Trust Finance Manager

4 days per week (29 hours)

Term Time Only + 2 weeks

1-year Fixed Term Contract (initially)

NJC Pay Scale 32-35 (starting actual salary £30,651 - £33,014)

We are seeking an experienced Trust Finance Manager to join the Trust central finance team.

As we enter an important new phase in the life of The Cardinal Newman Catholic Educational Trust, we are looking for a motivated and ambitious Trust Finance Manager to join our dedicated central team at a pivotal point in our journey.

This is not just another finance post. As the Trust grows and evolves, you will play a key role in building, refining and embedding outstanding financial practice, ensuring every decision and process supports the flourishing of our schools and the children we serve. The post offers a unique opportunity to make your mark and grow alongside the Trust as we expand.

We want someone who thrives on responsibility, cares about getting things right, and enjoys working with people as much as they do with spreadsheets. You’ll help us turn finance into a real service for our schools—not just a process to be managed, but a partner to lean on.

About the Role

You will support the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to ensure the smooth and accurate processing of all transactional finance activities and be responsible for managing the Trust’s ledgers, up to and including, the preparation of the monthly management accounts and budgeting.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, has a passion for finance, and possesses strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills. You will play a vital role in supporting the extended finance team, stepping in to provide hands-on support when needed, and contributing to the continuous improvement of our finance function.

The central finance team is collectively responsible for managing the financial functions of our Trusts, that allows other members of the Trust and its school’s leadership teams to focus on teaching, learning and business operations.

Please note there is some flexibility in working hours/days and location, in line with Trust needs.

The ideal candidate will:

• Bring experience as a Finance Officer, School Business Manager or in a similar finance role, ideally within an academy trust, school or local authority.
• Be confident managing accounts, ledgers, budgets and reconciliations with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Have strong analytical, IT and organisational skills, with the ability to present financial information clearly to a range of audiences.
• Be an excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills and confident in working with a wide range of stakeholders, both within the Trust and wider agencies.
• Be proactive, positive and able to work independently, while also valuing collaboration and teamwork.
• Be committed to our values and understand that strong financial practice enables the best possible experience for children, staff and communities.

We offer:

• A central role in a Trust that is ambitious, values-driven and entering an exciting period of development.
• Supportive colleagues and professional development tailored to your ambitions and expertise.
• Flexible working arrangements and a genuine commitment to wellbeing and work-life balance.
• Access to the outstanding Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Generous holiday entitlement and access to the Trust’s comprehensive benefits package.
• A motivated and dedicated team and Board committed to excellence and community service.

Safeguarding commitment:

The recruitment process is robust in seeking to establish the commitment of candidates to support the Trust’s measures to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and to identify, deter or reject people who might pose a risk of harm to children or are otherwise unsuited to work with them. All applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and safeguarding checks.