Head of Finance

Eteach; Winchester; On-site; GBP 57,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Eteach seeks a Head of Finance at Sparsholt College Group, responsible for shaping financial strategies while leading the finance team. Candidates should possess strong accountancy qualifications and a minimum of 3 years in a senior role, with benefits including generous holiday, pension scheme, and on-site gym access.

Benefits

28 days holiday plus public holidays

Pension Scheme

Relocation assistance

Free on-site parking

Occupational Sick Pay Scheme

Flexible Working Policy

Access to employee assistance scheme

On-site gym

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in a senior accountancy role.
• At least 2 years of line management experience.
• Experience in managing a finance team in a complex environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the finance team for accurate results.
• Drive financial performance and oversee budgetary control.
• Ensure compliance with College financial regulations.

Skills

Strong communication

Budget setting/control

Financial standards understanding

Education

Qualified accountancy (ACA/CIMA/ACCA)

Job description

Head of Finance

Location: Sparsholt Campus / Winchester

Salary: £57,303 – £62,463 (Management Scale)

Hours: Contracted for 37 hrs per week / open to discuss exact working pattern

Exciting Opportunity to join our Team in the next phase of growth and transformation

Who we are

Sparsholt College Group (SCG) delivers a diverse portfolio of commercial activity in addition to our Further and Higher Education provisions and is committed to supporting all students, staff, employers and wider stakeholders to be aspirational, to provide support throughout their personalised journey with us, to enable them to make advancements in their own careers, their organisation or as a community.

Our values are focused on achieving Excellence, Sustainability, Passion, Innovation, Integrity, Teamwork and Supportiveness in all our endeavours

The Role

The Head of Finance plays a critical role in shaping the financial & procurement strategies of the College Group. Driving financial performance through effective budgetary control and overseeing the preparation of timely and accurate financial information for strategic and operational decision making. Additionally, the post holder will manage and shape the development of the finance team and relevant systems to bring about organisational and operational efficiencies & improved accuracy.

What you’ll do

• Lead, manage & motivate the finance team to deliver consistent, accurate & insightful results.
• Work with the Chief Finance Officer and other SLT colleagues shape and implement the financial & procurement strategies of the College Group
• Continuously seek to develop ways of working and implement new systems and processes to drive effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance to the College financial regulations and procedures and that these align to statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Provide timely & accurate financial information for strategic & operational decision making.
• Lead on the year-end accounting process including the preparation of group financial statements in line with DfE and audit best practice together with the subsequent year-end audit and submissions to the DfE.
• Have oversight responsibility for all balance sheet reconciliations, capital reporting and cashflow forecasts.
• Lead both the annual budget and monthly rolling forecasting processes, supported by the wider finance team.
• Manage and ensure compliance with all tax related matters – VAT, Corporation tax, IR35 etc
• Be fully involved with both College internal and external auditors
• Monitor service delivery standards and strive to identify improvements

About You

Technically strong qualified accountancy professional (ACA/CIMA/ACCA etc)

Strong communication skills, comfortable building effective relationships with multiple stakeholders especially non -finance leaders.

Evidence of in depth understanding of financial standards, principles and best practice

Successful track record of budgetary setting/control and up-skilling a finance team

Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a senior accountancy role with at least 2 years’ line management experience

Prior experience of managing a finance team and operating in a complex environment

Understanding of the need to take appropriate and relevant information into account before making decisions

Understanding and evidence of the need to keep abreast of financial legislation, regulation, and good practice

Understanding of the core business of the College, including strategic priorities, values, and client needs

Experience of working in education or wider public sector desirable but not essential

Benefits of Joining us:

• Holiday entitlement of 28 days plus Public and Bank Holidays along with college closure days at Xmas which fall in normal working pattern
• Pension Scheme
• Relocation assistance for the right candidate
• Free on-site parking
• Occupational Sick Pay Scheme
• Occupational Maternity Pay Scheme
• Flexible Working Policy
• Ability to Purchase Additional Annual Leave via a salary sacrifice arrangement
• Access to an employee assistance scheme
• On-site gym at the Sparsholt campus
• Facility to purchase Sparsholt produce
• Access to discounted hair and beauty treatments at the Andover campus