Interim Finance Manager

WeDoData; England; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

WeDoData, a Bristol-based Further Education college group, seeks an experienced finance professional for a six-month fixed-term contract to lead external reporting, year-end activity and audits. You will oversee projects and capital programmes, uphold strong financial controls, and support deadlines during a busy period.

The role requires FE finance experience, ability to work independently from day one, and strong Excel skills to support forecasts and variance reporting for senior leadership.

Qualifications

• FE finance experience within a college or college group.
• Strong experience of external financial reporting, audit and year-end requirements.
• Experience of project and/or capital accounting and financial management.
• Strong Excel skills with reconciliations and financial controls.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate external financial reporting and returns, ensuring accuracy and on-time submissions with proper evidence.
• Support statutory accounts, year-end activity and external audit.
• Oversee financial management of projects and capital activity including budgets, forecasts and variance reporting.
• Provide clear financial information to senior leadership and maintain robust reconciliations.

Skills

FE finance experience

External reporting

Excel

Audit

Education

CCAB/CIMA qualification or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Job description

We’re looking for an experienced finance professional to join a Further Education college group on a six-month fixed term contract.

This is a senior finance role covering a period of increased activity within the finance team. You’ll take the lead on external financial reporting, support year-end and audit requirements, and provide financial oversight of key projects and capital programmes.

We need someone with recent FE finance experience who can get up to speed quickly, work independently and provide reliable support across some important financial deadlines.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll be responsible for coordinating external financial reporting and returns, making sure everything is accurate, submitted on time and backed up by the right evidence. You’ll also support statutory accounts, year-end activity and external audit. Alongside this, you’ll oversee the financial management of projects and capital activity, including budgets, forecasts, expenditure and variance reporting. You’ll work closely with budget holders, project leads and senior colleagues to maintain strong financial controls, challenge forecasts and identify any potential risks. There will also be a focus on producing clear financial information for senior leadership, maintaining robust reconciliations and ensuring the college group meets its external audit, funding and regulatory requirements.

What we’re looking for

This role would suit someone who has worked in a similar senior finance position within Further Education and is comfortable taking ownership of reporting requirements from day one.

• Demonstrable finance experience within Further Education, ideally in a college or college group.
• Strong experience of external financial reporting, audit and year-end requirements.
• Experience of project and/or capital accounting and financial management.
• Strong Excel skills, with a good understanding of reconciliations and financial controls.
• CCAB/CIMA qualification, or equivalent senior-level finance experience.

The details

• Contract: 6-month fixed term contract
• Organisation: Further Education college group
• Salary: £57,000 pro rata
• Role: Interim External Reporting & Projects Finance Manager

WeDoData (Bristol) Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, applicants, and clients to share this commitment.

Any appointment will be made subject to strict vetting and screening checks and receipt of a satisfactory enhanced DBS check. In accordance with the DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants