Management Accountant

Inspiration Trust Ltd; Norwich; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS

Health Plan

Cycle-to-work

Free parking

CPD and development

Induction programme

Job summary

Inspiration Trust is seeking an ambitious Management Accountant to join our finance team in Cringleford, Norwich. You will deliver monthly management accounts for an allocated group of academies, manage accruals, prepayments, forecasting, and variance analysis while providing clear commentary for decision-making.

You will also produce salary variance reports to support staffing decisions and assist with budgeting processes across the Trust.

Qualifications

• Experience of producing management accounts
• Experience of budget preparation
• Experience of balance sheet and year-end reconciliations
• AAT status or working towards AAT status
• Excellent IT and Excel skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Motivational and striving attitude
• Accurate and diligent work
• Works well in a fast-paced and high-volume role
• Passion for learning and development
• A passion for Finance and supporting the provision of excellent education

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of timely, accurate management accounts for an allocated group of academies, bringing together accruals, prepayments, monthly forecasting, variance analysis and clear commentary to explain the financial position.
• Produce salary variance reports to inform school leaders, with reference to the Department for Education guidance.
• Build strong relationships with school Principals and the Chief Financial Officer to support budgeting and planning.
• Assist in preparation and monitoring of annual and 3-year budgets and support of Trust-wide budgeting processes.

Skills

Management accounts

Budgeting

Balance sheet

AAT status

Excel skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Fast-paced env

Professional development

Finance for education

Education

AAT status

Job description

Location: Central Services, Cringleford Prep, Woolhouse Way, Cringleford, Norfolk, NR4 7FU

Salary: Support Staff Pay Scale J - K: £41,177 to £48,738 per annum

Permanent

Full Time: 37 hours per week from Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm

Working Weeks: All Year Round

Start Date: January 2027

Put your finance skills to work where they can make a difference to children’s education. This is an opportunity for an ambitious management accountant to gain valuable experience in the public education sector, joining our dynamic, high-achieving finance team. If you are organised, motivated and ready to help schools make the most of their resources, we would love to hear from you.

Your work will help school leaders understand their finances and plan confidently. You will deliver accurate monthly management accounts for our schools, prepare and monitor budgets, and help ensure that financial management meets regulatory and statutory requirements and follows best practice.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Take ownership of timely, accurate management accounts for an allocated group of academies, bringing together accruals, prepayments, monthly forecasting, variance analysis and clear commentary to explain the financial position.
• Help school leaders make informed strategic decisions about staffing levels by producing salary variance reports, with reference to the Department for Education’s Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning guidance.
• Build strong working relationships with school Principals and the Chief Financial Officer as you support the ongoing review and maintenance of Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning, helping schools align their curriculum plans with available resources.
• Preparation and monitoring of annual and 3-year budgets and support of Trust wide budgeting process, including meetings with key stakeholders.

About You:

The ideal candidate will enjoy turning financial detail into clear, practical information that helps others make decisions. With excellent presentation and organisation skills, you will build strong, collaborative relationships with key stakeholders and connect finance with operational management. Your analytical, detail-oriented approach and strategic thinking will help schools use their resources to support the highest standard of education for our pupils.

You do not need an education-sector background to apply: we will provide full training in education finance. You will have experience of working in a finance environment and be AAT qualified or working towards the qualification; full AAT qualification is preferred. Education-sector experience is a strong advantage, but we equally welcome applicants who can demonstrate transferable skills from other sectors.

Essential:

• Experience of producing management accounts
• Experience of budget preparation
• Experience of balance sheet and year-end reconciliations
• AAT status or working towards AAT status
• Excellent IT and excel skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, be that written or oral
• Motivational and striving attitude
• Accurate and diligent work
• Works well in a fast-paced and high-volume role
• Passion for learning and development
• A passion for Finance and supporting the provision of excellent education

Desirable:

• Fully or part ACA/ACCA qualified
• Degree or equivalent level of education
• Experience of working within the education sector

Why Join Inspiration Trust

Develop your finance career while supporting schools across Norfolk and north Suffolk. At Inspiration Trust, we believe education can transform lives, and your expertise will help schools make the most of their resources. You will join a supportive, forward-thinking organisation that values collaboration and innovation, with opportunities for growth and a varied professional development programme. As part of a network of teachers, leaders and support staff, you will contribute your financial expertise to a shared educational purpose.

We offer:

• Generous annual leave, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with excellent employer contributions
• Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 virtual GP access, mental health support and claim-back options for healthcare costs *
• Cycle-to-work scheme, retail and theatre discounts (including discounted shopping vouchers, dentist and gym memberships), and salary sacrifice options (including home technology). *
• Free parking at most sites
• Personalised CPD and development programmes
• A structured and specific induction programme.

*Terms and conditions apply. Some benefits are only available following successfully passing probation.

About Us

Inspiration Trust is a thriving family of schools across Norfolk and North Suffolk, recognised nationally for pupil progress and excellence in teaching and leadership. We believe every young person deserves the best education, regardless of background.

The Trust offers extensive networks and opportunities to collaborate with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to delivering outstanding professional and learning opportunities for all staff, supported by a rich programme of continuing professional development led by some of the country’s leading educational thinkers and practitioners.

Our central support services give school leaders more time to focus on education. By bringing key services together, we reduce workload for senior leaders, provide value for money across integrated services and give academies a strong local support structure where best practice can be shared. We continually review these services to keep them responsive to each academy’s needs.

Our Central Services team, currently based at the Cringleford Prep site in Norwich, provides expert support across HR, Payroll, Recruitment, Finance, ICT, and Estates - enabling our schools to focus on what they do best: teaching and learning.

Closing date for applications: 12noon on Sunday 8th November 2026

Interview date: Tuesday 17th November 2026

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities

Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. We are an equal opportunities employer.