Harris Federation
Finance Business Partner
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Finance Business Partner
We are looking for a Finance Business Partner to support our academies with clear financial insight, smart budgeting, and data-driven decision-making. You will work closely with Principals and senior leaders, acting as a trusted advisor and helping drive efficiencies across our schools.
If you are an analytical, confident finance professional with strong stakeholder skills, we would welcome your application.
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION.
Working with Us
The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working-class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.
We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.
As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable, and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.
Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.
To discover more about our culture, ethos, and what it is like to work here, visit the Why Work For Us page.
Main Areas of Responsibility
Your responsibilities will include:
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- Producing financial reports, dashboards, and analysis to assess performance against targets and trends
- Analysing financial data, margins, cost drivers, and overheads to identify efficiencies and savings opportunities
- Preparing balance sheet reconciliations and ensuring the accuracy of financial reporting
- Providing insightful commentary and translating financial data into clear, actionable recommendations
- Identifying and investigating data anomalies, validating results, and reconciling source data
- Partnering with schools, departments, and budget holders to support budgeting, planning, and performance management
- Building strong stakeholder relationships and providing expert financial advice and guidance
- Developing financial models to support business cases, forecasting, and commercial decisions
- Supporting managers to improve financial performance, efficiency, and value for money
- Ensuring compliance with financial regulations, internal controls, and organizational policies
- Monitoring adherence to financial procedures, delegated authorities, and governance requirements
For a full list of responsibilities, please download the Job Pack.
What We Are Looking For
We would like to hear from you if you have:
- A Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related discipline
- Part or full accountancy qualification (e.g., ACCA, CIMA, ACA)
- Commitment to ongoing professional development to remain current with UK financial regulations and best practices
- A minimum of three years' experience in a finance role, ideally with exposure to financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting
- Demonstrable experience working with financial systems such as Oracle, SAP, or equivalent ERP solutions for financial reporting and analysis
Experience in a commercial or multi-site operational environment is advantageous.
For a full job specification, please download the Job Pack.
What We Can Offer You
Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its center. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.
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You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes, and initiatives including:
- Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
- Annual loyalty bonus
- Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
- 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term-time contracts
- Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
- Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
- Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
- Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
- 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
- Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans
For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle-friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.
Important Information
Safeguarding Notice
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.
Equal Opportunities
The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable, and mutually supportive learning and working environment.
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