Finance Manager

Finance Manager

Location: Hybrid / London
Salary: £40,000 - £42,000
Contract: Permanent, full time

Lead. Influence. Shape the financial future of a values-driven school.

Are you an experienced finance professional ready to take strategic ownership in a school where your expertise will directly influence long-term sustainability and impact?

We are seeking a Finance Manager to provide both operational excellence and strategic financial leadership. Reporting directly to the Principal and working closely with the Senior Leadership Team and Governing Body, this is a pivotal role at the heart of the school’s future success.

What you’ll gain

• A senior leadership position with genuine strategic influence
• Direct exposure to Governors and Trustees
• The opportunity to shape a 3-year financial development plan
• Autonomy to improve systems, controls and financial processes
• A values-driven working environment committed to high standards, integrity and safeguarding
• The chance to lead on income generation, fundraising and grant funding initiatives

What you’ll do

• Responsibility for the financial and payroll management of the school, ensuring robust financial planning, monitoring and compliance with all regulations.
• Prepare and monitor of annual and three-year budgets, provide insightful reporting to Governors, and ensure effective financial controls across all income and expenditure streams.
• Oversight of payroll, pensions, HMRC returns, audits, bank reconciliations and asset management.
• Beyond day-to-day finance, you’ll play a key role in strategic planning — contributing to the School Improvement Plan, advising on fee reviews, supporting grant bids and identifying opportunities for income generation.
• Ensure best value through procurement, contract management and tendering processes, while leading and developing finance staff and acting as a bridge between finance and wider school operations.

What you’ll need

• Degree-level education or equivalent experience
• Significant experience managing finance in a complex environment
• Strong strategic financial planning, monitoring and reporting capability
• Experience leading or supervising staff
• Excellent analytical and communication skills
• Confidence presenting financial information to senior leaders and governors
• High levels of integrity, discretion and professionalism

Experience within a school environment and knowledge of systems such as Sage or school MIS platforms would be advantageous.

About the school

This is a well-established, values-led independent specialist school with a strong ethos centred on care, dignity and personal development. The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and all staff share in this responsibility.

The successful candidate will be expected to uphold the ethos of the school and contribute positively to its culture and community