Management Accountant

St Barnabas Church Of England Multi Academy Trust; Bodmin; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

St Barnabas Multi Academy Trust is seeking a Management Accountant to prepare monthly management accounts for its academies, ensuring timely and accurate reporting and compliance with ATH and statutory requirements.

You will work with the CFOO and hub leaders, performing variance analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and maintaining internal controls across the Trust, with flexible hours during key periods and potential reduced timetable at other times.

Qualifications

• Part-qualified CCAB accountant or a fully qualified Accounting Technician (AAT).
• Experience in education, charity or similar organisation is desirable.
• Excellent communication and analytical abilities; strong technical skills with spreadsheets.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and produce monthly management accounts for individual academies and academy hubs.
• Prepare monthly consolidated management accounts, balance sheet and cashflow forecast for submission to board.
• Conduct detailed variance analysis with commentary on differences between actuals, budgets and forecasts.
• Ensure accurate posting of financial transactions including accruals, prepayments and deferred income.
• Maintain and reconcile key balance sheet accounts monthly.
• Meet with academy Hub Leaders and heads of school to review financial performance and provide strategic financial advice.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Education

Part-qualified CCAB or AAT

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Google Sheets

Job description

As Management Accountant you will be responsible for the timely and accurate preparation of monthly management accounts for the academies within the Trust. This role provides crucial financial support, analysis, and guidance to Trust and school leaders, ensuring effective financial management and compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook (ATH) and other statutory requirements.

Our ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills, be a part-qualified CCAB accountant or fully qualified accounting technician (AAT) with experience in a similar role within education, charity or similar organisation.

You will be able to demonstrate strong technical and analytical skills, a commitment to continuous improvement and full understanding of Microsoft and Google products specifically spreadsheets. You will take a methodical but flexible approach to your work, delivering a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail, but with the ability to keep sight of the trust contextual information.

You will have to opportunity to work up to full time hours during the key financial accounting periods (days 1-10), annual financial year end and audit period, with the opportunity to work either a reduced timetable at other times, or to complete specific duties in line with your pay scale.

Please note: This role is essential and as such we will be interviewing as suitable applicants apply. We reserve the right to close this role early should vacancies be filled before the closing date.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and produce monthly management accounts for individual academies and academy hubs.

• Prepare monthly consolidated management accounts, balance sheet and cashflow forecast for submission to board.

• Conduct detailed variance analysis, providing insightful commentary on differences between actuals, budgets, and forecasts.

• Ensure the accurate posting of all financial transactions, including accruals, prepayments, and deferred income.

• Maintain and reconcile key balance sheet accounts on a monthly basis.

• Meet as required with academy Hub Leaders and heads of school to review financial performance, discuss variances, and provide strategic financial advice and support.

2. Budgeting and Forecasting

• Support the annual budget-setting process for academies, working closely with the CFOO and Hub leaders to develop robust and realistic budgets.

• Assist in the production and monitoring of three-year financial forecasts, taking into account key drivers such as pupil numbers and staffing levels.

• Provide financial modelling and analysis to support strategic decision-making and business planning.

3. Financial Systems and Controls

• Operate and maintain the Trust’s accounting and budgeting software systems, ensuring data integrity and consistency.

• Contribute to the implementation and adherence of financial procedures and internal controls across the Trust, in line with the ATH and the Trust’s financial policies.

• Assist in the preparation for both internal and external audits, providing all necessary documentation and responding to auditor queries in a timely manner.

4. Compliance and Statutory Returns

• Assist the CFOO in ensuring the Trust complies with all statutory financial requirements, including those from the Department for Education (DfE), Companies House etc.

• Help prepare and submit statutory financial returns as required.

• Maintain fixed asset register

5. Other Duties

• Support ad-hoc financial projects and analysis as requested by the CFOO or trust leadership team.

• Stay up-to-date with relevant changes in legislation, regulations, and best practices within the academy sector.

• Maintain confidentiality and a high level of discretion at all times.

• Assist with preparation of annual audit file internal and external including liaising with auditors and dealing with requests and queries and checking financial statements issued by the auditors.

• Ensure that comprehensive procedure notes are maintained for the role.

  St Barnabas Multi Academy Trust is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a supportive and inclusive working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit.

  We do not discriminate against staff based on age, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religious or political belief or affiliation, trade union membership, gender, gender reassignment, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, disability, socio-economic background or any other inappropriate distinction or characteristic covered by the Equality Act 2010.

  St Barnabas Multi Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. Please be aware that all shortlisted candidates will have an online search conducted as part of the Trust’s due diligence checks in line with KCSIE.