Strategic Finance Lead for Academies

Coast and Vale Learning Trust; Tendring; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Pension scheme

Free membership to Perkbox

Cycle to Work scheme

Discounted gym membership

Job summary

The Sigma Trust in North East Essex is seeking an Academies Finance Manager to lead financial administration across multiple academies and to provide timely professional financial guidance to the central team. This role demands strategic budget oversight and strict adherence to public sector financial frameworks.

You will manage budgets, monitor forecasts, prepare management accounts and ensure compliance with Department for Education frameworks and value-for-money guidelines.

Qualifications

• Experience at a senior finance level of direct management of budgets.
• Proven experience of budget preparation, setting and monitoring and financial forecasting.
• Proven experience of preparing and presenting financial and management accounts, reports and data.
• Knowledge and experience of operating accounting software systems.
• Experience of working in a school or academy.
• A Professional Accountancy Qualification would be desirable.

Responsibilities

• Financial Administration: Executing financial management procedures across multi-phase academies in strict accordance with Department for Education frameworks, expectations on public spending, and Trust policies.
• Budget Monitoring & Reporting: Partnering with the Finance Director and Head teachers to monitor budgets, support clear, accurate financial reporting and ensuring strong financial practices within the Trust academies.
• Financial Approvals and Restrictions: Reviewing and authorising purchases up to designated delegation limits while ensuring all expenditure complies strictly with educational purchasing regulations, ring fenced grant restrictions, and value for money guidelines.

Skills

Budget management

Budget forecasting

Management accounts

Finance reporting

Accounting software

School/academy experience

Education

Professional Accountancy Qualification

Tools

Accounting software

Job description

The Sigma Trust in North East Essex is seeking an Academies Finance Manager to lead financial administration across multiple academies and to provide timely professional financial guidance to the central team. This role demands strategic budget oversight and strict adherence to public sector financial frameworks.

You will manage budgets, monitor forecasts, prepare management accounts and ensure compliance with Department for Education frameworks and value-for-money guidelines.