Advert Details
Director of Finance
Full-time (part-time will be considered) 52 weeks per year, permanent, flexible working
Salary: £55,929 – £64,633 (FTE)
The Kite Academy Trust is a well-established, flourishing multi-academy trust on the Surrey/Hampshire border. The Trust was formed in October 2015 with five good and outstanding schools wanting to collaborate together for the benefit of all of their children. Since then a number of schools have approached us to join and we currently encompass eight primary academies working together to provide a first-class education for all of our children.
All of our academies collaborate together and work alongside a Central Team, who fulfil the business elements thus giving more time for academy leaders to concentrate on the educational standards in their individual academies. The Director of Finance will work with the CEO, Director of Operations, Executive Head Teachers and Head of Improvement to lead the strategic development of the Trust.
The Director of Finance will be responsible for ensuring that the Trust operates with good financial governance in line with the requirements of the Academies Financial Handbook, which is published by the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). The role will also involve liaising with the Department for Education (DfE), the ESFA, auditors, and other external advisers, suppliers and contractors.
This key role is part of our Executive Team and, as such, we seek a high-quality finance professional, with first-class accounting skills and commercial awareness, and would be interested in working in the education sector. Experience of working in a multi-academy trust (MAT) would be an advantage, and an understanding of publicly-funded organisations and educational funding streams would be desirable.
The successful candidate will lead our Finance Team, work closely with leaders and governors of individual academies and Trust auditors, prepare statutory accounts, submit financial returns, liaise with various government agencies, and report to the CEO and Trustees.
This is a senior post that will change over time; the post holder needs to be responsive and proactive in the context of strategic priorities. It is not possible therefore to set out a full range of duties.
For more information, please contact HR on O1252 98493O (option 1)
To apply, please register or login at the bottom of this page
Closing date: Midday, Monday 26th October 2020
Interviews: to be arranged
The Kite Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
All offers of employment are subject to clearance of references.
We are an equal opportunities employer.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Reporting to: CEO
Purpose of Job: To lead and manage all of the Kite Academy Trust’s financial affairs in accordance with the Trust’s mission and values.
Accountability to: The Chief Executive Officer
Line Management Responsibility for: The Trust’s Finance Team (Finance Manager, 3 x Finance Officers)
Membership of: Trust Executive Team
Key Outcomes:
• Financial security and resilience.
• A well-informed and confident Board of Trustees.
• A well-informed and confident Executive Team.
• An efficient financial system used consistently and confidently across the Trust.
• An effective integrated Finance Team working in collaboration with Admin Teams in all academies.
• A transparency of the Trust’s use of finances giving clarity to all academies of the Trust.
• Confidence of the DfE and ESFA that the Trust is viable and giving value for money.
Main Responsibilities:
• Leading and supporting the Finance Team.
• Preparing the 3–5 year financial forecasts and plans.
• Ensuring financial awareness across the Trust about the use of financial procedures, including business planning.
• Contributing to the development and review of the strategic business plan ensuring objectives are linked to the overall long-term financial plan of the Trust
• Developing and updating the PSF accounting systems for the Trust
• Supporting individual academies in preparing and monitoring annual budgets.
• Strategic financial planning and budgetary control, including the development and maintenance of a comprehensive budget model covering income and expenditure, balance sheet and cash forecasts.
• Preparing monthly management and annual statutory accounts and reports as required by the CEO, the Board of Trustees and external funding agencies.
• Providing clear financial information and reports for all budget holders necessary to ensure achievement of the Trust objectives.
• Ensuring that all financial practices are organised efficiently and effectively and are fully documented to withstand external scrutiny from auditors and others.
• Identifying and planning the external (and internal) audit schedules, participating in any relevant audit review and engaging in post audit activities.
• Managing investment of surplus funds including negotiation of facilities with banks.
• Maintaining a fixed asset and property register, including plans, registers and valuation of land, buildings and equipment.
• Providing advice on financial policies and strategies
• Ensuring the Trust has appropriate financial systems in place and managing these in accordance with the agreed policies and timetable
• Preparing of appropriate papers for presentation to meetings of Trustees and Finance Committee.
• Ensuring that the Trust comply with best practice and legal requirements in respect of all accounting processes, internal control framework, charities commission, Companies house, HMRC and pension regulations and also the Academies Finance Handbook and relevant corporate policies.
• Ensuring that financial records are accurate, complete and compliant across the Trust and that all finance information and records are confidentially stored and processed in line with GDPR requirements.
• Attending Trust Board meetings and relevant committees.
• Such other duties as may reasonably be required and are commensurate with the post.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
All candidates should demonstrate how well their qualifications and experience, personal qualities, skills, professional knowledge and understanding of safeguarding meet the requirements of the person specification.
Qualifications
• Professional accountancy qualification (Essential)
• Honours degree or equivalent in relevant subject (Essential)
• Qualification in Academy Business Management (Desirable)
Experience
• Strategic financial planning and management, including budget setting and income generation in an academy or other organisation (Essential)
• Evidence of successful management and leadership of diverse teams (Essential)
• Experience of working at a senior management level (Essential)
• Experience of working with a range of external partners (Essential)
• Successful track record of managing complex partners from inception to completion (Essential)
• Experience of setting up systems and procedures in a new organisation (Essential)
• Experience of producing financial and management accounts and budgetary control (Essential)
• Sound knowledge of educational systems (Desirable)
Knowledge & Skills
• Ability to work strategically and to seek and implement creative solutions (Essential)
• Capacity and appetite to implement and manage change within an organisation (Essential)
• Financial skills, analysis and risk management (Essential)
• Excellent leadership skills and ability to inspire peers, colleagues and teams (Essential)
• Ability and knowledge to produce budgets, reports, cash flow, and financial and statistical summaries. (Essential)
• Excellent knowledge of principles and methods of financial control and reporting, and their adaptation to various purposes, including the preparation of financial accounts. (Essential)
• Manage the performance of a diverse range of staff (Essential)
• Excellent literacy, numeracy and ICT skills (Essential)
Personal Attributes
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills with ability to influence (Essential)
• Understanding of the importance to maintain strict confidentiality (Essential)
• A willingness to seek specialist advice and awareness of where to seek it (Essential)
• Ability to think strategically, creatively and prioritise (Essential)
• Excellent communication skills (Essential)
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in partnership with a diverse range of stakeholders (Essential)
• To work flexibly (Essential)
• A commitment to safeguarding to learners within the Kite Academy Trust (Essential)
• Enthusiasm, optimism and energy (Essential)
• Able to balance financial prudence with an entrepreneurial flair (Essential)
• Driving licence as may be required to attend meetings off the site (Essential)