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Finance Business Partner
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Finance Business Partner
Finance Business Partner – Shires Multi Academy Trust
About the Role
The Finance Business Partner plays a pivotal role in delivering high-quality financial management, reporting, and support across Shires Multi Academy Trust. Reporting to the Chief Finance Officer, this position acts as the finance lead for a group of schools, responsible for:
- Managing accounts, budgets, and forecasts
- Providing strategic financial insight and challenge
- Supporting effective decision-making within school leadership and central teams
- Traveling across local school sites to facilitate stakeholder engagement
The role bridges finance and operations, requiring strong collaboration with headteachers, school leaders, and central departments such as School Relationship Managers, Operations, and Estates.
Key Responsibilities
Business Partnering & Stakeholder Support
- Build strong, supportive relationships with headteachers and school leaders.
- Serve as the primary finance contact for assigned schools or services.
- Collaborate with central teams (e.g., School Relationship Managers, Operations, Estates) to align financial decisions with operational plans.
- Offer clear, practical financial advice to support planning and decision-making.
- Assist in understanding funding streams and ensuring resources are used effectively.
- Challenge assumptions and plans where necessary to improve outcomes.
- Identify risks, pressures, and opportunities, proposing actionable solutions.
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Management Accounting & Reporting
- Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts for assigned schools, with detailed commentary.
- Provide meaningful variance analysis, highlighting key issues, risks, and required actions.
- Take ownership of forecasts, ensuring they reflect current information and risks, and work with leaders to address them (escalating as necessary).
- Complete month-end processes, including accruals, adjustments, and payroll journals.
- Identify financial trends and areas for improvement.
- Ensure schools fully understand their financial position, key drivers, and emerging risks.
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Budgeting & Planning
- Lead the preparation of annual budgets and multi-year financial plans for assigned schools, ensuring they are robust and deliverable.
- Work closely with headteachers to develop staffing and financial plans that are affordable and sustainable.
- Identify financial risks and collaborate with school leaders to implement appropriate responses.
Financial Oversight & Control
- Ensure schools adhere to robust financial controls aligning with Trust expectations.
- Promote compliance with Trust policies, ESFA requirements, and reporting standards.
- Maintain fixed asset registers for assigned schools, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- Liaise with auditors and comply with statutory and regulatory requirements.
Additional Responsibilities
- Contribute to improving financial processes, reporting methods, and consistency across the Trust.
- Identify opportunities for efficiencies and value-for-money.
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Jessica, London
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