Schools Finance Officer

Coventry City Council; Coventry; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Coventry City Council is seeking a Schools Finance Officer to work with Coventry schools, guiding budgets and financial planning for sustainable outcomes.

You’ll visit schools, build strong links with Headteachers, School Business Managers and Governors, and translate numbers into practical advice that supports school finance decisions.

Qualifications

• An enthusiastic, proactive and customer-focused finance professional who enjoys working with people, solving problems and providing practical financial advice.
• Confident analysing financial information, identifying risks and opportunities and explaining complex information clearly to both financial and non-financial audiences.
• Comfortable meeting and working with people, building positive relationships with Headteachers, School Business Managers and Governors while managing competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Advise Coventry schools on finances and budgets to support sustainable planning.
• Engage with Headteachers, School Business Managers and Governors and build strong working relationships.
• Support the annual financial cycle, developing realistic budgets and monitoring spending.
• Identify financial risks and potential savings and communicate them clearly.
• Present financial information and provide training or guidance as needed.

Skills

Accounting principles

Complex financial environment

Budgeting and forecasting

Numerical and analytical skills

Job description

Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

We are a diverse and dynamic Financial Management Team responsible for providing a diverse range of functions to drive the Council to fulfil its transformational journey. We deliver the full range of financial management and accounting services to facilitate effective delivery of services to support the people of Coventry and deliver projects which are redefining the infrastructure of the city.

Working flexibly with internal officers and external partners we aim to ensure finance is at the heart of everything that the Council does.

The organisation has a high expectation of our service, and we will continue to support and develop our staff to have the skills to deliver a quality service.

What is the job role?

As a Schools Finance Officer within Coventry City Council's Finance department, you'll be a trusted financial adviser to a portfolio of Coventry schools, helping school leaders manage their finances effectively and sustainably.

This isn’t your typical desk based finance role. While strong financial skills are important, this role is also about people. You'll get out into schools, work directly with Headteachers, School Business Managers and Governors, build strong relationships and provide advice that can make a real difference.

You’ll support schools throughout the annual financial cycle, helping them develop realistic budgets, monitor spending, identify financial risks and plan for future challenges. You’ll analyse financial information and turn the numbers into clear, practical advice that helps school leaders make informed decisions.

No two days are the same. You might be meeting with a Headteacher, presenting financial information, supporting a governing body meeting, delivering training or helping a school respond to emerging financial pressures and identify potential savings.

It's a varied and rewarding opportunity for someone who enjoys finance but also enjoys working with people, building relationships and seeing the difference their advice can make.

Who are we looking for?

We're looking for an enthusiastic, proactive and customer-focused finance professional who enjoys working with people, solving problems and providing practical financial advice.

You’ll be confident analysing financial information, identifying risks and opportunities and explaining complex information clearly to both financial and non-financial audiences.

Just as importantly, you’ll be comfortable meeting and working with people. You’ll need to build positive relationships with Headteachers, School Business Managers, Governors and colleagues, while managing your own workload and competing priorities.

• An understanding of accounting principles and financial management.
• Experience of working within a complex financial environment.
• Experience of budgeting, financial planning, forecasting and financial control.
• Strong numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills.