Job Description
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!