Trust Finance Manager

Durrington Multi Academy Trust; Worthing; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Durrington Multi Academy Trust is seeking an experienced Trust Finance Manager to oversee the finance function across our multi-site trust, ensuring compliant, high-quality financial services and governance.

Reporting to the Director of Finance, you will oversee payroll, pensions, VAT, banking, BACS payments, reconciliations and robust financial controls to support schools and pupils. You will influence policy, drive improvements and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Qualified finance professional with AAT Level 4 or equivalent.
• Significant experience in finance operations including payroll and pensions.
• Strong technical skills and high attention to detail.
• Experience within an academy trust or school finance environment advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Leading monthly payroll administration and payroll reconciliations.
• Managing Teachers' Pension and Local Government Pension Scheme processes.
• Preparing VAT returns and maintaining financial controls.
• Managing banking transactions, BACS payment runs and cash balances.
• Completing balance sheet and bank reconciliations.
• Supporting audits, month-end and year-end processes.
• Providing advice and support to finance colleagues across the Trust.
• Contributing to the development and improvement of Trust-wide financial procedures.

Skills

Payroll administration

Pension administration

Bank reconciliations

BACS payments

VAT returns

Finance systems

Excel

Education

AAT Level 4 or equivalent

Tools

IRIS/PS Financials

Job description

Durrington Multi Academy Trust is seeking to appoint anexperienced and motivated Trust Finance Manager to support the delivery of anefficient, compliant and high-quality finance service across the Trust.

Reporting to the Director of Finance, you will play a key role inthe operational management of the Trust's finance function, leading coreprocesses including payroll, pensions, VAT, banking, BACS payments,reconciliations and financial controls. You will help ensure that financialtransactions are processed accurately, efficiently and in line with statutoryrequirements and Trust policies.

Working closely with colleagues across our schools and centralteams, you will provide guidance and support to promote consistent financialprocedures and strong financial governance throughout the Trust.

About You

You will be a qualified finance professional (AAT Level 4 orequivalent experience) with significant experience in finance operations,including payroll administration, pension administration, bank reconciliations,BACS payments and VAT returns. You will have strong technical skills, excellentattention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities whilemaintaining high levels of accuracy.

You will be confident using finance systems and Excel, capable ofworking independently, and able to build effective working relationships withcolleagues across a multi-site organisation. Experience within an academytrust, school finance environment, IRIS/PS Financials, Teachers' Pensions orLGPS would be advantageous.

Most importantly, you will be professional, trustworthy andsolutions-focused, with a commitment to continuous improvement and supportingschools to deliver the best outcomes for pupils.

The Role

Key responsibilities include:

• Leadingmonthly payroll administration and payroll reconciliations.
• ManagingTeachers' Pension and Local Government Pension Scheme processes.
• PreparingVAT returns and maintaining financial controls.
• Managingbanking transactions, BACS payment runs and cash balances.
• Completingbalance sheet and bank reconciliations.
• Supportingaudits, month-end and year-end processes.
• Providingadvice and support to finance colleagues across the Trust.
• Contributingto the development and improvement of Trust-wide financial procedures.