Senior Finance Business Partner

The Methodist Church in Britain; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

LGPS membership

Professional development & career prog

Job summary

Forward Education Trust is seeking a permanent full-time financial professional to lead the management accounts, budgeting and forecasting across the Trust. The post sits in the central team of six special schools and involves partnering with senior leaders and Trustees in a hybrid role with up to two days of home working.

The role covers year-end preparation, statutory returns, payroll reconciliations and strong financial systems development, with oversight of external audits and compliance

Qualifications

• Recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).
• Significant experience in management accounting, budgeting and forecasting.
• Experience of year-end accounts preparation and working with auditors.

Responsibilities

• Lead preparation and delivery of monthly management accounts across the Trust.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and medium-term financial planning.
• Provide strategic financial analysis, modelling and business partnering to school and Trust leaders.
• Lead year-end preparation and statutory financial returns.
• Support external audit activity.
• Oversee payroll reconciliations and key balance sheet controls.
• Drive development and implementation of financial systems, controls and reporting across schools and central teams.
• Provide information and assurance to the Director of Finance & Operations and the CEO as Accounting Officer.
• Oversee outsourced finance support, including quality assurance and process improvement.
• Ensure compliance with academy, charity and financial regulations.
• Contribute to Trust-wide strategic planning, growth and development initiatives.
• Work with school leaders and Central Office to ensure funding is identified, secured and managed.

Skills

Analytical

Excel

Modelling

Communication

Relationship-building

Problem solving

Education

Accounting qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA)

Tools

Excel

Job description

This permanent full-time post sits in the central team of Forward Education Trust, a multi-academy trust running six special schools. The role leads the Trust's management accounts, budgeting, forecasting and medium-term planning, and oversees year-end preparation and statutory returns. Working with headteachers, senior leaders and Trustees, the post carries partnering duties around a complex funding environment, with hybrid working of up to two days a week from home. Visa sponsorship is not available.

What the job involves

• Lead preparation and delivery of monthly management accounts across the Trust
• Support budgeting, forecasting and medium-term financial planning
• Provide strategic financial analysis, modelling and business partnering to school and Trust leaders
• Lead year-end preparation and statutory financial returns
• Support external audit activity
• Oversee payroll reconciliations and key balance sheet controls
• Drive development and implementation of financial systems, controls and reporting across schools and central teams
• Provide information and assurance to the Director of Finance & Operations and the CEO as Accounting Officer
• Oversee outsourced finance support, including quality assurance and process improvement
• Ensure compliance with academy, charity and financial regulations
• Contribute to Trust-wide strategic planning, growth and development initiatives
• Work with school leaders and Central Office to ensure funding is identified, secured and managed

What’s required

Qualifications

• Recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent)

Experience

• Significant experience in management accounting, budgeting and forecasting
• Experience of year-end accounts preparation and working with auditors

Skills & knowledge

• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret complex financial information
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills
• Confidence to provide support, challenge and advice to senior leaders
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Proactive approach to continuous improvement and problem solving

Nice to have

• Experience within an education, academy trust or charity setting

What’s offered

• Competitive salary
• Hybrid working arrangements
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities
• Supportive and collaborative leadership teamli>
• Paid-for Trust Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme