Head of Accounts

Cranbrook School; Cranbrook; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Cranbrook School is seeking a Head of Accounts to ensure accurate financial information, strong controls and timely reporting that supports school decision-making. You will lead the accounts function and work closely with the Bursar to deliver the full finance cycle.

You’ll focus on accuracy, compliance and insightful financial analysis, with responsibilities including monthly management information, budgeting, forecasting and robust governance across income and expenditure within a term-time

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a finance/accounts role with increasing responsibility.
• Strong knowledge of financial controls, reconciliation and reporting.
• Attention to detail with the ability to work to deadlines consistently.
• Professional, approachable communication style able to explain complex matters clearly.
• Experience of relevant frameworks and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Leadership and management of the Accounts function, including day-to-day oversight, workload planning and continuous improvement.
• Financial reporting: producing high-quality monthly/termly management information, maintaining clear reporting packs and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Financial controls and governance: establishing and maintaining robust controls, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, policies and audit requirements.
• Budgeting and forecasting: supporting strategic planning through budget preparation, scenario modelling and ongoing budget monitoring.
• Management of income and expenditure, including review of ledgers, reconciliation work and ensuring expenditure is correctly coded, supported and authorised.
• Systems and process improvement: using finance systems effectively and improving workflows to reduce error and strengthen reporting.
• Relationships and stakeholder support: working closely with colleagues across the school-explaining financial information clearly and constructively.
• Supporting audits and inspections, providing requested evidence promptly and helping to ensure findings are addressed effectively.
• Maintaining confidentiality and integrity at all times, particularly when handling sensitive information.

Skills

Leadership

Financial controls

Financial reporting

Budgeting

Forecasting

Audit experience

Tools

Finance systems

Reconciliation software

Job description

Head of Accounts

As Head of Accounts you will ensure accurate financial information, strong financial controls and timely reporting that supports decision-making across the school.

Competitive package £39,000 to £50,000 p.s

As the Head of Accounts and supporting the Bursar, you’ll deliver the full finance cycle. Your focus will be on accuracy, compliance and providing useful insight rather than simply producing reports. Typical responsibilities include:

• Leadership and management of the Accounts function, including day-to-day oversight, workload planning and continuous improvement.
• Financial reporting: producing high-quality monthly/termly management information, maintaining clear reporting packs and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Financial controls and governance: establishing and maintaining robust controls, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, policies and audit requirements.
• Budgeting and forecasting: supporting strategic planning through budget preparation, scenario modelling and ongoing budget monitoring.
• Management of income and expenditure, including review of ledgers, reconciliation work and ensuring expenditure is correctly coded, supported and authorised.
• Systems and process improvement: using finance systems effectively and improving workflows to reduce error and strengthen reporting.
• Relationships and stakeholder support: working closely with colleagues across the school-explaining financial information clearly and constructively.
• Supporting audits and inspections, providing requested evidence promptly and helping to ensure findings are addressed effectively.
• Maintaining confidentiality and integrity at all times, particularly when handling sensitive information.

You may come from a school, charity, public sector, or commercial background-what matters is that you can combine strong finance knowledge with calm, dependable leadership. You’ll be comfortable working with detail, but you’ll also keep sight of the bigger picture: how financial information supports teaching, boarding, care and safeguarding responsibilities.

To succeed, you’ll likely have most of the following:

• Proven experience in a finance/accounts role with increasing responsibility.
• Strong knowledge of financial controls, reconciliation and reporting.
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to work to deadlines consistently.
• Confidence to challenge assumptions and improve processes while building trust.
• A professional, approachable communication style-able to explain complex matters clearly.
• Experience of relevant frameworks and compliance requirements (or the ability to learn them quickly).
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise in a varied, term-time environment.

Why Cranbrook

Choosing Cranbrook isn’t simply about joining a school; it’s about joining a place with character, tradition and purpose. As a state boarding school with deep roots, Cranbrook has a distinctive rhythm and a strong sense of community.

Opportunity to make a tangible difference through clear reporting, improved processes and sound controls.

Engagement with a school community-working with people who care deeply about the pupils and the institution.

Respect for professionalism, confidentiality and best practice.

Safeguarding and safer recruitment

As a school, Cranbrook is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and follows the requirements of KCSIE and Safer Recruitment practices. The successful applicant will be required to complete pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS disclosure and references.