School Business Manager (CFO)

Government jobs, apprenticeship; Grimsby; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Waltham Leas Primary Academy seeks an experienced senior financial manager to lead strategic finance, budgeting, and statutory reporting. You will oversee charity accounting, forecasting, and statutory audits while ensuring ATH compliance and robust internal controls.

The role includes responsibility for ESFA submissions, payroll oversight, and governance of procurement, risk, IT security, and payroll processes within the academy trust environment.

Qualifications

• Qualifications: Level 4+ SBM Qualification or degree in Finance/Accounting/Business; full or partial finance qualification (AAT Level 4, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, ACA) or equivalent CFO-level experience.
• Experience: Senior financial management and multi-year budget modeling within an Academy Trust or Charity sector, including statutory accounting and external audit leadership.
• Technical & Regulatory Knowledge: ATH/ESFA frameworks, Charity Commission regulations, and strong Excel/financial software knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Finance & Charity Accounting: lead multi-year forecasting, annual budget modelling, monthly management accounts, and statutory annual audited accounts.
• Statutory Compliance & ESFA Submissions: oversee financial probity, ATH compliance, and timely ESFA returns using Access Education Finance & Access Budgets.
• Operations & Estates Leadership: manage premises compliance, health & safety, procurement/contracts, risk management, and IT/cyber security.
• HR & Payroll Oversight: oversee recruitment protocols, pension submissions, and monthly payroll processing.

Skills

Senior financial management

Excel proficiency

Financial forecasting

Education

Level 4+ SBM Qualification (CSBM/DSBM/Level 6 Diploma)

Degree in Finance/Accounting/Business

Tools

Excel

Access Education Finance

Access Budgets

Job description

Job details

Job role

• Administration, HR, data and finance
• Other support role

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Working pattern

Full time, term time: Full Time/ Term Time + 3-4 weeks (Negotiable)

Contract type

Permanent

Full time equivalent salary

£48,738

Pay scale

NJC 36

What skills and experience we're looking for

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Finance & Charity Accounting: Lead multi-year financial forecasting, annual budget modelling, monthly management accounts, and statutory annual audited accounts under Charity SORP (FRS 102) and the Academies Accounts Direction.
• Statutory Compliance & ESFA Submissions: Oversee total financial probity, Academy Trust Handbook compliance, and the timely submission of all statutory ESFA financial returns using software systems like Access Education Finance & Access Budgets.
• Operations & Estates Leadership: Manage premises compliance, health & safety, procurement/contracts, risk management, and the Trust's IT and cyber security infrastructure.
• HR & Payroll Oversight: Oversee recruitment protocols, statutory pension submissions (TPS/LGPS), and monthly payroll processing.

Key Requirements

• Qualifications: Level 4+ SBM Qualification (CSBM/DSBM/Level 6 Diploma) Or a degree in Finance/Accounting/Business; full or partial finance qualification (AAT Level 4, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, ACA) or equivalent CFO-level academy finance experience.
• Experience: Proven senior financial management and multi-year budget modeling experience within an Academy Trust (SAT/MAT) or the Charity Sector, including statutory accounting and external audit leadership.
• Technical & Regulatory Knowledge: Robust working knowledge of the Academy Trust Handbook (ATH), ESFA frameworks, Charity Commission regulations, and high proficiency in Excel and financial management software.

What the school offers its staff

We strive to ensure that Waltham Leas Primary Academy has a friendly, caring, family atmosphere. We offer a warm welcome to our safe, calm environment for children, staff and visitors on a daily basis.

Our school's vision, created by the whole school community encompasses our aspirations for all stakeholders.

Belong Grow Empower

The successful candidate will have access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, 1 Wellbeing day per year & you will be a member of SLT.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):

• childcare disqualification
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
• medical
• online and social media
• prohibition from teaching
• right to work
• satisfactory references
• suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.