Leigh Trust would like all candidates to answer specific questions for the personal statement section. For reference, here is a preview of the questions/headings:

1. 1. Statutory Compliance & Standards: Leigh Trust operates under the requirements of the DfE’s Academies Financial Handbook and charity law. Describe your experience in preparing statutory accounts, specifically addressing how you ensure compliance with both the Handbook and relevant accounting standards (e.g., FRS 102), particularly regarding the treatment of fixed assets and capital grants.
2. 2. Internal Controls: A growing MAT must maintain robust internal financial controls to safeguard public funds. Detail the most effective internal control measure you have successfully implemented or significantly improved in a previous role, and explain how you monitored its effectiveness across multiple cost centres or entities
3. 3. Management Reporting & Insight: As a qualified accountant, your reporting needs to inform strategic decisions for both the central team and individual Headteachers. Outline the key financial reports you would present monthly to the COO and the Trust's leadership, and explain how you would tailor reports to help a non-finance Headteacher manage their specific academy's budget effectively.
4. 4. Budget Monitoring & Variance Analysis: Describe a situation where a major budget variance (positive or negative) was identified in your previous organisation. What steps did you take to investigate the root cause, and how did you work with the budget holder to develop and implement a practical remedial action plan?
5. 5. Multi-Site Management & Collaboration: Leigh Trust has seven primary schools with different operational needs. Discuss the challenges of unifying the finance function across a growing MAT. How would you ensure consistency in financial policy and practice across all seven schools while respecting the delegated authority and unique context of each academy?
6. 6. Growth & Integration: As a growing Trust, we anticipate further expansion. Based on your experience, what are the top three financial checks or due diligence steps you would prioritise when onboarding a new school into a Multi Academy Trust, and why are these critical to the Trust's financial stability?
7. 7. System Optimisation & Efficiency: Our goal is to continually improve efficiency. Outline an experience where you successfully implemented a new finance system, upgraded an existing one, or significantly redesigned a process . What was the outcome, and how did you manage the transition and training for staff across different sites?
8. 8. Personal Vision: Why does the role of a Head of Finance within a Multi Academy Trust appeal to you specifically, and what unique skills or passion will you bring to Leigh Trust to help us achieve our financial and educational objectives?