Head of Finance

Michael Page; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational academy is looking for a Head of Finance to manage financial accounting and oversee a small team. This role involves ensuring compliance with regulations, leading audits, and preparing financial reports. The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant with experience in budget management and strong leadership skills. The position offers hybrid working and excellent benefits including a 20% employer pension contribution and 28 days holiday.

Benefits

28 days holiday accrued to 33 plus bank holidays

20% employer pension contribution

Healthcare plan

Opportunity for personal growth and development

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Must be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA).
• Thorough knowledge of accounting principles, procedures, and controls.
• Experience in budget management and forecasting.
• Demonstrable experience of implementing new processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage a small team focused on excellence and customer service.
• Oversee month-end and year-end financial processes.
• Ensure compliance with internal and external regulations.
• Lead the preparation of statutory accounts and audits.

Skills

Excellent leadership

Budget management

Financial reporting

Analytical skills

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)

Tools

Excel

Job description

Overview

Working for an academy of schools a brand new position has been created due to company growth! The academy has seen significant growth in recent years, playing a crucial role in shaping the education landscape. With more schools joining Trust, there's a stronger emphasis on collaboration, shared resources, and improving educational outcomes. This expansion reflects a move towards greater efficiency, innovation, and support for both staff and students.

Client Details

As the trust welcomes more schools, there's a greater focus on collaboration, resource-sharing, and driving educational excellence. This expansion enhances efficiency, fosters innovation, and strengthens support for both staff and students, shaping the future of education in the region.

Description

Description

Duties and Tasks of the Head of Finance:

• Manage a small team fostering a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and strong customer service.
• Financial Accounting: Oversee month-end and year-end processes, including accruals, prepayments, balance sheet reconciliations, and fixed asset management.
• Oversee transactions processing ensure invoices are processed accurately and on time, manage supplier reconciliations, and oversee debt recovery procedures.
• Maintain internal controls & compliance ensuring compliance with the Trust and external regulations.
• Lead the preparation of statutory accounts, coordinate external and internal audits, and ensure timely submission of financial reports.
• Oversee investments in line with policy, and maintain accurate cash flow forecasting.
• Own the financial accounting and purchase order systems, ensuring data integrity and continuous improvements.

Profile

Experience required as the Head of Finance:

• Qualified account (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)
• Thorough knowledge of accounting principles, procedures and controls
• Experience in budget management and forecasting
• Demonstrable experience of implementing new processes and setting up new internal controls
• Handling complex financial data thorough accounting systems and Excel

Job Offer

What\'s on offer:

• 28 days holiday accrued to 33 plus bank holidays
• 20% employer pension contribution
• Healthcare plan
• Opportunity for personal growth an development
• 36 hours per week flexible start and finish time
• Hybrid working