The opportunity
Purpose
To lead the financial strategy for the Diocesan Multi Academy Trust (MAT) and support Church of England schools in it.
Responsible to
The Chief Executive Officer of the Diocesan Multi Academy Trust.
Key connections
Internal: Diocesan Multi Academy Trust Board, Chief Executive Officer of the Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust, central MAT team, Headteachers, Bursars & School Business Managers, Diocesan Director of Education, members of Diocesan education team and other diocesan staff.
External: for Education (DfE), Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), Suffolk County Council, service providers and suppliers for the MAT, other MATs.
Key responsibilities
1. To ensure the financial sustainability of the MAT.
2. To ensure the financial sustainability of each school within the MAT.
3. To ensure that all requirements of the Department for Education, the Education and Skills Funding Agency and the Academies Financial Handbook- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academies-financial-handbook are met, deadlines adhered to and that the CEO and MAT Board are kept informed of requirements.
4. To produce such financial statements as are required by legislation and to meet reporting requirements by other external regulatory bodies.
5. To prepare the consolidated year end accounts for the MAT.
6. To maintain and manage appropriate financial systems in accordance with agreed policies and timescales.
7. To produce timely, accurate and appropriate reports and financial forecasts for the MAT Board and Finance and Audit Committee and to be proactive in dealing with financial issues.
8. To lead the central Finance team and the wider finance function across all schools
in monitoring and controlling financial operations.
9. To assist Headteachers and Business Managers in setting and managing school budgets so as to deliver high quality education within available resources, including providing an annual budget briefing in March, leading network meetings with Business Managers (currently termly) and providing regular communications.
10. To manage the Trust’s central budget, so as to achieve best value.
11. To identify potential savings through procurement and efficiencies, ensuring the most effective financial model is in place.
12. To work closely with the Head of School Improvement to monitor school improvement grants and Trust Capacity Fund (TCaF) grants.
13. To line manage the MAT Head of Estates, working together to maximise success of Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) projects in a financially sustainable manner..
14. To take responsibility for the speedy and effective introduction of financial systems and processes in any schools joining the MAT.
15. To liaise with solicitors and Suffolk County Council on any academy conversions, Commercial Transfer Agreements and other issues.
16. To be responsible for the procurement, provision, commissioning, monitoring, quality-assurance and cost-effectiveness of services provided by the MAT in order to achieve best value, and to manage a range of contracts.
17. To oversee monthly Payroll arrangements (currently outsourced).
18. To oversee and monitor the effectiveness of school Management Information Systems (MIS).
19. To oversee and monitor the effectiveness of key common external suppliers/agencies within schools.
20. To oversee the procedures to ensure that all schools are compliant with the requirements of the Academies Financial Handbook and Companies House and operate under appropriate schemes of delegation.
21. To liaise with external auditors and take appropriate action on any audit report findings.
22. To assist with design of annual internal scrutiny programme and take appropriate action on any recommendations.
23. To research and bid for additional funding to the DfE or ESFA, as appropriate.
24. To ensure that the necessary documentation for the recovery of VAT is prepared and submitted in a timely fashion.
25. To maintain the Trust’s risk register.
26. To act as Company Secretary.
General responsibilities
- To contribute to the development and ethos of the MAT working with all staff across the MAT as and when required
- To enable effective working relationships as a friendly and professional member of the central MAT team
- To attend and contribute to meetings as required
- To maintain at all times, the utmost confidentiality with regard to all financial reports, records, staff and pupil personal data and other information of a sensitive or confidential nature
- To have knowledge of and adhere to applicable policies, procedures and legislation including for example Safeguarding, GDPR, Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities
The above list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and the Chief Finance Officer may be required to undertake such other duties of a similar nature as may from time to time be required.
