Financial Accountant

Partnership Learning is seeking an enthusiastic, committed finance specialist with a strong track record to be a key member of the Central Finance Team and support the further development of the finance operations of the Trust. They will be a qualified (or soon to be qualified) accountant. This is an exceptional opportunity and will provide excellent scope for widening and deepening professional skills and experience.

About Partnership Learning:

Partnership Learning is a growing multi-academy trust which currently has 20 schools - primary, secondary, all-through, special and UTC - serving 14,000 pupils, in Hillingdon, Barking and Dagenham, Southend, Havering and Waltham Forest. The Trust believes in high levels of autonomy remaining at school level, with finance teams within each school carrying out day to day financial activities and processing - overseen and supported by the Central Finance Team as required. The Trust is on a sound financial footing, with annual income of over £135m and with reserves of around £18m. The Central Finance Team currently consists of six staff (Director of Finance, two Financial Accountants, Trainee Accountancy Officer, Finance Officer and Finance Apprentice).

About the Role:

The successful applicant will work closely with the Director of Finance, Central Finance Team and schools to further refine the finance function across the Trust and ensure that it remains on a sound financial footing - in order to support its educational objectives.

The role covers all aspects of finance (including systems, banking/treasury management, budget setting + monitoring and closure of accounts including external audit) and so will provide excellent scope for widening and deepening professional skills and experience.

We are looking for an ambitious, enthusiastic individual with excellent communication skills and experience across a range of financial activities as set out above. Whilst this role would be suitable for an individual with an education finance background and experience in these areas would be welcomed, it would also be appropriate for a flexible individual with different but relevant skill-sets and experience who is capable of adapting their skills to an education environment.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Local government pension scheme
• Car user allowance
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Excellent professional development opportunities
• Supportive and collaborative working environment

Partnership Learning’s Terms and Conditions for central team posts closely follow those for equivalent-level Local Government posts.

The role is on a fixed term due to the need for additional capacity at this current time.

Partnership Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its pupils and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced criminal record check via DBS will be undertaken for the successful candidate. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and a comprehensive screening process, including a disclosure check, will be undertaken on all applicants.