Senior Management Accountant

Senior Management Accountant West Midlands | Multi Academy Trust | On-site OVERVIEW AtkinsClarke are delighted to be supporting the search for a Senior Management Accountant on behalf of a well-established and growing Multi-Academy Trust with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality education across its schools. This is an excellent opportunity for a technically strong management accountant to take on a broader leadership role within a busy central finance team, managing a group of schools and playing a key part in the Trust's financial reporting, budgeting and decision-making processes. COMPANY Our client is a well-established Multi-Academy Trust responsible for the education of thousands of pupils across a family of schools. The Trust operates a central finance team delivering comprehensive finance services across all its schools, and continues to invest in its people, systems and processes to ensure strong financial governance and support for school leaders. OPPORTUNITY Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Senior Management Accountant will be a key member of the central finance team, responsible for the timely and accurate delivery of management accounts for a group of schools, while also line managing a small team. Key responsibilities include: • Managing a small team • Preparing timely monthly management accounts for a group of schools, including accrual and prepayment journals • Analysing management accounts and completing variance analysis against budget and latest forecast • Liaising with school leaders on budgets and forecasts for revenue expenditure • Ensuring budgets and forecasts are entered and regularly updated within the Trust's accounting system • Presenting schools' financial position to Trust Executive leaders • Completing balance sheet reconciliations • Supporting schools with financial decision making, including scenario modelling • Assisting with financial returns to the EFSA, DfE, Diocese, HMRC and Local Authority • Supporting the CFO with audit returns and year-end accounts • Reconciling funding streams to ensure schools maximise income • Challenging cost and supporting value for money exercises, including reviewing purchase orders • Completing monthly payroll reconciliations • Supporting project work across the Trust and individual schools • Providing ad hoc financial reporting to school leaders and Local Governing Bodies • Authorising BACS runs, invoices and purchase orders across the Trust • Developing and improving finance systems and documenting processes to ensure continuity PERSON We are seeking an experienced management accountant who is passionate about supporting education through strong financial leadership. You will ideally demonstrate: • Part-qualified or qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent), or qualified by experience • Previous experience within the education sector, ideally within a Multi-Academy Trust, is highly advantageous • Strong technical management accounting skills, including budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis • Experience managing or developing a small team • Confidence liaising with and presenting to senior stakeholders, including school leaders and Trust Executive leaders • Strong Excel and financial systems skills • Excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple deadlines across a group of schools • A proactive, solutions-focused approach OFFER This is an excellent opportunity to join a purpose-led organisation where your work will have a genuine impact across education. • Competitive salary c£50,000 - £55,000, dependent on experience • Excellent pension scheme • Generous holiday entitlement • Opportunity to develop and lead a growing finance team • Genuine variety, working across a group of schools • Supportive and values-driven culture To apply for this position, please click on the apply now button and your CV will be sent directly to the responsible recruiter. We will respond to successful applicants within 7 days, however, please feel free to get in touch if you would like any further information about your application. At AtkinsClarke, we embrace inclusivity and welcome applicants of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. By applying you will be registered as a candidate with Atkins Clarke Ltd. Our Privacy Policy is available on request and explains how we will use your data.