ACA/ACCA/CIMA Qualified Accountant

Education Sector - Director of Finance & IT

Client Details

An exceptional opportunity has arisen for a Director of Finance & IT candidate to join a leading Surrey based multi-academy trust. The Trust are looking for an enterprising and innovative qualified accountant with highly developed financial acumen and strategic vision to lead on finance and Information Technology (IT) development across a successful and growing multi-academy trust.

Description

We are looking for a pivotal leader to join our Executive Board and hold overall responsibility for the management of our financial and IT systems and processes.

The Director of Finance & IT will be leading a hard-working and dedicated finance and IT team, with a unique opportunity to shape our support functions as we grow and ensure we continue to offer a first-class service to all our schools and that we stay abreast of technological developments in these areas.

Key Responsibilities:

• To provide strategic guidance, leadership and management of all the Trust's finances within the scheme of delegation and to advise the CEO and Trustees on all financial matters relating to the Trust in line with the Academy Trust Handbook.

• To be responsible for the delivery of financial support services throughout the Trust, including the management of the Trust's accounting system and controls.
• To be the primary point of contact for all aspects of funding and financial/statutory returns.
• To ensure sound and appropriate financial governance and financial risk management arrangements are in place, prepare and monitor budgets and ensure delivery of annual accounts in accordance with ESFA/DfE guidelines and externally determined deadlines.
• To provide strategic guidance, leadership and management of the Trust's IT provision, keeping abreast of technological developments in IT and challenging where necessary.
• To oversee the Trust's relationships with external IT providers, consultants and contractors.
• To support the CEO and Trust Board in developing the Strategic Plan, with particular focus on shared services of finance and IT.

Profile

The successful candidate will be aligned to our core values of equity, collaboration and integrity, have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to challenge when necessary and proven/prior experience of leading and managing teams successfully.

Essential Qualifications / Skills:

• Relevant professional qualification in accounting (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or comparable financial experience.
• Minimum 3 years' experience of strategically managing the finances of a medium sized organisation to provide long-term financial planning and cost analysis.
• Experience of managing a successful team.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.
• Ability to generate financial models and concepts and translate them into tangible tactics.
• Friendly, approachable and enthusiastic with a positive 'can do' attitude.
• Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people in line with the Trust's Child Protection & Safeguarding and related policies

Job Offer

• Professional Development and Training
• Pension Schemes
• Generous Sickness and Holiday / Leave
• Lifestyle and Retail Discounts
• Staff sports & Social Events
• Wellbeing Support