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Lionheart Educational Trust; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15% employer pension contribution

Health Care/Salary Sacrifice Schemes

electric and hybrid car scheme

electrical equipment

gym memberships

parking

Job summary

Lionheart Educational Trust is seeking a proactive Finance Partner to support and manage the resource and information service for staff and stakeholders, ensuring efficient use of financial resources.

The role involves preparing monthly and annual finance reports, budget preparation for schools, training budget holders, and partnering with Heads of Schools to align spending with Trust goals. Includes governance, risk management, and support for audits.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review monthly and annual finance reports, alongside balance sheet reconciliations
• Ensure spend is in line with compliance and regulatory requirements
• Ensure forecast reflects key business drivers and risks
• Support Heads of Schools with spending decisions, aligning the Trust goals and values
• Deliver training and other support to new and existing budget holders
• Work with Senior Finance Team to support sound management of budgets, alongside review of ICFPs and income funding
• Prepare annual budgets for schools under the portfolio, working alongside Heads of schools to ensure budgets are accurate and robust
• Provide financial advice for Heads, Leadership Teams and other budget holders to make informed financial decisions
• Provide financial input into new products and projects
• Influence stakeholders and challenge decisions to ensure the best outcome for pupils
• To ensure effective and efficient delivery of financial support services within the school/college, complying with relevant financial procedures, policies and systems
• Act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders and provide financial insight to influence decision making
• Ensure financial integrity and compliance with policies
• Identify and mitigate financial risks and control gaps
• Collaborate with accounting teams to ensure accurate reporting
• Support and be involved with internal and external audit requests
• Ad hoc tasks and projects as requested by the Senior finance
• Effective management and reporting of debtors within the relevant schools
• Ensure safe custody of all cash within post holder’s schools

Job description

HOURS/WEEKS: 37 per week/52 weeks per year

CLOSING DATE: Friday 2nd October 2026

We are looking for a proactive and motivated Finance Partner to support and manage an effective resource and information service to staff and other stakeholders and ensure the Trust makes efficient and effective use of financial resources.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare and review monthly and annual finance reports, alongside balance sheet reconciliations
• Ensure spend is in line with compliance and regulatory requirements
• Ensure forecast reflects key business drivers and risks
• Support Heads of Schools with spending decisions, aligning the Trust goals and values
• Deliver training and other support to new and existing budget holders
• Work with Senior Finance Team to support sound management of budgets, alongside review of ICFPs and income funding
• Prepare annual budgets for schools under the portfolio, working alongside Heads of schools to ensure budgets are accurate and robust

Business partnering & strategy

• Provide financial advice for Heads, Leadership Teams and other budget holders to make informed financial decisions
• Provide financial input into new products and projects
• Influence stakeholders and challenge decisions to ensure the best outcome for pupils
• To ensure effective and efficient delivery of financial support services within the school/college, complying with relevant financial procedures, policies and systems
• Act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders and provide financial insight to influence decision making

Governance and risk management

• Ensure financial integrity and compliance with policies
• Identify and mitigate financial risks and control gaps
• Collaborate with accounting teams to ensure accurate reporting

Other financial aspects

• Support and be involved with internal and external audit requests
• Ad hoc tasks and projects as requested by the Senior finance
• Effective management and reporting of debtors within the relevant schools
• Ensure safe custody of all cash within post holder’s schools

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing Trust with staff benefits including:

• 15% employer pension contribution
• Health Care/Salary Sacrifice Schemes for purchasing bikes
• electric and hybrid car scheme
• electrical equipment
• gym memberships
• parking
• and more!

The Trust strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where all staff have a seat at the table: a seat to be free, a seat to inspire, a seat to challenge and a seat to succeed.

We currently have staff networks for staff who are Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer + (LGBTQ+), staff who would describe their background as working class and staff with a disability.

The successful candidate will have to meet the requirements of the person specification, job description and will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.