Financial Support

Financial Management

• Strategic guidance, leadership, and management of all the Trusts finances within the scheme of delegation, advising the CEO, Directors and Heads of all financial matters relating to the Trust/schools
• Set and regularly review the Trusts financial regulations
• Deliver annual and medium-term budget plans, periodic forecasts, and funding requirements

• Financial analysis and guidance on all activities, plans and targets
• Ensure that infrastructure serves are of high quality and well led, cost effective and efficient, enabling schools to focus on quality of education.
• Monitoring all budgets and producing regular comprehensive management reports to ensure efficient and effective control of income and expenditure complying with Trust financial regulation and public procurement regulations
• Promote and delivery of sound financial management throughout the organisation, in line with the Academies Trust Handbook, ESFA guidelines and all statutory requirements

Financial Accounting and Reporting

• Production of annual financial statements, prepare audit files and liaise with internal and external auditors
• The production of financial reports to tight deadlines
• Ensure that the Trust/schools remain compliant with VAT requirements, including monitoring the Trust VAT status and ensuring the VAT returns are submitted in line with HMRC guidelines and those of the Trust
• Monitor and update the Trusts fixed asset register, including additions disposals, transfers, and depreciation charges

Treasury

Ensure that the Trust/schools have a robust cash management strategy in place and that regular monitoring and forecasting of cash balances takes place

• Manage the bank and cash management systems, ensure that internal controls are covered
• Ensure all purchase invoices are processed accurately and suppliers are paid in a timely manner
• Ensure all customers are invoiced promptly and outstanding debtor balances are chased

Click here to read Natalie Chapman, our Executive Director of Finance, Estates and Operations' biography