Purpose of the Job:

To be responsible for the production of good quality budget and monitoring information for Headteachers, Trust Principal, Governors and Directors.
Assist the Head of Finance in the development and implementation of robust systems to ensure the Trust complies with the Academies Financial Handbook and delivers sound financial controls, achieves value for money, and continues to be a worthy custodian of public money.
The post holder will assist the Head of Finance in ensuring the Trust achieves its aims and objectives. This involves:
• Supporting financial planning
• Monitoring of performance against budgets and grants
• The provision of appropriate, timely management information

Main duties and responsibilities (Accountabilities):
• Support the central finance team in the completion of all finance duties, ensuring processes are followed and timeframes adhered to.
• Assist with the preparation of monthly and termly management accounts and communicate information to relevant stakeholders.
• Assist with audit preparation and the completion of Government returns.
• Ensure the payroll is reconciled monthly to the budget, explaining all material variances.
• Produce meaningful three/five year budget forecasts to the agreed timescale, taking into consideration relevant government guidelines and any other sources of information in accordance with government budgets.
• Monitor and forecast expenditure against budgets. Proactively identify issues arising and resolve these with the appropriate budget manager and the Head of Finance.
• Monitor, check and identify any variance on Trust income from the Education Funding Agency and other sources of income.
• Assist the Head of Finance in the production of the year end timetable. Ensure year end timetable is adhered to and all relevant people are aware of the importance of deadlines set.

• In conjunction with the Head of Finance, maintain the chart of accounts across the Trust. Ensure appropriate codes are used to meet with financial reporting requirements.
• Assist the Head of Finance in the control and co-ordination of purchasing within the Trust including orders, quotations and administering the tendering process. Liaising with external suppliers/contractors to ensure best value is achieved.
• Assist the Head of Finance in producing schedules of fixed assets, accruals and prepayments.
• Ensure all Trust financial procedures, financial controls and the Academies financial handbook are adhered to.
• Advise the Head of Finance, COO, or CEO if any fraudulent activities are suspected or uncovered.

General accountabilities:

• Ensure that output and quality of work is to a high standard and complies with current legislation/standards.
• So far as reasonably practicable, the post holder must ensure that safe working practices are adopted by employees.
• Undertaking such other duties as reasonably correspond to the general character of the post.

This job description sets out the key outcomes required. It does not specifically detail the activities required to achieve these outcomes. This is a new post within an expanding Trust and the nature of this new role means that there will also be additional tasks and projects identified. In consultation with you, the job description may be changed by the Chief Operating Officer to reflect or anticipate changes in the job commensurate with the grade and job title.