Nexus Education Schools Trust (NEST) are seeking an experienced Head of Finance to join our central finance team to support with the Trust’s strategic and operational decision making. Reporting to the CFO, you will oversee day to day financial management across the schools in our Trust, ensuring strong financial controls, accurate reporting and regulatory compliance.

As a senior member of the finance team, you will be part of an experienced team, and have the opportunity to develop our finance processes and systems and play a key role in our service to  the schools in our Trust.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management and Reporting

Lead the month end reporting timetable across the Trust ensuring the production of accurate and timely monthly management accounts, at school, hub and Trust level.

Work with the school finance leads and headteachers to monitor and challenge individual school’s financial performance, taking appropriate action to address financial risks where necessary.

Ensure the Trust’s and Schools’ income and expenditure and balance sheet are accurate through the Trust’s financial software, and ensure control accounts are reconciled on a monthly basis.

Act as an approver on accounts payable and payroll bacs runs.

Prepare financial information and reports required for Local Committee Meetings.

Lead the management of the Trust’s financial software ensuring the chart of accounts is up to date, and lead the management of users with the correct permissions and security. Provide and coordinate the training needs and consider future system development.

Lead the management of the Trust’s online banking system, ensuring that users are up to date with the correct permission and access controls.

Budgeting and financial planning/forecasting

Lead the half termly budgeting process ensuring the production of accurate and timely budget updates and forecasts through out the year.

Support school finance leads to ensure production of annual budgets and half termly budget updates are accurate and follow trust assumptions.

Lead the management of the Trust’s budgeting software ensuring Trust assumptions are consistent and up to date, lead the management of users with the correct permissions. Provide and coordinate the training needs of users.

Contribute to the development and implementation of the Trust’s financial strategy, providing financial analysis and guidance on activities, setting financial objectives and monitoring performance.

Provide cover and support for Finance Leads as necessary

Compliance

Support the CFO in preparing for internal and external audits, helping to produce supporting audit schedules, and liaise with auditors as required. Ensure any recommendations from audits are followed up and processes amended as required.

Maintain and operate a robust framework of financial controls and processes which adhere to the Trust’s financial policies and the Academies Trust Handbook.

Improve and innovate processes using technology whilst ensuring appropriate documentation is produced and maintained.