Regional Finance Director - South London

Reports to: Ark Schools Finance Director

Direct Reports: 3 x Senior Finance Managers and a wider regional finance team (Finance Managers/Officers/Assistants) totaling 16 across 8 schools (as of August 24)

Location: South London region

Contract: Permanent 

Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm).  

Closing date: 16/09/2024 at 10am

1st round interviews (virtual): 26/09/2024 

2nd round interviews (in person): 04/10/2024 

Salary: £75,000 to £85,000 (depending on experience)

About the role:

The Regional Finance Director will provide the overall leadership and management for all aspects of finance to Ark Schools in the South London region. The role will be focused on ensuring processes are embedded across all schools; supporting schools new to the network (or with new staff structures) with transition as well as leading, with regard to finance, on strategic projects within the schools.

Our ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Experience in the implementation of financial processes, planning and reporting
• Extensive experience in successfully managing and motivating a team
• A highly organised and proactive approach to work

Key Responsibilities: 

• To be responsible for all aspects of finance at the academies and developing the in-school finance teams to provide a high-level service to their principals and operations leads
• To be a member of the South London Senior Leadership Team, with responsibility for strategic financial management and financial performance
• To work with Ark Central, and other academies in the Ark network, to develop, implement and embed standardised processes and procedures
• To be responsible directly to the Schools Finance Director for the strategic financial management in all schools in the region
• To control, monitor and evaluate the academies’ finances, ensuring compliance with financial requirements and value for money
• To ensure clear and timely management and financial accounts as required for the Regional Director, Principals, Local Governing Bodies, and Ark Central
• To work with the Operations Leads to negotiate, manage and monitor contracts, tenders and agreements for the provision of services to the Academies, to ensure that services are delivered to a high quality and support the operation of the Academies
• To work with the HR Business Partner to oversee all matters relating to payroll, including Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs queries, National Insurance, benefits in lieu of pay (travel loans etc.), Give as You Earn scheme, and to ensure that appropriate controls are in place and robust checks are made in relation to the monthly payroll
• To be responsible for ensuring the region’s processes for pensions management and reporting are in place. This includes monthly and annual returns as well as audit, working with the HR Business Partner and school HR teams, as applicable
• To develop, enable and strategically lead a team of finance staff to deliver the vision for the region against its strategic priorities and timescales
• To arrange or deliver finance training for staff in South London, maintaining an on-going review of need
• To drive forward change and initiatives which promote regularity, propriety, value for money and best standards

Key Requirements:

• Professional accountancy qualification, including significant post-qualifying experience
• A record of Continuing Professional Development activities
• Right to work in the UK
• Experience of strategic financial planning and supporting decision-making
• Experience of leading and managing budgeting and reporting processes in an organisation
• Extensive experience of managing and motivating staff and monitoring performance against targets
• Knowledge and experience of financial management systems and processes
• Strong financial management skills
• Strong people management skills, with highly developed interpersonal and motivational skills
• Ability to prioritise and manage conflicting demands
• Strong organisational, project management, and planning skill

About Ark

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 30,000 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

You’ll be joining a group of like-minded, ambitious individuals who work collaboratively and are all committed to our core mission, that every child has the potential to succeed. Having just celebrated our 20th anniversary, we are shaping our goals for the next 20 and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year 
• Hybrid working, with a combination of visiting schools and our new state-of-the-art office in West London working alongside network colleagues.  
• Regular social events, monthly free breakfast, and daily free fruit are available when in the central office
• A flexible approach to working with understanding and consideration for work life balance and personal commitments 
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform 
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

How to Apply:

To apply, please send your CV and supporting statement via the link by Monday 16th September.

 For an informal conversation about the role please contact our exclusive recruitment partner, Rosemary Pini of Allen Lane via the agency website.

We will be assessing applications as we go and reserve the right to close the process early. As such we thoroughly recommend an early application.