes and procedures.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading the preparation of the Termly Management Accounts for discussion with the Director of Finance and Operations.
• Oversee preparation of the company’s annual accounts in accordance with company and charity law.
• Make appropriate arrangements for an annual external audit and liaising with the auditors during their audit work.
• Ensure reporting meets compliant standards with statutory law and financial regulations.
• Ensuring all balance sheet control accounts are correctly reconciled and that there is a detailed audit trail at each balance sheet date.
• Prepare and maintain the Fee Schedule and reconcile to Management and Financial accounts.
• Take lead responsibility for Fee invoicing to make sure all fees are raised correctly and in a timely manner and that all in year changes are correctly implemented.
• Take lead responsibility for the validation of Bursaries and advising management as appropriate.
• Manage the payroll and approval of any monthly payroll adjustments for staff including pension contributions.
• Take lead responsibility for payroll and salary related expenses, ensuring all changes are appropriately authorised and approved.
• Actively participate in the Budget process preparing prior year information for guidance for presentation to the those charged with governance.
• Support Management with guidance and instruction on all financial queries and best practice.
• Provide management with regular actual v. budget information.
• Attend all Finance Committee meetings with the Director of Finance and Operations and to take minutes at the meeting if required.
• Attend such other meetings with management and Trustees as may be appropriate.
• Assist in the completion of the OFS return.
• Assist in the completion and reconciliation of the quarterly VAT returns.
• Meeting with the Director of Finance and Operations on a regular weekly basis to discuss financial and other related issues and to advise of possible financial problems, opportunities, or upcoming issues.
• Manage, mentor, and motivate the finance department staff.
• Reviewing financial systems and leading the implementation of new developments as appropriate.
• Any other tasks as might be reasonably requested.