BUSINESS AND FINANCE OFFICER

JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

PURPOSE

To be a proactive central MAT member providingaccountancy and business support to the Business and Finance Manager and the MAT’s Directors on the most effective and efficient use of academy resources and funding, in line with the MAT’s finance policy and government and statutory accounting requirements but always with a direct link to outcomes for our children at all times.

RESPONSIBLE TO

MAT Business and Finance Manager

KEY CONNECTIONS

Internal:CEO, Business and Finance Officer, school business managers, headteachers and members of Diocesan staff

External: Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), Department for Education (DfE), MAT suppliers,Suffolk County Council, other dioceses.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Maintain the central MAT’s financial transactions, ensuring they are properly and promptly recorded on the accounting system (PS Financials)
  2. Process payments to suppliers
  3. Monitor and record grants received
  4. Maintain databases of the MAT’s employees and supplier contract agreements
  5. Reconcile bank accounts
  6. Monitor and reconcilethe MAT’s control accounts across all academies
  7. Process monthly recharges between the academies and the central MAT including payroll costs
  8. Prepare and submit VAT claims monthly
  9. Authorisation and propriety checks
  10. Produce the central MAT’s initial budget monitoring report
  11. Check and consolidate schools’ budget monitoring reports
  12. Prepare central MAT budget
  13. Support and visit school users of the financial accounting system
  14. Assist schools with budgeting
  1. Assist the Business and Finance Manager with any tasks as required but including:
  2. financial accounting system administration
  3. financial forecasting and reporting to the MAT’s Board and committees
  4. preparation towards statutory financial yearend accounts including processing year end adjustments and liaison with auditors
  5. procurement, i.e. obtaining and comparing quotations
  6. financial reviews across the MAT and externally, i.e. benchmarking of academies expenditure
  7. compliance with the MAT’s financial responsibilities as defined in the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s Academies Financial Handbook
  8. monitoringcash flow
  9. preparation of data for financial returns to the Education and Skills Funding Agency
  10. overseeing schools' budgeting
  11. advice and guidance to headteachers and business managers
  12. general support including academy business conversion processes including financial due diligence
  1. Deputise for the MAT’s Business and Finance Manager

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Contribute to the development and ethos of the MAT working with all staff across the MAT as and when required
  2. Enable effective working relationships as a friendly and professional member of the central MAT team
  3. 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
  4. Have knowledge of and adhere to applicablepolicies, procedures and legislation including all policies i.e. Safeguarding, Data Protection, Health and Safety, Code of Conduct and Equal Opportunities
  5. Responsible for continuing professional development
  6. Proactively contribute towards performance management review

The above list of responsibilities is not exhaustive. The Business and Finance Officer may be required to undertake other duties of a similar nature from time to time.

BUSINESS AND FINANCE OFFICER
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential / Desirable
Experience, Education and Understanding
5 GCSE grade C and above including Mathematics and English or equivalent
Association of Accounting Technicians or equivalent financial qualification
Experience equivalent to Association of Accounting Technician or working towards
Understanding of double entry book-keeping and balance sheets
Practical experience of using a computerised financial accounting system for recording income and expenditure transactions, processing journals, processing payments to suppliers
Experience of PS Financials
Experience of budget preparation, budget monitoring and forecasting
Experience of:
a) financial year end procedures
b) reconciliation of control accounts
d) chart of accounts and financial system administration
Practical experience of setting upspreadsheets to analyse information and perform complex calculations
Understanding of education or not for profit financial governance, including internal financial control principles and the management of the public purse
Familiarity with Academies Financial Handbook
Experience of writing clear business English for business-critical situations / 







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Essential / Desirable
Personal Skills and Attributes
Able to act professionally and discreetly with all levels of colleagues and customers
Respectful of the MAT's and Diocesan ethos
Approachable and supportive
Ability to learn quickly and share knowledge effectively
High level of personal organisation and ability to meet deadlines
Self-reliant
Willingness to be flexible in approach
Ability to explain processes and provide advice clearly
Trustworthy, reliable and concientious
Ability to travel throughout Suffolk
Full driving licence / 








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