A. Job Summary and Purpose

• To support the Financial Controller in ensuring the smooth operation of the Trust’s day-to-day financial activities across all schools and central functions.
• To manage the day-to-day work of the finance team, ensuring robust financial controls are applied to the sales cycle, purchase cycle, and cash management in line with the Trust’s Financial Policy, Procedures and Accounting Policies.
• To take ownership of key elements of management accounting, balance sheet control and financial reporting, providing timely and accurate information to senior leaders and budget holders.
• To work closely with the Financial Controller and CFO on continuous improvement projects within the finance function and wider Trust.

• B. Key Responsibilities

  1. Management Accounts & Reporting

  • Manage and support day-to-day finance operations and the month-end close process, ensuring the integrity of the ledgers.
  • Support the production of accurate and timely monthly management accounts for the Trust, including variance analysis and commentary.
  • Prepare and post routine journals (accruals, prepayments, recharges, payroll and other adjustments) as part of the month-end process.
  • Take responsibility for specific cost centres and/or schools within the Trust, ensuring their financial performance is accurately reported and understood.
  • Assist the Financial Controller with preparation of information for the Senior Leadership Team, Finance, Audit & Risk Committee and Trustees.
  • Provide financial analysis to support decision-making, budgeting and forecasting processes.

  2. Financial Control, Cash & Treasury Management

  • Ensure strong financial controls are consistently applied in all day-to-day financial operations.
  • Prepare and/or review key reconciliations on a regular basis (e.g. bank, debtors, creditors, key control accounts) and investigate and resolve reconciling items promptly.
  • Support the Financial Controller in reviewing and signing off reconciliations prepared by other members of the finance team.
  • Assist the Financial Controller with cash and treasury management, including cash flow forecasting, monitoring bank balances, inter-account transfers and short-term investments, in line with Trust policy and risk appetite.
  • Ensure all financial records are maintained to a high standard and are audit-ready.

  3. Team Management & Workflow

  • Line manage members of the finance team, providing day-to-day supervision, guidance and support.
  • Hold direct line management responsibility for the Purchase Ledger and Sales Ledger teams, providing coaching, performance management and process guidance while working closely with and reporting to the Financial Controller.
  • Oversee the allocation and completion of tasks within the team to ensure deadlines are met and backlogs do not arise.
  • Adopt a “hands on” approach at peak times (e.g. month end, year end, audit, budget setting) to ensure smooth delivery of the finance function.
  • Support the training and development of finance support staff, promoting consistency, accuracy and adherence to WMAT policies.

  4. Purchase Ledger, Sales Ledger & Procurement

  • Lead and oversee the purchase ledger process, ensuring purchase orders, invoices and payments are processed accurately, coded correctly to budgets and departments, and authorised in line with delegated limits and procurement rules.
  • Ensure that supplier statements are regularly reconciled and discrepancies resolved in a timely manner.
  • Lead and oversee the sales ledger function, ensuring invoices are raised correctly, income is recorded accurately and outstanding debts are followed up promptly.
  • Collaborate with Headteachers, budget holders and leadership teams to ensure consistent procedures and strong financial controls in relation to purchasing, income collection and contract management.
  • Support the Financial Controller in monitoring procurement activity and contracts to ensure value for money and compliance with the Trust’s financial procedures and public procurement requirements where applicable.

  5. Payroll, VAT and Compliance

  • Support the Financial Controller with payroll information is accurately reflected in the accounts and reconciled on a monthly basis.
  • Prepare and/or review periodic VAT returns and submissions, ensuring that VAT is correctly accounted for and claims are complete, accurate and compliant with current guidance for academy trusts.
  • Help ensure compliance with the Trust’s Financial Regulations, Academies Financial Handbook and other relevant legislation and guidance.
  • Support the monitoring of internal controls and assist with implementing any recommendations from internal and external audits.

  6. Budgeting, Forecasting & Support to Budget Holders

  • Assist in the preparation of annual budgets and periodic re-forecasts for schools and central services as directed by the Financial Controller.
  • Provide regular budget monitoring reports to budget holders and meet with them to help them understand their financial position, commitments and forecasts.
  • Collaborate closely with Headteachers, School Business Managers and other senior leaders to ensure consistent application of financial procedures and strong financial controls across all schools.
  • Support budget holders to plan and manage their expenditure effectively, ensuring adherence to Trust priorities and financial controls.

  7. Fixed Assets & Balance Sheet

  • Assist in maintaining the Trust’s fixed asset register in collaboration with the Chief Finance & Operations Officer and Financial Controller, ensuring all additions, disposals and depreciations are accurately recorded.
  • Take responsibility for specific balance sheet reconciliations, resolving issues promptly and escalating concerns where necessary.

  8. Audit, Year-End, Systems & Projects

  • Support the Financial Controller with the year-end timetable, preparing audit schedules, backing papers and reconciliations as required.
  • Liaise with external auditors during interim and final fieldwork, responding to queries promptly and professionally.
  • Contribute to finance-related projects and process improvements across the Trust, including system developments and changes to procedures, to increase efficiency, accuracy and value for money.
  • Support system improvements, including the configuration and effective use of the Trust’s finance systems, to streamline processes and enhance reporting.

  9. Safeguarding, Culture & Other Duties

  • Take collective responsibility for safeguarding and promote the welfare of children and young people in line with Trust policies.
  • Promote and uphold the Trust’s values of integrity, respect, diversity, student achievement, teamwork and sharing success.
  • Undertake any other tasks and responsibilities commensurate with the role and grade, as directed by the Financial Controller.

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  C. Person Specification

  Qualifications (Desirable) 

  • Fully qualified accountant (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, ACA, CIPFA) or equivalent experience 
  • Evidence of continuing professional development 

  Experience

  • Significant experience working within a finance team, ideally in an education, academy trust / MAT finance environment or wider public / not-for-profit sector 
  • Experience of preparing or supporting management accounts and balance sheet reconciliations 
  • Experience in supervising or line-managing finance staff, including transactional teams (e.g. purchase ledger, sales ledger) 
  • Experience of implementing or operating robust financial controls 
  • Experience of cash and treasury management and cash flow forecasting 
  • Experience in procurement, purchasing processes and supplier management 
  • Experience working in schools or Multi Academy Trusts 

  Skills & Attributes (Essential) 

  • Strong technical accounting skills with good understanding of double entry, reconciliations, accruals/prepayments and month-end processes 
  • Strong knowledge of ledgers (purchase, sales, nominal) and control accounts 
  • Good understanding of cash management and cash flow forecasting 
  • Strong Excel skills (lookups, pivot tables, formulae) and confident user of MS Office 
  • Proficient user of finance systems (e.g. PS Financials, IRIS, Access or similar) and related P2P / procurement systems 
  • Proven leadership and people management skills, including coaching and developing team members 
  • High levels of accuracy, attention to detail and strong analytical ability 
  • Clear and confident written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain financial information to non-finance colleagues 
  • Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to build effective relationships across schools and central teams 
  • Positive, proactive and solution-focused approach to work 
  • Ability to work collaboratively within a team and to tight deadlines, managing multiple priorities 
  • High level of integrity, honesty and professionalism, maintaining confidentiality at all times 
  • Willing and able to work on-site five days a week