Chief Finance Officer

Our client is seeking a Chief Finance Officer to support the Academy Trust in their Rotherham, South Yorkshire office.

Core Purpose

1. Support the COO in the management of financial operations within the Trust and member schools.
2. Work with school business managers and others in schools to set standards and develop knowledge and understanding of finance policies and procedures across the Trust and member schools, providing specialist and expert advice and support.
3. Collaborate with school leadership teams and the central team to ensure that the welfare and educational outcomes of pupils are at the center of all strategic planning.
4. Support the executive team, school leadership teams, and central team in maintaining an inclusive culture that values the Trust's employees as the Trust's most significant resource and promotes staff well-being.
5. Role model integrity and commitment to the vision, values, and ethos of the Trust.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Understand the finance policies and procedures across the Trust and provide specialist and expert advice and support as necessary.
2. Support the development of systems and procedures to ensure the efficient, effective, and accurate management of Trust finance.
3. Assist the Trust Business Leader with the collation of information for audit or other external returns.
4. Manage the Teachers Pensions Audit process, liaising directly with external auditors and the payroll provider.
5. Undertake the Central Team monthly payroll reconciliation, including the preparation and posting of the monthly journal and oversight of payments to third parties by the Trust Finance Officer.
6. Be responsible for setting the 3-year budget forecast for the Central Team.
7. Upload the annual budgets for all schools to the finance system in preparation for each new academic/financial year.
8. Use the agreed budget to actively monitor and control performance to achieve Best Value.
9. Provide monthly budget monitoring reports to the CEO for the Central Team budget, other central team budget holders, and other stakeholders as applicable.
10. Update the in-year forecasts to provide effective information to the Head of Finance for the management accounts and to allow informed decision-making on Trust operations.
11. Undertake the month-end reconciliations and other checks, as prescribed by the Head of Finance, for the Central Trust.
12. Deal with queries, supporting the Central Finance Team to ensure a positive image of the Trust is always presented.

Desired Skills:

1. Recognized financial qualification (CIPFA/ACCA/ACA/CIMA/AAT)
2. School financial or government funding experience
3. Minimum of 2 years in a senior finance role
4. Able to have an enhanced DBS check

Should you have any questions or wish to apply, please do not hesitate to contact Clear IT Recruitment Limited.

Please Note: Due to the number of applications we receive, we may be unable to respond to every application directly. If you have not heard from us within 3 working days, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.