Finance Manager

Finance Manager

The Shared Learning Trust is a successful multi-academy trust in Luton and Central Bedfordshire.  We currently comprise five academies and have plans to grow and add further academies to our educational family.

The Shared Learning Trust are seeking to appoint a Finance Manager to join our strong and welcoming team!  We are looking to recruit a dependable and organised individual to support our trust and academies in all aspects of financial management.  This is a highly varied and diverse role where no two days are the same, you will have the chance to continue to grow and gain experience within a highly successful trust and dedicated Finance team.  The rewards are a strong market salary with an opportunity to develop a career in a successful trust. For the right person, I promise you it’s going to be a great job.

Experience Knowledge & Understanding

• To assist the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in the efficient and effective finance services to a cluster of schools.
• Supporting compliance and accurate financial data being processed within PSF by establishing working relationships across all Academies.
• To work within the parameters of the Academy Trust Handbook adhering to all legislative and policy guidelines within the Multi Academy Company to be fully compliant and beyond.
• Responsibility for keeping accounting records in good order and for monitoring and reporting financial performance against budget plans. To produce various accounting outputs and returns as required for good governance and statutory compliance. ie those required by the Academy Trust Handbook and Academy Accounts Direction.
• Work with the Executive Leadership Team and academy budget holders, build annual budgets and ensure their reporting and approval is in line with the Academy Trust Handbook.

The successful candidate will

• Have a real love of finance
• Be an advanced Excel user
• Have experience of working in a fast pace environment
• Ideally have experience of working in Education
• Have excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workloads which continually change
• Understand the role of a Financial Manager and will be able to work to tight deadlines delivering results when required
• Have the ability to use a common-sense approach to problem solving
• Be keen to join a fast-growing trust with a family friendly ethos
• Be keen to contribute to a result orientated fun environment
• Have a great attitude and positive outlook
• Have a good general standard of education
• Computer literate
• Be able to communicate at all levels

Job Specifics

Start Date     September 2024

Salary                  NJC M2 point 32-35 £40,221 - £43,421 (dependent on experience and previous success)

Job Role        Full time, Permanent, 37hrs, 5 days per week, 52 weeks per year.

Location            The Vale Academy, LU5 4QP (expectation to travel to schools on weekly basis)

The Shared Learning Trust – Staff Benefits

We offer a fantastic range of benefits across our trust, supporting our staff in a variety of ways. From an extensive Wellbeing package to an onsite car wash, you can be reassured that we have your best interests at heart.

Perkbox and Perkbox Medical

NPQ’s Teacher Development Trust and training courses with The National College

Staff social events, including 5 a-side football and BBQs

Reduced gym membership rates

Staff recognition with reward shopping vouchers

Online delivery drop off service, including Amazon

Free eye test vouchers

Support for all staff with an experienced licensed counsellor

Free tea and coffee plus a reusable bamboo coffee cup for new starters

Free onsite car parking at all academies

Cycle to work scheme

Enhanced pension employers’ contribution and death in service payment

Refer a friend £500 bonus scheme

Safeguarding

We believe in the safeguarding and welfare of children and expect all staff to share this view’.

The Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.  Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. We are an equal opportunities employer.

The Department for Education (DfE) has set out statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ for schools and colleges on safeguarding.

Safeguarding is defined in paragraph 4 as:

“Protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.”

The definition of 'children' includes everyone under the age of 18.

The Trust reserves the right to interview and appoint a suitable candidate before the deadline date.