Job Description

Principal Accountability

• Support the CEO in the strategic leadership and delivery of the Trust's goals.
• Provide strategic advice to the Board of Trustees, Executive Leadership Team, Principals, local governing bodies and senior managers on all issues relating to financial, compliance and operational matters.
• Preparing each academy's annual financial forecasts and 5-year forecasts in line with corporate strategies and plans in consultation with the CEO and senior colleagues.

2 Finance

• Fulfil the role of Chief Financial Officer in accordance with the Academies Handbook supporting the CEO in ensuring the financial viability of the Trust, ensuring sufficient surplus funding is generated to meet the Trust's development needs. To include:
• Develop, plan and deliver the Trust's internal and external financial reporting for the Board of Trustees and LGBs/PFFs on the Trust's financial governance, management and objectives.
• Ensure finance staff, policies, systems and processes are developed and optimized for the benefit of the Trust including delivering value for money purchasing and targeted cash management.
• Represent the Trust with relevant third parties to include ESFA, external auditors, bank(s), the LA through MK Schools Forum, Trust wide suppliers.
• Assist and challenge Principals via PFF Committees to develop optimum budgets and long term plans.

Governance

• Support the CEO in delivering good governance across the Trust by ensuring compliance with the Trust's Memorandum and Articles of Association and associated statutory, regulatory and legal requirements and their implementation by fulfilling the role of Company Secretary including:
• Ensure the Board's delegated authority is maintained through the scheme of delegation along with financial delegations that are reviewed annually and adhered to.
• Ensure the Trust responds effectively and appropriately to new legislation, policy and practice affecting multi academy trusts and member academies.
• Procuring and managing an appropriate clerking service for the Trust and its Academies.
• Ensuring all statutory returns are adhered to.
• Maintain necessary records of Trustees and Governors and ensure skills audits induction and training is procured to support the Board's objectives.
• Ensure the Trust has access to relevant external professional advice, e.g. legal.

Compliance

• Support Trustees in delivering their duty of compliance by ensuring compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements is delivered:
• Trust wide Policies and Procedures:
• Production, publication and communication of all Finance Procedures.
• Oversight of all other Trust wide policies and procedures ensuring maintenance and communication of all other essential ones in a timely fashion.
• Oversee website publication compliance.

Operational Management

• Lead and manage all of the non-academic aspects of the Trust to deliver operational excellence to support the CEO's objective of ensuring all pupils benefit from an education that aims to enable, enhance and enrich.
• Lead and review IT performance against SLA and develop a 5-year IT plan in line with Trust objectives ensuring appropriate staffing and resources.
• Be accountable for the production and delivery of support function budgets.
• Lead and direct the Business Manager Group via termly meetings.
• Attend Board and Trust committee meetings and Local Governing Body meetings as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Degree educated
• Qualified Accountant
• Senior Financial Leadership experience gained within the Education/ Schools / Academy Trust sector is essential
• UK Based, able to commute 3 days per week to Milton Keynes
• UK Right to Work