School Finance Manager

Tradewind Recruitment is seeking a strategic and experienced School Finance Manager to lead the financial operations of a supportive SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) school in Accrington. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly organised and proactive individual to play a pivotal role in the financial health and strategic planning of the school, directly contributing to its positive and nurturing learning environment. The role is due to start ASAP, offering an immediate start for the successful candidate.

About the Role:

As the School Finance Manager, you will be responsible for the overall financial management of the SEMH school, ensuring its financial stability, efficiency, and compliance. You will work closely with the Head Teacher and senior leadership team, providing expert financial guidance, contributing to strategic decision-making, and overseeing all financial processes and reporting.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading and managing all aspects of the school's financial operations, including accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and budget management.
• Developing, implementing, and monitoring the school's annual budget in collaboration with the leadership team.
• Preparing accurate and timely financial reports, forecasts, and management accounts for the Head Teacher, governors, and relevant stakeholders.
• Providing strategic financial advice and support to the Head Teacher and senior leadership team to inform decision-making and resource allocation.
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant financial regulations, statutory requirements, and school policies.
• Managing the school's payroll processes, ensuring accuracy and adherence to employment law.
• Liaising with external auditors, banks, and other financial stakeholders.
• Developing and maintaining robust financial controls and procedures to safeguard school funds.
• Overseeing the maintenance of accurate and up-to-date financial records and systems.
• Line managing any finance support staff (if applicable).
• Contributing to the strategic planning and development of the school from a financial perspective.

About You:

We are looking for a highly experienced and proactive finance professional with a proven track record in financial management. Experience within a school environment is essential, and experience within an SEMH setting would be highly advantageous, demonstrating an understanding of the unique financial considerations of such provisions. You will be a strategic thinker with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, capable of providing clear financial guidance to non-financial colleagues.

To be considered for this role, you should have:

• Significant and demonstrable experience in a finance management role, preferably within the education sector.
• Strong strategic financial planning and budget management skills.
• Excellent knowledge of financial regulations, accounting principles, and reporting requirements relevant to schools.
• Proven experience in preparing financial reports, management accounts, and forecasts.
• Experience managing payroll processes and understanding relevant legislation.
• Strong leadership and management skills (if applicable to managing staff).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to present financial information clearly and effectively to various audiences.
• Advanced proficiency in using finance software and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel to an advanced level is essential).
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage a complex workload.
• A commitment to maintaining confidentiality and adhering to data protection regulations.

How to Apply:

If you are a strategic and experienced finance leader looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity to make a significant impact within a supportive SEMH school environment, we would love to hear from you!

Please apply by sending your CV to or call

Tradewind Recruitment is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All posts are subject to enhanced DBS checks and satisfactory references.