Kennedy Elliott Partnership LLP
Finance and Commercial Manager
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About Kennedy Elliott
Kennedy Elliott is a values-driven children’s care home provider regulated by Ofsted. Our mission is to provide safe, loving, and empowering environments where children in care can heal, grow, and thrive. We support children with complex emotional and behavioural needs, often resulting from trauma, neglect, or abuse.
Job Purpose
This role is responsible for the end-to-end financial management of the organisation, ensuring that all financial operations are executed with a high degree of accuracy, control, and efficiency across multiple children’s homes. The postholder will take ownership of maintaining strong cash flow by ensuring that local authority invoicing is timely, accurate, and actively managed through to payment, with clear oversight of outstanding debt and associated risks.
A key part of the role is to provide the Managing Director with complete visibility of financial performance, including clear and reliable reporting on budgets, actuals, profitability, and forward-looking forecasts, enabling informed and confident decision-making.
The role also requires the implementation and consistent enforcement of robust financial controls and systems to monitor, manage, and prevent overspending, ensuring that all expenditure is aligned to agreed budgets and organisational priorities. Operating in a hands-on capacity, the individual will combine transactional finance, financial reporting, analysis, and business partnering to create a well-controlled, transparent, and commercially aware finance function that supports both compliance and sustainable growth within a regulated children’s care environment.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Operations & Systems Management
- Manage day-to-day financial operations, ensuring all transactions are accurately recorded and maintained
- Oversee the use of financial and operational systems, including Xero, Planday, Personio, and Equals Money
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records, ensuring all data is audit-ready
- Perform regular bank, supplier, and balance sheet reconciliations
- Support payroll processes by ensuring accurate input of timesheets, overtime, and adjustments
Revenue Management & Local Authority Liaison
- Manage and oversee all local authority invoicing processes
- Ensure invoices are raised accurately and in a timely manner in line with placement agreements
- Act as the main point of contact for local authorities regarding financial matters
- Monitor and manage outstanding debt, ensuring timely collection of payments
- Resolve invoicing disputes and escalate risks where necessary
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Cost Control & Budget Management
- Monitor expenditure across all homes to ensure alignment with approved budgets
- Implement and enforce financial controls and approval processes
- Analyse staffing costs, agency usage, and operational spend
- Work closely with operational teams to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve efficiency
- Proactively identify and address risks of overspending
Financial Reporting & Management Information
- Prepare and deliver monthly management accounts with clear and concise commentary
- Provide the Managing Director with regular financial reports covering performance, risks, and opportunities
- Develop and maintain financial dashboards to support visibility and decision-making
- Ensure reporting is accurate, timely, and aligned with organisational needs
Financial Analysis & Commercial Insight
- Analyse financial performance at home and placement level
- Develop and maintain models such as cost per child and home-level profitability
- Identify trends and provide insight into financial performance and operational efficiency
- Support strategic decision-making through clear and actionable financial analysis
Budgeting & Forecasting
- Lead or support the development of annual budgets
- Maintain rolling financial forecasts
- Undertake financial modelling and scenario analysis to support business planning
- Provide forward-looking financial insight to support growth and operational decisions
Payroll & HR Financial Alignment
- Ensure alignment between HR systems and financial data
- Validate payroll inputs including overtime, allowances, and staffing costs
- Support accurate and timely payroll processing
Compliance, Controls & Audit
- Maintain strong financial controls and governance processes
- Ensure compliance with financial regulations and internal policies
- Support external audits and ensure audit readiness at all times
- Maintain confidentiality and integrity of financial data
Continuous Improvement
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- Identify and implement improvements to financial processes and systems
- Support automation and efficiencies within the finance function
- Contribute to the development of robust, scalable financial practices
Person Specification
Qualifications
- AAT qualified (minimum)
- ACCA / CIMA part-qualified or qualified (desirable)
Experience
- Proven experience in a hands-on finance role covering both financial operations and reporting
- Experience preparing management accounts and supporting budgeting processes
- Experience working in multi-site organisations
- Experience within the care, education, or similar regulated sector is desirable
Skills & Knowledge
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills
- Good understanding of financial controls, reporting, and analysis
- Ability to interpret data and present clear financial insights
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines
Personal Attributes
- Proactive and self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership
- High level of integrity and professionalism
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage non-finance stakeholders
- Adaptable and able to operate effectively in a growing organisation
- Willing to take a hands-on approach to all aspects of the role
Additional Information
- Hybrid working available following onboarding period
- Opportunity to play a key role in a growing organisation
- Exposure to both operational and strategic finance responsibilities
Additional Benefits
- Competitive Compensation depending on skills, qualifications and experience
- Progression Opportunities and Professional Development through funded Ofsted-recognised qualifications and continuous training
- Enhanced holiday allowance
- Mintago Employee Benefits Scheme, including: 200+ retail discounts, Virtual GP, EAP, Financial Wellbeing Support, Gym Discounts & Elderly Care Support.
Safeguarding Statement
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment. This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check and safer recruitment procedures.
Locations: Enfield, Lewisham, Newham, Remote, Hybrid
Salary: £45,000 - £55,000
Hours required: 40 hours per week
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