Finance Consultant
Finance Consultant - 22.5 Hours Per Week - Term Time Only
The Role
To deliver a professional, customer facing financial management support service to school’s / academy’s / Multi Academy Trust’s across the country by remote access and onsite according to geographical location,
that enhances their financial management by providing:
• Remote / on-site consultancy visits to support the customer’s finance function with expertise on financial management tasks as commissioned by the customer with regard to completion, assistance, guidance, checking, training and reviews. The expertise given will be in accordance with requirements relating to Schools Financial Value Standard, Academies Financial Handbook and Education Funding Agency updates, Essex Scheme of Financing Schools and Scheme of Delegation or the equivalent for the relevant local authority.
• Helpdesk facilities, to answer financial management queries from school / academy finance staff, Head teachers and Governors/Trustees.
• Independent examination/audit of school private fund accounts.
• Assist/deliver a range of finance training courses
The services given will strictly meet Education Finance Support’s Service Standards and terms and conditions
Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities:
- Provide a high-quality service in accordance with the Department for Education’s requirements and those of the Service
• Managing an allocated portfolio of customers, ensuring all visit requests are accommodated including liaising with senior consultants for cover at peak times
• Local Authority or ESFA financial returns
• Budget preparation and Forward Financial Planning, including liaising with Headteachers/ Governors / Business managers using influencing and negotiating skills
• Budget monitoring, forecasting expenditure and cashflow
• Producing financial reports for governors / board of trustees
• Attendance at Governor meetings where required
• One to one training of finance staff remotely / on-site
• Troubleshooting financial anomalies
• Year-end accounting system procedures and statutory returns
• Monthly bursar finance tasks i.e. reconciliation of funding, bank, payroll, and VAT claims
• Coding of revenue and capital expenditure in line with Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR)
• Transaction processing i.e. journals, virements, orders and invoices, petty cash, income, banking
• Accounting for school private fund
• Help desk consultant answering financial management queries (rota basis)
• Assist with delivering Education Finance Support training course programme
• Independent examination/audit of school private fund accounts
• Independently manage diary and allocated portfolio
• Keep abreast of changes in education and local government finance and share ideas and knowledge with others within Education Finance Support.
• Perform financial management reviews as required, producing professional post-visit reports of the assessment, detail findings and recommendations for consideration by client Senior leaders
Key Attributes:
- Accounting qualifications, ACCA, ACA, CIMA, CIPFA, AAT or similar
• And/or CIPFA's Certificate in Financial Reporting for Academies
• 5 GCSEs grades A-C including Mathematics and English or equivalent
• The following may be considered in lieu of a financial qualification:
o Certificate in School Business Management (CSBM)
o Diploma in School Business Management (DSBM)
o Considerable school’s financial experience at a responsible level
Experience of school and academy financial software including PS Financials, FMS6 & SIMS, SAGE, ACCESS, RM, Civica, would be an advantage although training will be provided
- Department
- Education Finance
- Role
- Finance Consultant
- Locations
- Head Office - Chelmsford
- Remote status
- Hybrid Remote
- Yearly salary
- £15,857 - £18,500
- Employment type
- Part-time
About Juniper Education
Trusted by over 14,000 schools and over 70% of MATs, Juniper’s technology and expertise deliver joined-up solutions for classrooms, the back office, staff development and engaging with parents.
At Juniper Education, we believe that the heart of a great workplace is its people. That's why we're committed to investing in our team, creating an inclusive culture, and embracing our company values: collaboration, empowerment, innovation, passion, and purpose.
Our team of over 400 people nationwide, mostly experienced education experts and former teachers, is passionate about making schools and MATs a better place to work and learn. We want to ease the heavy workloads and stress that everyone in education faces, improve operations, and help pupils achieve more.
Our mission is clear: to look after you so that you can look after our children, with the ultimate goal of making a real and positive impact on education.
Finance Consultant
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