LEIGH ACADEMIES TRUST MASCALLS ACADEMY

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Financial Controller / Manager Hours: 37 hours per week Salary: c£45,000 Responsible to: Leigh Academies Trust (LAT) Finance Director Location: Mascalls Academy, Maidstone Road, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6LT

Leigh Academies Trust places learning at the centre of every endeavour. Each member of the academy community, through their actions, seeks to promote positive and effective learning for all.

JOB SUMMARY:

This is a dual role, reporting to the LAT Finance Director: Financial Controller for a cluster of (currently) four academies in the Central Kent area, and Finance Manager for Mascalls (secondary) Academy.

To develop and manage a comprehensive financial service to the Principal of Mascalls Academy and to provide support to the Principals and finance staff of other academies in the Central Kent area (currently three primary academies based in Maidstone). This should be achieved within the framework of Leigh Academies Trust financial policies and procedures. To manage those staff with Finance related responsibilities on a daily basis and conduct Performance Management reviews and target setting.

DIMENSIONS

Budget: Approx. £11 million (one secondary and three primary academies) Responsible for: One finance officer and one finance assistant at Mascalls; supervisory and support responsibility to two finance staff at the primary academies.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Mascalls – as Finance Manager

To assist the Principal and Trust Finance Director in identifying and proposing detailed budgets for the academy which meet Trust surplus targets, and securing academy board members approval.

To ensure that monthly management accounts for the academy are produced and monitor performance against budget on at least a monthly basis, investigating variances and reporting them to the Principal, Finance Director, and the governing body, and taking or recommending action as appropriate.

To ensure that the Trust’s financial regulations are understood and complied with by all members of the staff and governing body who may be involved.

To advise the Finance Director on the investment of funds not immediately required for academy expenditure including banking arrangements in conjunction with the auditors.

Ensure that inputs to the Trust’s consolidated statutory accounts are made in accordance with Trust procedures and that audit files are accurate and complete for review by the Trust’s external auditor.

To ensure that purchases (including contracts) are made in accordance with the academy's requirements and Trust procedures, and in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation.

Approve all salary payments (via the payroll bureau) on a monthly basis in the absence of the Headteacher.

To approve all cheque payments, ensuring that items fall within budget and are properly coded and authorised.

To work with the Headteacher to prepare a three-year business plan as a preliminary to the academy’s detailed development process.

To prepare a financial appraisal for projects as required.

To ensure that all purchases are made on the terms that are the most advantageous to the academy.

To ensure that all financial returns and reports are completed promptly and in accordance with LAT financial regulations.

Central Kent Cluster – as Financial Controller

To work with the Senior Leadership Team and Finance staff within each of the academies, taking a proactive role in the key financial processes, including management accounting, budget setting, monitoring and external reporting.

To support the Finance Director on financial processes and compliance with central government, EFA, external audit requirements and in accordance with LAT financial procedures.

To support and lead the Academy finance managers within the cluster in providing a comprehensive financial service across the Trust.

Detailed responsibilities:

 Prepare, implement and reconcile all financial transactions relating to the academy’s income and expenditure, to ensure compliance with legal requirements and Leigh Academy Trust Financial Regulations.  Manage and take responsibility for all accounting procedures in relation to the Academy Budget in accordance with Trust procedures and policies and ensure that all Academy audit requirements are met.  Work in conjunction with the Finance Director, LAT in order to prepare annual Budget and Forecasts  Analyse expenditure, advise and report regularly to the Finance Director, Headteacher/Principal and Governors, attending SMT and Governors’ meetings as required.  Develop and maintain systems and procedures to ensure information and transactions comply with academy, LAT and audit requirements.  Take an active role in seeking additional funding streams.  Prepare and provide reports for the Headteacher/Principal and Subject Leaders to assign budgets to departments for the forthcoming year, process, monitor and evaluate allocated budgets to avoid excess spending.  Prepare and issue statutory monitoring and forecasts reporting within LAT deadlines.  Complete year/end returns on behalf of Finance Director ensuring all relevant documentation is completed within the set timescales.  Manage and monitor the Academy’s payment system using cash flow planning by scheduling payments to ensure the Academy avoids bank charges and maximises opportunities to earn interest.  Manage other funding streams, e.g.Pupil Premium funding, Music Grants etc.  Monitor all academy budgets on a monthly basis, producing monthly management accounts to ensure that the Principal, Finance Director, Governing Body and Budget Holders have accurate and timely information on academy finances.  To work in partnership with the Principal and Finance Director in the preparation of the annual draft budget and any changes agreed to budget, analysing, interpreting and profiling information to ensure adequate provision is made to cover increasing costs.

July 2015  Work with the Finance Director to evaluate and update the 3 year Budget Plan in order to make recommendations relating to strategic decisions within the Academy Development Plan, recruitment and personnel.  Arrange agreed payments, evaluate, audit and monitor expenditure complying with LAT guidelines to ensure best value for money.  Work alongside Principal in order to achieve the aims of the Academy Development Plan, e.g. allocating funding for Booster Classes, Curriculum priority areas in order to support pupil outcomes.  To work in partnership with the Principal in rescheduling and calculating costs of items for inclusion into the Academy Development Plan to ensure its effectiveness.  Work alongside SENCo and Office Manager in order to timetable PPA cover in the most cost-effective way.  Advise the Headteacher/Principal with the financial implications of any recruitment.  Reconcile payroll with supply, overtime and travel expenses. Monitor payroll data as necessary to ensure accuracy of data.  Maintain staff salaries, contract information and monthly pay adjustments with Office Manager  Maintain the Asset Register with Site Manager, deleting or adding assets as and when necessary.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications

. Educated to degree level and/or possess a relevant professional qualification . Experience within a school or academy financial environment

Skills

. Must be computer literate and have worked with an accounting package . Excellent communication and organisational skills. . Must be able to work under pressure and use own initiative and have the ability to prioritise own workloads and work to deadlines. . Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to relate to a wide range of people . Good organisational, management and leadership skills

Personal Qualities

. Honesty and integrity . Ability to secure the confidence of the senior and middle management . Drive and determination . Initiative . Commitment to the aims of the academy and the Trust and to securing best value . Flexibility

ORGANISATION

Principal, Mascalls Trust Finance Trust Executive Academy Director Director, Cent Kent

Finance Manager/

Controller

Finance Director

Finance Financial manager controller role role

1 x Finance Officer and 1 x Financial management Finance Assistant oversight of Oaks, Tree Tops and Molehill primary academies July 2015