Job Title

MAT Finance Manager

Reports to

Chief Finance Officer

Grade

Grade 10: £35,500 - £40,710

(pro-rata salary: £21,108 - £24,206)

Additional Information

This post is for 22 hours per week, full year, though

there may be flexibility for this to be on a Term Time

+ basis. There is the potential to combine this role

with the ‘School Business Manager (Secondary)’

vacancy to be a Full Time (37 hours) role. Please

state in your application if you would be

interested in the combined role.

This is a central role within Pathfinder MAT (i.e. it is

not linked to one specific school but will be based at

Archbishop Holgate’s School).

www.pathfindermat.co.uk

MAT Finance Manager

Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust - York

Closing date: Thursday 11 July 2019 at midday

Interview date: Thursday 18 July 2019

Providing an excellent education from age 2 to 19

We are looking to appoint a Finance Manager to lead

the MAT’s central finance function. The postholder will

be responsible for managing the organisations financial

systems, including payroll, and ensure the effective

provision of financial management across the Trust;

managing a small central finance team.

Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust is an equal

opportunities employer, committed to safeguarding

and promoting the welfare of children. Enhanced DBS

check required.

Completed application forms should be posted or

emailed to:

Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust

Archbishop Holgate’s School

Hull Road, York YO10 5ZA

info@pmat.academy

Partner Schools in Pathfinder

www.pathfindermat.co.uk

Badger Hill is a close knit community with a focus on

teaching pupils to have sound core values with an

emphasis on respect for others, mutual understanding

and the celebration of diversity. Children have a firm

foundation to be the best they can in the future.

Staff and children learn together in a calm and creative

environment that focuses on the development of basic

skills. Children learn to work with confidence and

independence in open plan learning areas that offer

creative and flexible approaches to teaching.

Hempland’s creative approach to make learning

engaging, purposeful and irresistible aims to bring out

the best in all children. Underpinned by an ethos of

Care, Growth and Success, Hempland is an outstanding

place for children to learn, grow and flourish.

Heworth is a thriving Church school whose core aim

is to ‘help each child to flourish’. Through Christian

values of Forgiveness, Trust, Compassion and

Endurance, we aim to provide a rich learning

experience for all pupils to succeed.

New Earswick’s aim of nurturing a love of learning

balanced with the basic skills to succeed in life are

supported by the school’s vision and values; we want

all our pupils to have the best, to do their best and to

be the best that they can be.

St Lawrence’s has a desire for all children to feel they

can achieve anything with the support and guidance

of their teachers and through the Christian values of

Caring, Considerate and Courageous. The school

works to ensure that all children reach their full

potential.

Archbishop Holgate’s School is a flourishing 11 to 18

Church school with outstanding exam results, high

quality teaching and learning and an inspiring

curriculum all of which are underpinned by the school’s

Christian values of Justice, Compassion, Forgiveness

and Trust.

A combination of traditional values and innovative and

creative educational practice, Tang Hall is a vibrant

and inclusive school with a determination to provide

the best education possible for the children of Tang

Hall and neighbouring areas.

Acomb Primary School is a place where everyone aims

high, achievements are celebrated and everyone is

valued. Through the opportunities it provides, the

school aims to develop children as independent

learners and effective communicators.

Rufforth Primary School is a warm and relaxed

environment in which children can thrive in every way,

becoming independent and confident learners. We

have high expectations of our pupils and, because

they feel safe and valued within a family atmosphere,

they are able to meet and exceed those expectations.

Collaborate

As a family of schools, we work collaboratively

to celebrate and nurture both the similarities

and distinctiveness of each school’s individual

ethos and values.

Celebrate

We celebrate the uniqueness of all pupils, and

through outstanding pastoral care, academic

challenge and inspirational teaching we support

each child to flourish and succeed.

Develop

We develop outstanding leadership at all

levels that delivers maximum achievement

whilst supporting and developing the vision

and values that underpin all we do.

Thrive

We generate positive and challenging

learning environments which allow staff

to grow and thrive through excellent

professional development.

Nurture

We nurture an ethos in which children learn

by example and grow spiritually, morally and

socially to understand the uniqueness and

diversity of communities, faiths and cultures -

locally, nationally and internationally.

Community Partnering with the Church of England,

other schools, educational institutions and

the Pathfinder Teaching School to ensure

we provide an outstanding education from

pre-school to post 16.

Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust

www.pathfindermat.co.uk

We are an inclusive partnership of church and community schools underpinned by

a shared vision, common values and a commitment to providing an outstanding

and holistic education to all the young people we serve.

Your present

circumstances

don’t determine

where you can

go; they merely

determine where

you start.”

“

Main purpose of this role

The MAT Finance Manager will lead the MAT’s central finance function, being responsible for managing the

organisations financial systems, including payroll. They will advise on and ensure effective provision of financial

management across the Trust; managing a small central finance team.

Core responsibilities, tasks and duties

Manage the MAT’s finances and financial systems, including administration access to the ledgers; and

posting transactions to the finance system, ensuring appropriate reconciliations are completed and

undertaking close down procedures monthly and annually.

Work with the MAT Payroll Officer to manage the MAT’s in-house payroll process.

Liaise with both Internal and External auditors regarding the accounts and other financial returns.

Taking the lead on statutory reporting and returns, including the consolidated MAT statutory accounts,

budgetary and financial returns to ESFA, VAT and other returns to HMRC, and any pension or other returns

that are necessary from time to time.

Managing Trust cash flow and bank account.

Develop data and finance systems across the Trust, as required to meet business need.

Assist in the preparation of monthly management accounts for the Trust, including monthly reports for the

Trustee Board meetings as appropriate.

In conjunction with the CFO, manage and co-ordinate the annual statutory accounts exercise for the Trust

and supporting information for audit.

Ensuring compliance with the Academies Financial Handbook and public sector procurement rules.

Liaison with suppliers and contractors on service performance and finance issues.

Supporting the development of Trust-wide finance-related policies, and supporting schools to develop

local policies and to ensure compliance.

Supporting the growth of the multi academy trust, including development of governance and financial

management.

Line management of the centralised finance team, including training and appraisal.

Building a relationship with each ‘School Business Manager’, and working with their headteachers and the

CFO/COO to hold them accountable for delivery within their agreed budgets.

Be responsible for line-managing support staff, including carrying out long-term resource planning and

managing recruitment, appraisal and professional development.

Please note that this list of duties is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not

a comprehensive list of all tasks that the Finance Manager will carry out. The postholder may be required to do

other duties appropriate to the level of the role, as directed by the headteacher.

Supervision/management of people

Setting work/line managing all members of the finance team

No. Reporting - Direct: Usually 4 staff

Job Description

www.pathfindermat.co.uk

Creativity and innovation

Subject to minimal supervision, established procedures, practices and routines, where these exist.

Will be required to deal with complex problems on a daily basis.

Will be required to use initiative and interpret legal guidelines.

The postholder uses initiative in proposing changes to working practices and/or processes for own and

departments work

Continually assessing work improving systems as necessary.

Publicise and market the school through the media and internet, build business partnerships.

Ability to give advice and seek information from pupils/parents.

Oversee the production of all school publicity/marketing publications.

Contacts and relationships

Providing advice to the CFO/COO/Executive Head on a regular basis to give and receive information and

on ways to deal with unresolved issues.

A confident, calm and firm manner may be required.

All staff, pupils, parents, and Governors.

Contact with External and Internal Audit, Bank, suppliers, other agencies and system suppliers.

Decisions – discretion and consequences

Management/prioritisation of own workload and of that of all support staff in line with schools strategic

aims, delegating work as appropriate.

Responsibility for the recruitment and selection of own staff team.

Negotiation, problem solving, giving advice and seeking information.

Working without close supervision and dealing with issues which will not be subject to established

procedures, practices and routines.

Use judgement to design, develop and implement modification/variations to processes and working

arrangements, to improve the quality of the work of the team.

Uses discretion when responding to enquiries so as not to commit any breaches of confidentiality.

The role the jobholder undertakes can have a significant effect on the staff morale and efficiency of the

operation of the department and the service it provides.

Resources

Normal office equipment

Responsible for the accurate handling and security of larger sums of cash and cheques or financial

resources e.g. petty cash.

Work environment

Required to work to strict deadlines by both internal and external.

This role is largely office bound but sometimes involves moving around the Trust.

www.pathfindermat.co.uk

Knowledge and skills

A relevant business or accountancy qualification (preferably CCAB qualified or part-qualified).

High level of numeracy and literacy.

Expert knowledge of financial management.

A good understanding of Payroll processing.

Strong ICT skills, including Microsoft Excel and computerised accounting/finance systems.

The ability to lead and develop a team of staff, managing their own and others workload efficiently and in a

busy environment.

Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

Ability to communicate a vision and inspire others.

Ability to build effective working relationships with staff and other stakeholders.

Successful leadership and management experience in a school, or in a relevant field outside education.

Line management experience.

Contributing to staff development.

Ability to prioritise own work and that of others in line with schools strategic aims.

Requires skills for planning, development and monitoring of support services.

A pro-active record of CPD.

www.pathfindermat.co.uk

Employee Assistance Programme

Making sure everyone

in Pathfinder Multi

Academy Trust team

gets the support they

need whatever their

worries, at home or at

work. The 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance

Programme offers specialist counselling and

information meaning everyone has support at any time.

What does it provide?

The Employee Assistance Programme is available 24

hour a day, 365 days a year, is completely confidential

and provides support by telephone or online from

specialist call handlers and counsellors who understand

the demands of working in education. It provides:

Emotional support and counselling

Specialist information on work-life balance

Financial and legal information

Management consultation to support those

responsible for managing others

Up to six sessions of face-to-face or telephone

counselling

Access to online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

(CBT)

Information on local services such as elder care

and childcare

The Education Support Partnership experts assess each

call individually and decide what the best course of

action for each caller is, whether that be counselling,

online CBT or signposting to additional services.

Education Support Partnership Grants

A confidential grants service to help you manage your

financial and money worries to get you back on track

when you are struggling. If you are working in or

retired from the education sector and are suffering

financial problems caused by unemployment, ill

health, sudden life events, bereavement or a personal

injury the Education Support Partnership may be able

to help you.

Pension Scheme

As an employee of Pathfinder MAT you are offered

membership of either the Teachers’ Pension Scheme;

or for support staff, the Local Government Pension

Scheme. As well as employee’s paying contributions

into the scheme (banded, based on earnings level)

Pathfinder MAT also pays into the scheme on your

behalf at the following rates (regardless of earnings):

Support Staff Pension Scheme

LGPS – Pathfinder MAT contributes

an additional 19.9% of your salary.

Teachers’ Pension Scheme

Pathfinder MAT contributes an

additional 16.48% of your salary.

For more information please visit:

www.teacherspensions.co.uk www.nypf.org.uk

Cycle to Work Scheme

For staff who wish to purchase a bike for the purpose

of travelling to work this can be done via Cyclescheme.

You purchase the bike you want via the scheme and

Pathfinder MAT pays the initial cost upfront and then

you pay for it directly from your salary on a monthly

basis (12 months is the usual duration). The deductions

for the cyclescheme are taken from your gross pay each

month so your taxable pay is lower than it otherwise

would be.

For more information visit www.cyclescheme.co.uk

Continuing Professional

Development (CPD)

Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust is committed to the

Professional Development of all staff and we have a

bespoke Career Pathways Programme to ensure that

we recruit, develop and retain the very best colleagues.

Benefits of working at Pathfinder

www.pathfindermat.co.uk