Location: Manchester (hybrid/office-based)
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience + pension and benefits
Start date: ASAP
A large, values-led education trust is seeking a proactive, detail-driven Finance Manager to join its central finance team in Manchester. This is a key role supporting strong financial management across a secondary school, ensuring excellent financial controls, timely reporting, and high-quality support to budget holders.
The role
Reporting into senior finance leadership, the Finance Manager will oversee day-to-day finance operations and provide accurate management information to support decision-making. You’ll work closely with school and central colleagues to ensure financial compliance, value for money, and effective forecasting.
Key responsibilities
- Produce monthly management accounts, including variance analysis and reporting packs.
- Support budgeting and forecasting across multiple sites/teams.
- Maintain strong financial controls (purchase-to-pay, approvals, reconciliations, audit trails).
- Oversee balance sheet reconciliations and ensure an accurate month-end close.
- Partner with budget holders to provide guidance, challenge, and support (including training where helpful)
- Drive continuous improvement in finance processes and systems (automation/standardisation where possible).
What we’re looking for
- Proven experience in a Finance Manager role within education
- Strong month-end, budgeting, and forecasting capability.
- Excellent Excel skills and confidence producing clear, accurate MI.
- Able to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.
- Organised, solutions-focused, and able to manage competing priorities.
- Experience in education/public sector is desirable but not essential.
Benefits
- Purpose-led organisation with a supportive team culture.
- Professional development and progression opportunities.
- Competitive benefits package (details available at application stage).
