Job Description Post: Line Manager: Salary: Required Qualifications: Working Hours: Financial Accountant Director of Operations 35k- 40k dependent on experience ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA Full Year, 36 hours per week PURPOSE OF THE POST As a Financial Accountant, you will be a fundamental part of the finance team across the trust. You will work closely with academies and their finance staff, Business Managers and Principals, covering all aspects of financial management, from Management Accounts and budgeting to Financial Accounts and Balance Sheet reconciliations. In addition, due to your background in practice you will take a leading role in the yearend audit and the preparation of the statutory accounts for the group. This position involves adherence to many DfE and EFA guidelines and rules as well as those followed by the Trust. This includes working to monthly deadlines in a timely manner. You will have specific responsibility for a number of academies financial management throughout the year and in addition a range of statutory filing requirements to bodies such as HM Revenue & Customs and the Charity Commission. The particular duties and responsibilities set out in the job description are reviewed on a regular basis and will operate within the relevant Terms and Conditions of Employment. The amount of time to be spent on each duty or responsibility is not directed. ROLE & RESPONSIBILITY: Within the role of Financial Accountant there will be a range of responsibilities that span the fields of finance:
Prepare all types of financial returns for the Trust for all statutory bodies including VAT returns, annual financial returns and all other returns appropriate to the Trust including, but not restricted to March Accounts Return, August Accounts Return, July Budget Submission, Annual Financial Statements, Annual Return Present an indicative budget to for the DfE by the date stipulated each year and a final budget submitted by 30 July each year with input from the Trust and its academies Take a leading role in the preparation of the financial statements for the Trust and associated working papers to auditable standard as well as an active role in liaising with the external auditors Manage the relations with the taxation authorities and issues instructions on compliance with legislation covering areas not limited to VAT, PAYE, NI, Corporation Tax and Import Duty Ensure that the Trust and its academies have relevant dispensations from HM Revenue & Customs, where required Ensure that Trust meets all its statutory reporting obligations Monitoring information and advice on the impact of changes in financial regulation upon the Trust Operate, control and reconcile the Trust bank account Ensure timely completion and review of balance sheet reconciliations of the academies and complete reconciliations at Trust level Monitor income and expenditure and undertake analysis in relation to key areas at both Trust and Academy level Produce monthly management accounts for the Trust and its academies including commentary and review of performance against budget, in a timely manner that is inside the prescribed deadlines, and produce monthly accounts packs for the Director of Operations Maintain systems and procedures to ensure that financial transactions are recorded and reported accurately within the accounting system Attend Trust meetings to report on finance related activities both at Trust and academy levels Work closely with the finance staff at the academies, implementing procedures and consulting as necessary Assist with the preparation of the annual estimates of income and expenditure for the Trust and its academies Obtain agreement of budgets and to monitor accounts against budgets for the Trust and its academies Manage the reconciliation of key control accounts and ensure that month end processes are followed at both Trust and academy level Be the point of contact for all financial queries relating to the individual academies Visit every academy on a regular basis, to carry out internal audits and review the accounts with academies management Support the management of PFI contracts within academies Appraise proposed capital expenditure projects to ensure value for money is achieved and risks reduced and ensure Trust procedures in respect of tendering and approval are complied with at both Trust and academy levels Ensure comprehensive assets registers are maintained ensuring the agreed asset values are reflected and updated regularly at both Trust and academy levels
Support the internal and external audit processes, and report and implement recommendations Support the Director of Operations with the procurement of insurance as required by the Trust and market test this cover to ensure value for money Ensure appropriate controls are in place to manage and minimise debtors Work with the Director of Operations and academies within the Trust to develop and improve financial processes and procedures Assist in the recruitment and selection of finance staff for designated academies Assist in dealing with any insurance claim involving the Academy through the insurance agents Ensure that adequate procedures are in place to prevent unauthorised access to Finance systems, and ensure that only staff authorised to access Salford Academy Trust financial data may do so Undertake agreed project work for the Trust under the direction of the Director of Operations PERSON SPECIFICATION In order to fulfil the role of Financial Accountant at Salford Academy Trust, the below criteria is deemed to be essential. You would be expected to have a knowledge and understanding of: The financial legislation governing the education sector The structure and preparation of financial statement prepared under the Charity SORP as well as being able to demonstrate experience of the consolidation of financial statements What constitutes quality in the provision of support services within education and the close inter-relationship between good support and effective learning How to use comparative data and benchmarking to develop best practice and best value for money strategies The fundamentals of financial management and control, accountancy terminology and the ability to accurately interpret financial documents The information required to set a realistic budget and inform reforecasts Internal and external audit requirements and process Finance software and how it is used to generate both standard and bespoke reports You would be expected to have experience working within the education sector and have a finance qualification such as: ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA. You will also have: Integrity, which means you can be trusted and trust others ensuring commitments are kept. Commitment, which means you take ownership and follow things through to completion. Energy, which means you take initiative and take on responsibilities with enthusiasm.
Honesty, which means you respect others and what they can bring to the Trust and show openness to their ideas, hopes, concerns and aspirations. Ambition, which means you set challenging goals and targets, for yourself and for others. Innovation, which means you create solutions and ideas that translate into practical actions to deliver the vision. In addition to the skills and attributes already stated, the Financial Accountant should be able to: prioritise, plan and organise direct and co-ordinate the work of others seek advice and support when necessary deal sensitively with people and resolve conflicts be flexible and adaptable to changing situations collect and weigh evidence, make sound judgements and take decisions communicate effectively orally, in writing and through presentations negotiate and consult effectively demonstrate computer literacy develop, maintain and use an effective network of contacts work under pressure and to deadlines be self-motivating In order to fulfil the role of Financial Accountant at Salford Academy Trust, the below criteria is deemed to be desirable. You would ideally have a knowledge and understanding of: The academies sector in relation to finance and relevant legislation and processes The financial software that the Trust uses, PS Financials This job description will be updated on a regular basis in consultation with the postholder. While every attempt has been made to make this job description exhaustive, there may be occasions when the specifics require review and/or the postholder may be asked to carry out additional, reasonable, requests of the Director of Operations.
Other Information This offer is subject to the candidate fulfilling a number of conditions and documents received as outlined below: Satisfactory Enhanced DBS Disclosure The receipt of two satisfactory references as outlined above Satisfactory Medical Clearance Asylum and Immigration Act eligibility to work check Verification of Identity The Sponsor and trustees are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Staff must ensure that the highest priority is given to following guidance and regulations to safeguard children and young people. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS Disclosure and Barred List Check.