Trust Management Accountant

Coast and Vale Learning Trust; St. Clement; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension

Flexible working

Wellbeing support

Professional development

Staff benefits

Job summary

The Special Partnership Trust is seeking a Trust Management Accountant to lead management accounting, budgeting, forecasting and balance sheet control across multiple schools and services. You will work with school leaders and shared services to ensure robust financial governance and value for learners.

The role requires a qualified accountant with strong experience in management accounting, forecasting and financial analysis, plus excellent Excel skills and collaborative approach.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with experience in management accounting, budgeting and forecasting.
• Strong analytical and financial modelling skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts and financial reports.
• Lead budget monitoring, variance analysis and forecasting.
• Support annual budget setting and medium-term financial planning.
• Maintain financial controls and compliance with the Trust Handbook.
• Contribute to audit preparation and asset management.
• Provide financial guidance to non-finance colleagues.

Skills

Qualified accountant

Management accounting

Excel skills

Education

Accounting qualification (ACCA/CIMA/ACA/CIPFA)

Tools

Excel

Financial systems

Job description

About Us

The Special Partnership Trust (SPT) is a specialist multi-academy trust committed to improving the life chances of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The Trust works across Cornwall, Devon, Torbay and neighbouring regions, delivering exceptional specialist education through a family of schools, outreach services and specialist provisions.

At the heart of the Trust is a commitment to ensuring that every child and young person achieves their potential, develops independence, and experiences success in education and life. Collaboration, inclusion, innovation and continuous improvement undermine all aspects of our work.

We believe that strong financial stewardship is essential to delivering high-quality educational outcomes. The Management Accountant plays a key role in ensuring the Trust's resources are managed effectively, providing robust financial information that supports strategic decision-making and enables the Trust to achieve its vision and ambitions.

About the role

Join the Special Partnership Trust as our new Trust Management Accountant and play a key role in shaping the financial strength of a growing, ambitious specialist SEN Trust. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced finance professional who thrives on responsibility, values accuracy, and enjoys working collaboratively across multiple schools and services.

We are looking for someone who can lead on management accounting, budget monitoring, forecasting, financial analysis and balance sheet control, ensuring our financial information is reliable, timely and supports confident decision‑making. You’ll work closely with school leaders, budget holders and shared services teams, helping us maintain strong financial governance and deliver best value for our young people.

What you’ll be doing

• Preparing monthly management accounts, forecasts and financial reports
• Leading budget monitoring, variance analysis and financial modelling
• Supporting annual budget setting and medium‑term financial planning
• Maintaining financial controls, reconciliations and compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook
• Contributing to audit preparation, fixed asset management and continuous improvement projects
• Building strong relationships and providing clear financial guidance to non‑finance colleagues

What we’re looking for

• A qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, CIPFA or equivalent)
• Strong experience in management accounting, forecasting and financial analysis
• Excellent Excel skills and confidence working with financial systems
• A proactive, analytical mindset with high attention to detail
• Someone who is collaborative, professional and committed to improving outcomes for children with SEND

Why join us?

You’ll be part of a Trust that is ambitious, specialist and unapologetically committed to raising standards for children and young people with SEND. We offer a competitive salary, LGPS membership, wellbeing support, professional development, flexible working policies and a range of staff benefits.

Our Total Reward Offer

The Special Partnership Trust recognises the importance of developing a properly implemented People Strategy to underpin the overall strategic aims of the Trust.

Our People Strategy is designed to help us attract prospective high calibre candidates, as well as drive engagement, productivity and retention of our high performing and high potential employees. It reflects our belief in putting our people first. This does not mean putting our learners second. It is based on the philosophy that if we create a positive and rewarding work environment, if our staff feel motivated, well managed and well supported, they in turn will provide the best possible outcome for our learners.

We recognise that our total reward offer, has got to consist of more than just money. We seek to provide our staff with a diverse range of benefits that support their day to day needs both at work and outside of work. These include generous leave entitlements and pension scheme as well as access to health/wellbeing tools, training & development, career pathways and opportunities to ensure they feel valued.

Please visit the Special Partnership website, www.specialpartnership.org for further information about our Trust, or to learn more about our People Strategy and Benefits.

Safeguarding:

The Special Partnership Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to the satisfactory completion of checks and references, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In accordance with guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education; the Trust will undertake an online search of all shortlisted candidates.