Senior School Finance & Operations Manager

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

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.