Job Description

Regional Finance Manager

Reports to: Finance Director

Location: West London – currently operating an agile working policy with two core days (Mon and Weds) in the office

Contract: FTC (6 to 9 months maternity cover)

Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm)

Closing date: 07/11/2023 at 10am

Interviews: 13/11/2023

Salary: £42,000

About the role:

Would you enjoy working in a small team while supported by a central office in one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country? See your management accounting skills develop while working in partnership with dynamic professionals transforming lives through education?

As a Regional Finance Manager (RFM), you will be an integral part of the team responsible for ensuring high standards of financial probity across the academies in the region. This role supports all schools within the London Primary region and is a key regional role, working closely with the Regional Finance Director.

You will work closely with 3 to 4 primary schools and you will manage and implement key regional projects, develop best practice, training and guidance for the schools, provide school finance capacity cover where required within the region and perform month end and periodic reviews of the schools’ accounts, procedures and controls.

You will lead by example and provide professional leadership across the region, in partnership with stakeholders.  You will be flexible and open minded in your approach and be prepared to take on future changes within the region as required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Be responsible for regional reporting, consolidation and analysis – including for cashflow forecasting, capital planning, cost metrics and efficiencies and intra-academy charging
• Provide month end and ad hoc review and sign off school balance sheets and month end deliverables as directed by the Regional Finance Director
• Along with the Regional Finance Director, develop best practice across the region, create and maintain finance manuals and guides
• Deliver regional wide training on new initiatives and the implementation of best practice
• Perform cover capacity for the finance teams across the region, stepping in to support the teams and ensure that a high level of service is still delivered to the schools as directed by the Regional Finance Director
• Take responsibility for management accounts and monthly reporting requirement; represent the region with network wide working groups and steering committees as directed by the Regional Finance Director
• Be responsible for processing, checking and approving payments through the banking platform, as directed by the Regional Finance Director

Key Requirements:

• Qualified/part-qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA or ACA) or qualified by experience
• Experience of running effective administrative and financial systems
• Experience of working in a multi-site business and managing multiple projects and conflicting priorities
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office
• Experience using financial databases and confidence and interest in learning new technologies
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex information and prepare and deliver training and presentations
• Experience of providing ad hoc financial analysis to support decision making
• Understanding of relevant legislation, policies and procedures and the ability to apply this understanding to real situations
• Strong organisational and time-management skills
• Ability to skilfully manage and maintain effective working relationships with school principals and budget holders, governors, and other stakeholders
• High standards and a keen eye for detail

View the full job description and person specification here

About Ark

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 28,500 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

You’ll be joining a group of like-minded, ambitious individuals who work collaboratively and are all committed to our core mission, that every child has the potential to succeed. Having just celebrated our 20^th anniversary, we are shaping our goals for the next 20 and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Hybrid working, with currently two days a week in our state-of-the-art office in West London working alongside colleagues
• Regular social events, monthly free breakfast, and daily fruit
• A flexible approach to working with understanding and consideration for work life balance and personal commitments
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.  

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment – this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link. 

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 40,000 - 60,000.

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