Finance Operations Manager

Great Schools Trust; Role located at King’s Leadership Academy Warrington

Permanent | Full-time | All year round

Salary: £38,220-£40,777 FTE

Great Schools Trust is seeking an organised, capable and solutions-focused Finance Operations Manager to join our supportive central Finance team. This is a new role, created to strengthen the day-to-day financial operations that help our academies run smoothly, confidently and efficiently.

Great Schools Trust is a family of eight ambitious academies committed to ensuring that every student, regardless of their starting point, flourishes, is happy and achieves their full potential. Our culture is shaped by our ASPIRE values: Aspiration, Self-awareness, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect and Endeavour. We are proud of our strong record of school improvement, staff satisfaction and values-led education.

About the role

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys getting the detail right, improving systems and helping others work with confidence. You will bring clarity, pace and professional judgement to the financial operations that allow our academies to focus on what matters most: delivering an excellent education for every pupil.

You will lead and support day-to-day transactional finance operations across the Trust, including purchase and sales ledgers, supplier payments, reconciliations, VAT returns, contract administration, financial reporting and finance system improvements. You will also supervise finance colleagues, support staff across our academies and help ensure financial processes are accurate, compliant, practical and consistently understood.

The role will involve working closely with academy and central colleagues, including Academy Operations Managers, Principals, budget holders, suppliers, auditors, banks and senior leaders. You will be a key point of support for colleagues using finance systems and procedures, helping to resolve queries promptly, professionally and with a healthy respect for the fact that purchase orders, for reasons unknown to science, do not complete themselves.

Who we're looking for

We are looking for someone with strong experience in finance, accounts or transactional finance, including experience managing or overseeing purchase and sales ledger functions. You will have excellent attention to detail, sound knowledge of financial procedures and internal controls and the ability to organise competing priorities calmly and effectively.

You will also have experience leading or supervising others, with the confidence to give guidance, support colleagues and promote high standards of accuracy, accountability and service. Experience in an education setting, academy trust, school finance environment or complex multi-site organisation would be an advantage.

The successful candidate will be a clear communicator who builds positive working relationships with colleagues at all levels. You will be calm, resilient, curious and solutions-focused, with a strong commitment to confidentiality, professional conduct, value for money and continuous improvement.

What we offer to you

In return, we offer a welcoming and collaborative working environment, excellent professional development, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays and a comprehensive range of wellbeing benefits.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to make a meaningful contribution to a growing, values-led Trust. Finance may not always be the part of school life that gets the standing ovation, but when it works brilliantly, schools run better, colleagues feel supported and public money is used carefully and responsibly.

How to apply

Please apply through MyNewTerm.

For an informal conversation about the role or to arrange a visit, please contact: h.fenlon@greatschoolstrust.com

Please read the full Recruitment Guide for the job description, person specification, benefits and further application information.

Safeguarding

Great Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate pre-employment checks as listed within the recruitment guide.