Regional Finance Manager

Ark Schools; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave + bank holidays

Ark Pension Scheme (The Pension Trust)

Professional learning & training

Ark Rewards discounts

Job summary

Ark Schools is seeking a Regional Finance Manager to lead financial processes across South London academies. You will spend ~60–70% at your home school (All Saints Academy) and 1–2 other South London schools, reporting to the Senior Finance Manager.

You’ll drive month-end close, budgeting, and financial governance to enable strategic decisions. You will oversee finance staff, ensure compliance with the Academies Financial Handbook, and partner with Principals to optimize resources.

Qualifications

• Qualified or part-qualified accountant with relevant professional designation.
• Experience managing financial systems in a school environment preferred.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and MS Office suite essential.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts and related analysis.
• Ensure timely production of financial reports, cash flow forecasts and returns.
• Oversee academy accounting procedures and payroll processes.
• Line manage the school's finance staff and provide training.
• Support procurement processes in line with legislation and policies.
• Partner with Principals and staff on budgeting and strategic decisions.
• Identify income generation opportunities and drive value for money.

Skills

Right to work in the UK

ACCA/CIMA/ACA

Excel & MS Office

Sage Intacct

IMP budgeting system

Financial databases

Line management

Contracts & tenders

Legislation & compliance

Integrity & resilience

Education sector knowledge

Org & time management

Stakeholder management

High-pressure work

Attention to detail

Education

ACCA/CIMA/ACA

Tools

Sage Intacct

IMP budgeting system

Job description

About The Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join Ark Schools' Regional Finance team, supporting Ark's academies in South London. As Finance Manager, you will be an integral part of the team responsible for ensuring high standards of financial integrity within the academies. You will have a 'home school' Ark All Saints Academy, where you will focus c. 60- 70% of your time, with the remainder supporting one to two other schools in South London.

You will work closely with (and report to) the Senior Finance Manager and will also work with the relevant Principal and Operations leads in the school(s) you support. For your home school, you will manage the monthly financial processes, ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Academies Financial Handbook, leading financial planning and partnering with the Principal and other senior staff to ensure effective strategic decision making. You will then provide support other schools as directed by the Senior Finance Manager.

The Regional Finance Manager will report into Senior Finance Manager. This role will be based in our South London region on a permanent basis working full time.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure timely production and issue of financial reports, cash flow forecasts and returns as required, including ad hoc review and projects
• Prepare the management accounts and related analysis, posting of month end journals, ensuring bank and control account reconciliations are carried out monthly in line with the Ark month-end pack
• Prepare the monthly financial reports, analysis and updates for the Local Governing Body (LGB) and present at the meetings where required
• Prepare the annual budget and reforecasts for approval by Ark Schools' Risk and Audit Committee
• Take responsibility for the academy's accounting procedures, ensuring all policies and procedures are adhered to within the academy, including review of academy payment runs and payroll
• Take responsibility for and line management of the school's finance support staff, including arranging appropriate training and development, conducting induction, probation and performance management reviews
• Support the school Operations Lead to ensure goods and services are processed in compliance with current and relevant procurement legislation
• Partner with the Principal and other senior staff to ensure effective financial management, adherence to budget and strategic decision making
• Identify and pursue income generating activities
• Drive forward change and initiatives which promote regularity, propriety, value for money and best standards, and ensuring best practice is implemented across the region

Key Requirements

• Right to work in the UK
• Experienced part-qualified accountant or fully qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA or ACA)
• Experience of running effective administrative and financial systems, ideally within a school environment
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel and the wider MS Office suite
• High level of proficiency with Sage Intacct (accounting system) and IMP (budgeting system) desirable
• Experience using financial databases and confidence and interest in learning new technologies
• Line management experience, desirable
• Experience in managing and negotiating contracts, tenders and agreements, desirable
• Understanding of relevant legislation, policies and procedures and the ability to apply this understanding to real situations
• Professional integrity and resilience, being resourceful and solution-oriented
• Knowledge and understanding of the education sector, desirable
• Strong organisational and time-management skills and the ability to delegate appropriately
• Ability to skilfully manage and maintain effective working relationships with parents, governors, community members and other stakeholders
• Works productively in a high-pressure environment
• High standards and a keen eye for detail

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years' service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest‑free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

About Us

There are 34,000 students learning in our network of 48 schools across Birmingham, Hastings, London, Pontefract and Portsmouth. We've always believed that, with the right approach, every child has the potential to succeed. We work in the communities where we can make the biggest difference to children's lives, and all our schools are non‑selective.

It works: our schools achieve great results - significantly outperforming national averages, especially when it comes to driving progress - the best measure for 'closing the gap'.

We take what we learn in our schools to develop new solutions and approaches that we can share. Over the last two decades, we have developed and incubated more than 20 projects and programmes, supporting them to scale and achieve systemic impact on the life chances of all children. Over 300,000 children currently learn using an Ark curriculum and our Ark Start nurseries are demonstrating a new model for early years education that we hope will become the norm.

Diversity and Inclusion

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone - staff and students - can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark's diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.

Safeguarding Statement

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend on the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred.

To read more about Ark's safer recruitment process, please click this link.

For any questions, please contact [email protected] .