Job Description:

FINANCE MANAGER

Location: Manchester

Reporting to: Head of Finance

Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Purpose of Role

To support the Head of Finance in the effective management and delivery of the organisation's financial operations, ensuring the finance function provides an efficient, accurate, and timely service across the organisation.

The Finance Manager will lead a small Finance Team and take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the finance function, ensuring financial transactions, reporting, reconciliations, and controls are completed accurately and in accordance with Financial Regulations and organisational policies.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced finance professional to take ownership of operational finance activities within a growing education environment.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the day-to-day activities of the Finance Office, ensuring an efficient and effective finance service.
• Provide line management to Finance Office staff, including regular supervision, performance reviews, appraisals, and identification of training and development needs.
• Allocate and prioritise the workload of Finance Office staff, providing guidance and support where required.
• Ensure all financial transactions are processed accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with Financial Regulations and internal procedures.
• Assist the Head of Finance with month-end and year-end procedures, ensuring all relevant financial activities are completed within agreed deadlines.
• Prepare monthly management accounts, budget statements, financial reports, and other financial information as required.
• Ensure control account reconciliations are completed accurately and on a timely basis, investigating and resolving discrepancies.
• Review financial information and identify variances, errors, or unusual transactions, escalating significant issues where appropriate.
• Ensure the accurate and timely transfer of payroll data into the finance system and reconcile payroll-related control accounts.
• Monitor income and expenditure and support budget holders with financial information and budget monitoring.
• Assist with the preparation, monitoring, and review of budgets and forecasts.
• Maintain accurate financial records and ensure appropriate supporting documentation and audit trails are maintained.
• Support internal and external audit processes, providing information and responding to queries as required.
• Ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations, policies, procedures, and statutory requirements.
• Maintain awareness of relevant financial developments, guidance, and protocols issued by the Department for Education (DfE), funding bodies, and other relevant organisations.
• Support the Head of Finance in ensuring appropriate financial controls are maintained across the organisation.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, systems, controls, and reporting.
• Provide financial guidance and support to colleagues and budget holders across the organisation.
• Maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive financial, payroll, employee, and organisational information.
• Undertake other reasonable finance-related duties as required by the Head of Finance.

Scope of Role

• Take responsibility for the effective day-to-day operation of the Finance Office and ensure work is completed accurately and within agreed deadlines.
• Exercise appropriate judgement when reviewing financial information, resolving discrepancies, and allocating work within the Finance Team.
• Ensure all financial activity is carried out within the organisation's Financial Regulations, delegated authorities, and internal controls.
• Work closely with the Head of Finance to support effective financial management and decision-making.
• Develop a strong understanding of the financial requirements of the education sector, including relevant DfE guidance, funding arrangements, and financial protocols.
• Build effective working relationships with senior leaders, budget holders, staff, suppliers, auditors, and other external stakeholders.

Personal Profile

• Proven experience in a finance or accounting environment, ideally within the education, public sector, charity, or not-for-profit sector.
• Strong knowledge of financial processes, accounting principles, reconciliations, and financial controls.
• Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate and resolve financial discrepancies.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing deadlines.
• Confident managing and developing a small team.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues at all levels.
• Ability to explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership of responsibilities, and use initiative.
• Strong IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel and financial/accounting systems.
• High level of integrity and discretion when handling confidential information.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and maintaining professional knowledge.

Preferred Qualifications & Experience

• Relevant accounting or finance qualification, such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent experience.
• Previous experience in a Finance Manager, Assistant Finance Manager, Senior Finance Officer, or similar role.
• Experience of managing or supervising finance staff.
• Experience preparing management accounts, financial reports, budgets, and forecasts.
• Experience completing balance sheet and control account reconciliations.
• Experience with payroll journals or the transfer of payroll information into finance systems.
• Good working knowledge of in Power BI and Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, lookups, and financial analysis.
• Previous experience within the UK education sector would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of DfE financial requirements, funding arrangements, and education-sector financial regulations would be desirable.