What skills and experience we're looking for
We are looking for an outstanding Head of Operational Finance to manage and deliver a strong, compliant, efficient and effective function, covering Accounts Payable (P2P), Accounts Receivable, and Balance Sheet controls and reconciliations.
We would like to hear from you if you have:
• Proven experience of the provision of monthly accounts in an effective and timely manner
• Experience of running and driving improvements within an Operational Finance Function, specifically delivery of effective Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable disciplines
• A track record of managing and developing high performing finance teams
• Experience of Oracle Fusion or similar complex financial systems, e.g. SAP
• Strong ownership and accountability along with a positive can-do attitude.
• The ability to assess performance from a strategic/holistic view, drawing out key areas for improvement and resolution
• Strong data analysis and problem-solving skills
• The ability to lead, prioritise and set clear direction of teams
• Strong people management skills
• Strong communication and engagement skills
For a full job description and person specification, please do
What the school offers its staff
The Harris Federation is a leading education charity with 55 Harris primary and secondary academies across London and Essex. The founder, Chairman and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We now educate some 38,000 young people and closing the gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers has always been a core mission.
The Harris Federation has a track record of accomplishment in achieving success through rapid school improvement and has built an unrivalled reputation for running outstanding academies in London.
Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.We look for talented individuals who share our vision for creating exceptional places of learning, and are committed to ensuring that every child in London has access to the best possible education.In addition to the opportunities for career progression, training and development, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.
Further details about the role
Your responsibilities will include:
• Ensuring that the financial transactions of the organisation are administered in most efficient and effective way
• Monthly accounts preparation, ensuring individual and consolidated monthly account and forecasting information is available to internal stakeholders
• Ensuring that purchasing administration from point of order through to payment is administered
• Ensuring all income is administered effectively.
• Ensuring accurate financial records are maintained with effective and timely reconciliations across General Ledgers, sub-ledgers, bank and inter-company accounts
• Payroll, ensuring payments made in line with Service Levels and that effective controls/reconciliations are maintained
• Maintaining a high level of data quality to ensure maximum effectiveness of end-to-end processing
• Driving efficiencies and effectiveness of the team, processes, data, and systems to enable improvements in the timeliness of robust financial information
• Developing and leading an efficient and motivated team to delivery of accurate and value adding financial information
• Maintaining effective communication with key stakeholders, developing strong and positive relationships
Commitment to safeguarding
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.