Management Accountant | Alpha Academies Trust | SCH-AIAT-0519

Alpha Academies Trust; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LG pension

Gym discount

Nuffield Health discount

Free onsite parking

Subsidised meals

Cyclescheme

Annual leave 28–33 days

Employee assistance

Job summary

The Alpha Academies Trust is seeking a CCAB-qualified Management Accountant to support the Finance Director in delivering robust financial management across the Trust. Based at The Discovery Academy with travel as required, the role is on-site and follows 37 hours per week, 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday-Thursday and 8:00am to 3:30pm on Friday.

You will provide accurate financial information, analysis and advice to support decision-making.

Qualifications

• CCAB qualified accountant with strong five+ years in a finance role.

Responsibilities

• Prepare budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting.
• Maintain financial controls and balance sheet integrity.
• Produce management accounts and financial reports for senior leaders.
• Engage with budget holders and Principals to enable informed decision-making.
• Oversee VAT returns and taxation requirements.
• Support internal and external audit processes.

Skills

Management accounting

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial analysis

Stakeholder communication

Organisational skills

English proficiency

Education

CCAB/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA qualification

Tools

PS Financials

Excel

Job description

Your Role

Chief Executive Officer: Mr S French | Required: As Soon As Possible | Management Accountant | Permanent | Whole Year | 37 hours per week | Level 11, Actual Salary £43,149 to £46,579

The Alpha Academies Trust (AAT) is seeking to appoint an experienced and motivated Management Accountant to support the Finance Director in delivering high-quality financial management, reporting, budgeting, forecasting and financial control across the Trust. Based at The Discovery Academy with travel across the Trust as required. This role is based fully on-site, with working hours of 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday to Thursday, and 8:00am to 3:30pm on Friday.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Central Team and play a key role in supporting the financial sustainability and strategic development of our academies. Working closely with the Finance Director, Principals, budget holders and senior leaders, you will provide accurate financial information, analysis and advice to support effective decision‑making.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is a CCAB Qualified Accountant
• Has strong management accounting, budgeting and forecasting experience.
• Can analyse and present financial information clearly.
• Has excellent organisational, communication and problem‑solving skills.
• Can build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ideally has experience within an Academy Trust, education, charity or public sector environment.

Our Trust has an amazing family of academies, and each has its own ethos and values that contribute to the wider Trust purpose. We are committed to delivering a first‑class education to overcome inequality and as a member of the Trust Central Team, you will play a key part in helping us to achieve that. We are a local trust with all academies in close proximity, this allows us to focus our strategic direction on learning from each other to ensure that we can deliver the very best in experiences and standards for the communities that we serve.

Our main priority is to develop people and our staff in the organisation are no exception to this. The Trust Central Team facilitates the very best in collaboration, staff development and wellbeing. In order to continue this, we need exceptional people, who we will support to be outstanding professionals.

The ability to converse at ease with members of the public, including staff and students in accurate spoken English is essential for the post, therefore postholders must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to deliver a first‑class education for every child that overcomes inequality. We recruit outstanding staff and make their professional development a number one priority. We are committed to working with other stakeholders to create a joined‑up momentum, with the ambition of bringing about transformational change.

Our values are Ambition Respect Belonging

Why Alpha?

Our Trust is located in Stoke‑on‑Trent and consists of two Secondary Academies, four Primary Academies and a Central Team. Alpha Academies Trust has been established to create a network of Primary and Secondary Academies in North Staffordshire.

We help over 4000 pupils develop and grow into very special individuals. Our staff thrive in doing this and as a result, fulfil their own immense sense of purpose. Joining us, will in turn mean that you can support those pupils as well as our staff in being the best that they can be. You will be a part of their success.

We care about our people and feel that we can achieve the greatest impact through a research led culture.

We believe that mutual Respect should serve as the foundation of our organisation. This supports collaboration and as a result our people are creative, confident and work as one. Our staff identify the approaches that have the greatest impact on children and support the well‑being and workload of all our staff.

For all successful applicants the Alpha Academies Trust will support with the option to further your career by progressing or swapping to become an associate teacher on the appropriate pathway to teaching. This can be discussed at interview or at any time during your employment with Alpha.

The Benefits of Working for Our Trust

The Trust offers a benefits package which includes a local government pension scheme, Staffordshire Pension Fund, a discounted gym membership for on‑site gyms and a 25% discount at Nuffield Health Stoke Fitness & Wellbeing Gym, free on‑site parking, subsidised meals and a Cyclescheme. Annual leave entitlement starts from 28 days, increasing to 33 days after 5 years' service. We also offer an Employee Assistance Programme through Life and Progress including counselling services to ensure that our staff are looked after and supported.

We're Disability Confident!

Alpha Academies Trust is a Disability Confident Employer which means that it has made commitments to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities. Should you require any reasonable adjustments during any point of the application process, please contact our Trust HR Team at [e-mail] to discuss.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

The Alpha Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced check by the Disclosure and Barring Service, as well as an online social media check along with other stringent vetting and induction processes.

CPD / Training

Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
essential

Experience

• Minimum five years' experience working within a finance environment.
  essential
• Preparation of budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting
  essential
• Experience of accounting systems and financial controls.
  essential
• Preparation of management accounts and financial reports.
  essential
• Budget preparation and monitoring.
  essential
• Month end & Year-end accounts preparation.
  essential
• VAT returns and taxation requirements.
  essential
• Financial reconciliations and balance sheet management.
  essential
• Internal and external audit processes.
  essential
• Financial systems administration.
  essential
• Developing and maintaining robust financial controls.
  essential
• Producing financial information for senior leaders and stakeholders.
  essential
• Experience of capital accounting and the management of fixed assets.
  essential
• Experience within an academy trust, education, public sector or charitable organisation.
• Experience using PS Financials.
• Academy trust for education financial reporting.
• DfE funding arrangements.
• Charity accounting and reporting requirements.
• Grant funding management and reporting.
• Procurement and contract management.
• Understanding of the Academies financial reporting requirements.

Personal Attributes

An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English.

Qualifications

Fully qualified CCAB/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA accountant.
essential

Safeguarding Information

The Alpha Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced check by the Disclosure and Barring Service, as well as an online social media check along with other stringent vetting and induction processes. Please note, references will be sought for all shortlisted candidates prior to the interview.

Please note, in order to comply with Safer Recruitment guidelines, we are unable to accept CV's. You must include all details within your profile and personal statement.

Closing Date for this Post: Friday 13th November 2026 at 9:00am

Interview Date: To Be Confirmed

Successful candidates will be required to provide original qualification certificates as part of the pre-employment onboarding process. Where originals are unavailable, replacement certificates may be required.

Visits to our Academy are warmly welcomed, please contact the Academy to arrange a mutually convenient appointment.