Principal Finance Officer Schools

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council; Bradford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council is seeking a Principal Finance Officer to lead education and schools finance. You will ensure compliant accounting for maintained schools, manage CFR/year-end close, and deliver DSG funding with rigorous analysis.

You’ll model data, present proposals to Bradford Schools Forum, and coach senior finance staff in a busy, supportive team. The role requires a professional finance qualification or degree, senior finance experience, and strong IT,

Qualifications

• Hold a professional finance qualification or degree.
• Experience in a senior finance role, ideally in education-based finance.
• Knowledge of school funding and CFR processes is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Ensure correct accounting procedures and policies are followed by maintained schools.
• Manage statutory school finance processes, including CFR and year-end close.
• Oversee bank accounts and SAP reconciliation for maintained schools.
• Deliver elements of the DSG funding, interpret data, and present funding proposals.
• Provide training and guidance to school staff and build strong stakeholder relationships.
• Lead within the School Funding Team to deliver high-quality service with professionalism.

Skills

IT skills

Analytical

Problem solving

Time management

Attention to detail

Interpersonal communication

Education

Professional finance qualification

Degree in finance

Tools

SAP

Job description

Principal Finance Officer Schools Local Government Education and Schools Finance is facing significant changes and challenges, including the Government’s national Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) transformation, changes to the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and wider changes to formula funding / grant arrangements. The changes and challenges that schools face in managing their delegated budgets are also significant. We require a Principal Finance Officer to work in the Council’s School Funding Team. This is a great opportunity to make a real contribution by supporting the Council and Schools to deliver change and meet these challenges. Bradford Finance has recently undergone significant investment. The Schools Funding Team is a small team that plays a crucial role in managing Schools and Education Finance for Bradford Council, in delivering statutory finance functions, as well as supporting and challenging schools in the Bradford District in their financial management. This role is an opportunity to make a real difference in our vibrant and diverse city.

The post holder will: Ensure that correct accounting procedures and policies are followed by maintained schools. Provide professional advice and guidance to schools in line with Council and Department for Education policies. Manage the Council’s statutory school finance processes, including year-end closedown and Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR), ensuring that all elements of these processes, and statutory returns, are completed according to deadlines. Oversee the management of local school bank accounts and Council ledger (SAP) reconciliation, including the closure of accounts for maintained schools that convert to academy status. Deliver designated elements of the Local Authority’s annual Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) scheme of funding for schools and early years, interpreting and modeling large volumes of complex information and consulting on funding proposals, working with stakeholder review groups. Present DSG formula funding, and other school finance matters, to a variety of audiences, including Bradford Schools’ Forum. Undertake detailed analysis of income and expenditure monitoring reports submitted by maintained schools, taking appropriate (risk-based) follow up action. Ensure maintained schools adhere to protocols where deficit balances and excess surplus balances are reported. Participate in the delivery of training to school staff (Governors, Business Managers, Headteachers). Build and maintain good working relationships with school finance managers e.g. through attendance at Business Manager Forum meetings. Manage and develop designated Senior Finance Officers in the discharge of their daily duties. Lead within the School Funding Team on the delivery of excellent service to customers, communicating in an informed confident, polite and understanding manner with all clients and customers showing professionalism and high standards of integrity.

We are looking for a financial manager who has excellent IT skills as well as proven analytical, problem solving and time management skills, who is attentive to detail and who inspires confidence. The ideal candidate will relish the challenge of working in busy, but friendly, team. You should hold a professional finance qualification or degree. You should have experience of working in a finance environment in a senior position and, ideally, experience in an education-based finance role in a school, academy or Local Authority.

Further information is available through the links below, along with the attached Job Profile and Candidate Information Pack. Statement of Accounts 2025-26Budget Meeting of the Council March 2026Bradford Schools OnlineBradford Schools Forum

Employee Offer Why work for Bradford Council? Find out why by taking a look at Our Employee Offer.pdf .

Equal Opportunities We do not discriminate against any applicant or employee directly or indirectly on the grounds of gender, marital status, gender re‑assignment, pregnancy, sexual orientation, disability, race, colour, ethnic background, religion or belief, nationality or age. And, as an equal opportunities employer, the Council strives to employ the best qualified people from a diverse range of applicants. The RESPECT Allyship Programme is available to all staff, which offers the opportunity to learn more about the diverse communities & groups and provides added benefits and resources to its members.