The Bath and Wells Multi Academy Trust

Hub Business Manager

Contents

Advert

Job Description

Person Specification

Role Terms and Conditions

Hub Business Manager

5 days per week, Permanent, term time only

£29,909 - £33,136 pro rata per annum

This role is open to internal candidates only

The Bath and Wells Multi Academy Trust provides the opportunity for church schools within the Diocese to obtain academy status within the trust. Established in September 2012 and experiencing steady and sustained growth the trust is now seeking a Hub Business Manager for a group of our Schools.

Reporting to the Financial Controller the Hub Business Manager will provide direct support to an allocated number of schools. They will provide advice, guidance and training to individual schools in relation to finance. The role will provide first line financial support and challenge to individual schools, assisting with budget setting and review.

The role will provide the Hub Regional Director of Learning and Achievement with effective financial and operational support when making strategic decisions.

The role will liaise very closely with the Financial Accountant providing summarised financial and benchmarking information to assist in the reporting and analysis of financial and operational performance.

It is expected that there will be the need to support Trust wide projects to improve accuracy, effectiveness and efficiency in the processing of financial information, as well as providing support in the conversion process of newly joining schools.

The successful candidate will ideally hold a Certificate in School Business Management or relevant finance qualification such as AAT or be qualified by experience; and will have a management accounts background or relevant practical experience of working in a School Office. With an ability to use your initiative, good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate to a wide-ranging audience.

For an informal discussion please contact Georgina Spirrell, Financial Controller on 01749 372700.

To apply please download the full job details and application form and e-mail your completed form to or post to: Georgina Spirrell, Bath & Wells Multi Academy Trust, The Old Deanery, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2UG.

Closing date:4thOctober 2018

Interview date: 5thOctober 2018

Bath & Wells Multi Academy Trust
Job Title: / Hub Business Manager
Location: / Geographical to cover allocated schools
Salary Range: / SCP 33 - 37 £29,909 - £33,136
Reports To: / Financial Controller
Full/part time / Full Time - Term time only
The Aim of the Multi Academy Trust is to ensure that every school within the Trust provides an outstanding education for every child, rooted in its distinctively Christian ethos.
Mission Statement: John 10:10 ‘That they may have life, life in all its fullness’
The Bath & Wells Multi Academy Trust’s mission is to offer a life-enhancing encounter with the teachings and person of Jesus Christ, an experience that is utterly inclusive and brings love, hope, aspiration and fulfilment to every child.
The work of the Trust at every level will be underpinned by the Christian values of Respect, Kindness, Perseverance, Forgiveness and Love.
Job Purpose
The Hub Business Manager will provide direct support to an allocated number of schools. They will provide advice, guidance and training to individual schools to ensure the smooth operation of the school’s back office functions in relation to Finance and Payroll.
The role will provide first line financial support and challenge to individual schools.
The role will provide the Hub Regional Director of Learning and Achievement with effective financial and operational support when making strategic decisions.
The role will liaise very closely with the Financial Accountant providing summarised financial and benchmarking information to assist in the reporting and analysis of financial and operational performance across the Trust.
It is expected that there will be the need to support Trust wide projects to improve accuracy, effectiveness and efficiency in the processing of financial information.
The role will provide support in the conversion process of newly joining schools.
Main responsibilities and duties
Key Duties
Financial Reporting
  • To provide support to key stakeholders (Finance staff, Headteachers and Local Governing Boards) at each school in financial matters, to ensure that they have a clear picture of the financial position of the school.
  • Supporting the preparation of the school’s budgets and analysing performance against these for review by Hub Regional Director of Learning and Achievement, SLT and Board of Directors on a quarterly basis.
  • Provide challenge to the school’s key stakeholders regarding the school’s financial management and reporting.
  • Review and analysis of Hub financial performance to benchmark and highlight areas for improvement
  • Provide financial assurance to the Financial Controller and COO regarding individual school performance.
  • Ensure monthly routines are undertaken in a timely manner and ensure that the data being presented is accurate and provides the relevant information for effective decision making.
  • Quality assure Census Data
  • Build strong relationships with key stakeholders
Payroll
  • In conjunction with the Central Payroll & Pension officer provide support to each school in payroll processes.
  • Provide training, advice and support in use of systems and processes to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
  • Review internal systems and processes and recommend improvements
  • Collation of budgeted payroll data for benchmarking
  • Ensure MIS data is up to date and accurate
Procurement & Contracts
  • Provide support to each school on ensuring that value for money is obtained.
  • To review and provide analysis across the Hub and Trust on non-staffing expenditure.
  • Ensure contracts database is maintained.
  • Collaborate with the Estates & Facilities manager to ensure premises and health & safety processes are complete
Projects
  • Provide support to new schools to the trust to ensure smooth transition and provide training as and when required
  • Provide support to the central team to devolve information and guidance
  • Provide support on Trust wide projects as requested.
  • Challenge existing systems and processes to promote best practice

Supervision and management
Post holder will be managed by the Financial Controller
Problem solving and creativity
Whilst this role is predominantly focused on Finance the post holder may be required to provide support and challenge on a range of school administration issues and to find solutions to problems requiring innovative and creative solutions.
The post holder will deal with changing and, on occasions, challenging deadlines.
Key contacts and relationships
Chief Operations Officer
Financial Controller
School Administration staff
Headteachers
Regional Director of Learning & Achievement
HR Team
ICT Support providers
Director of Learning & Achievement
Local Governing Boards
Safeguarding Lead
Estates & Facilities Manager
Local Authorities
External Suppliers and contractors
Decision Making
How to deploy their time to support individual schools.
Determine the professional advice, support, challenge, training to provide to administrative functions in Trusts schools to support raised outcomes within the school’s financial constraints.
Resources
A computer and mobile phone will be provided
Working environment
Some work will be undertaken in Wells, most in schools and some could be home-based.
Person Specification: Hub Business Manager
Key Criteria / Essential / Desirable
Qualifications & Experience /
  • Certificate in School Business Management qualification or relevant finance qualification such as AAT
  • Previous responsibility of managing and reporting on organisations finances.
  • Minimum of 3 years extensive practical experience of working in a finance environment including:
  • preparation of detailed budgets and forecasts
  • Yearend procedures
  • producing management accounts and variance analysis
  • challenge and review meetings with budget holders
/
  • Part Qualified accountant (CIMA/ACCA/CCAB or equivalent)
  • Experience of working in a school, academy or education setting

Skills & Abilities /
  • Excellent written and verbal skills.
  • Able to train on a one to one and group basis
  • Good interpersonal skills, ability to communicate to a wide-ranging audience
  • Good organisation, prioritisation and time management skills
  • Ability to use own initiative
  • Good numeracy and literacy skills
  • Attention to detail with an eye for accuracy
  • Good IT skills,
  • Ability to work within a team
/ ●Able to use Microsoft Excel and word (or equivalent) to an intermediate level
●Ability to manipulate data and use pivot tables and lookups to analyse data.

Bath and Wells Multi Academy Trust

Hub Business Manager

Main Terms and Conditions

Hours of Work / 5 days per week, Term Time Only
Core office hours are 9am until 5.15pm Monday to Thursday and from 9am to 5pm on Fridays with a lunch break taken as appropriate. This role may require some flexibility around these hours to meet the schools support needs and other monthly deadlines.
Salary / Salary will between £29,909 - £33,136 per annum pro Rata, with Local Government Pension Scheme
Holiday / 25 days per annum, plus bank holidays.(Pro Rata)
The holiday year runs from 1 January to 31 December.
Location / The work is predominantly school based, with the need to visit Wells on occasion.
Expenses / All reasonable working expenses will be reimbursed at the agreed rates.
Probation / This post will be subject to a probationary period.