Head of Finance Business Partnering

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are seeking a proactive and experienced Head of Finance Business Partnering to join our dynamic Finance team. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is looking to grow their career in Financial Management whilst making a real difference to the lives of our pupils and students.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deputise for the Assistant Director of Finance when required.
• Responsible for a portfolio of schools that show high risk.
• Lead a team of academy Senior Finance Business Partners, reviewing management accounts for all schools on a monthly basis.
• Line manage staff to include all duties required to induct, recruit, continuously develop, support and manage them effectively.
• Establish, challenge, and review bench-marking tools to compare OHCAT academies with others in the trust and also within the wider academy sector.
• Lead on continuous improvement on Debtors reporting.
• Ensure completion consolidated budget for the academic year to include I&E, balance sheet, cashflow statements, commentary and dashboards for presentation to Risk and Review meetings.
• Make visits to the academies and other sites as needed to ensure the smooth running of the team and functions.
• See Job Description for full list.

Key Requirements:

• Qualified or part-qualified accountant(CCAB, AAT or equivalent) with significant accounting experience, including financial management and control, budget setting, financial monitoring, and a clear understanding of accounting processes.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills, with experience managing teams, building capability in staff and senior stakeholders, and developing effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with senior postholders, provide excellent customer service, work collaboratively, and manage confidential information with discretion.
• Highly competent in financial and administrative systems, including Excel, Microsoft packages, and Resource or similar financial management systems, with the ability to use initiative, manage workloads, meet deadlines, and maintain accuracy under pressure.
• Knowledge and commitment to the education sector, including current educational issues, with a flexible and adaptable approach and a commitment to Equality and Diversity, Safeguarding, and Health and Safety

What the school offers its staff

OHC&AT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme and Free Virtual GP Appointments
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.