Group Finance Manager

Job description

We are looking to recruit a Group Finance Manager to work in our Head Office in Loughton, Essex to a group of four private schools. The role will include the management of the Accounts Department, which has two Group Accounts Administrators.

Conditions of the Role

This is a full time position with the 'core' hours of 8am until 4.45pm daily at the Head Office building in Loughton. The role comes with a starting salary of £48kpa and holiday entitlement of 25 days + bank holidays. The successful candidate should be able to start as soon as possible.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

Management Accounts:

• To use Sage Accounts to its fullest extent for all postings, journals and reports.
• To oversee financial accounting activities and ensure that ledgers accurately reflect money coming in and out of the company.
• To coordinate the preparation of management accounts and monthly reports including accruals, deferrals and prepayments.
• To prepare and review regular profit and loss statements and balance sheet reconciliations, and provide detailed analyses of results.
• To provide oversight and management of the Capex expenditure and provide regular updates to the Director.
• To reconcile intercompany financial movements, prepayments and accruals.
• To monitor and maintain the Group's fixed assets registers.

Cash flow Forecasting:

• To manage the rolling cash flow forecasts and prepare monthly cash flow reports, KPIs and budgets.
• To support the management team in analysing, understanding and interpreting the operational and financial performance of the business.
• To forecast all overhead costs.
• To produce financial reports that provide insight for effective decision making.

General Accountancy:

• To liaise with key stakeholders including accountants, bankers and HMRC.
• To assist the Group Bursar with the administration of the monthly salaries, including claim forms, deductions, additions and reviews.
• To assist the Group Bursar with the administration of the Group Pension Scheme.
• To assist the Group Bursar with the monitoring of school trips/workshops costs.
• To assist the Group Bursar with the monitoring of school budgets.
• To assist the Group Bursar with reporting to the Financial Conduct Authority.
• To support the Group Bursar and Director with the annual fees review.
• To assist the Accounts Administrators with the reconciliation of the monthly bank statements and posting to Sage.
• To support the Accounts Administrators with the purchase ledger, including posting to Sage and implementing regular BACS runs.
• To monitor the Barclaycard and Amex transactions to check for changes in charges.

School Fees Administration (Sales Ledger):

To support the Accounts Administrators with the administration of all fee invoices and schedules, including:

• To log the receipt of all fees deposits for prospective pupils and maintenance of records on the Engage database for future reference.
• To check that all fees, fee adjustments and charges both in advance and arrears are correctly entered against each pupil at the four schools.
• To ensure that information is inputted onto the Engage database where necessary.
• To liaise with the School Offices about chargeable activities such as clubs, peripatetic music or SEN support and providing this information in a timely fashion for inclusion in fee invoices.
• To help despatch invoices for all pupils at the four schools electronically to the agreed timescale.
• To help handle parental queries on invoices, including the generating of duplicate invoices.

Credit Control Administration:

To support the Accounts Administrators and Group Bursar with the collection of fees, including:

• To process payments by Credit/Debit Card when requested by parents by telephone, on line or in person.
• To send fees reminder emails and/or texts at the end of the first week of each term as required.
• To telephone parents who still have unauthorised late fees by the end of the second week of each term.
• To chase fee payments at all other times as necessary by telephone and/or email.
• To chase club payments for pupils who have left.
• To track payments received and update fees spreadsheets daily.
• To create a diary system for the chasing of regular monthly payments and keep aged debtor reports up-to-date.
• To report to the Group Bursar if the collection of fees from any family becomes a concern.

VAT Returns:

• To produce accurate VAT records and submit monthly VAT Returns within HMRC expected timeframes.
• To keep accurate records of VAT due to be applied to school fees and reasons for any exemptions.
• To ensure that all VAT reclaimable from HMRC is reconciled and claimed in a timely manner.
• To ensure that any VAT due to be paid to HMRC is paid in a timely manner in accordance with HMRC rules.

Person Specification

Essential:

• ACA/ACCA or equivalent fully qualified or near-fully qualified
• Extensive knowledge of local laws, taxes, licenses, finance and accounting practices, and procedures
• Experience in a finance environment working with management accounts
• Experience within a fast paced and innovative environment
• Advanced knowledge of Sage Accounts
• Advanced MS Excel skills
• Ability to analyse data and prepare comprehensive and accessible reports
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Exceptional financial and analytical skills
• The ability to sets clear goals and align job objectives to the requirements of the business
• The ability to prioritise own workload and multitask
• The ability to support colleagues by responding effectively and efficiently to requests for help & information
• Flexibility to work extra hours at peak times

Desirable:

• Proven leadership skills
• Accounting/finance degree
• Previous experience working with credit control

The Role Comes With:

• Competitive Annual Salary
• Company pension
• 25 days' annual leave + bank holidays in addition.
• Free parking
• Free eye test
• Free tea/coffee and lunches!