Accounting and Finance Manager

Westfield Academy, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 6NS

23 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  19 September 2025 at 10am

• Date listed

  27 August 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £42,839.00 - £47,181.00 Annually (FTE)

Accounting and Finance Manager job summary

Job description

Job title:	Accounting & Finance Manager
Grade:	Grade: M1 Scale point range: 32-36 Salary Range: £42,839 - £47,181 FTE (25-26 Scales)
Hours / weeks:	Full Time (37 hrs/week & 52 Weeks/year)
Contract type:	Permanent
Reports to:	School Business Manager (SBM)
Responsibility	Up to 2 Finance Assistants

Job purpose

• To be accountable to the School Business Manager (SBM) in running the school’s finance function in accordance with the Academy Trust Handbook (ATH) and school’s financial regulations

• To contribute to the overall ethos, work and aims of the Academy.

Main responsibilitiesFinancial management

Responsible for:

• Accuracy of financial data and the backup of financial records.

• Financial administration such as preparing and placing purchase orders, invoicing, and processing BACS payments.

• Coordinating purchase requirements and negotiable favourable prices with suppliers to obtain best value.

• Reconciliations of the bank, credit card, payroll and balance sheet control accounts.

• Completion of monthly payroll reconciliations and journals.

• Completion of monthly management accounts, budget monitoring reports and cash flow statements with accuracy and an understanding of the underlying narrative.

• Updating the working budget to reflect the current position.

• Leading on year-end financial processes and year-end accounts with the external auditors.

• Manage internal audit visits.

• Providing monthly budget details to budget holders.

• Preparation of statutory returns including VAT and associated returns.

• Maintenance of the fixed asset register, ensuring depreciation is accounted for.

• Maintaining the gifts register in line with current policy.

• Lead on financial queries as required.

• Continually evaluating all finance systems to ensure they are effective and efficient.

• Working with the HR and Admin teams as required to ensure robust management of finances.

Leadership

• Managing and overseeing the finance team, including their workload, leave requests and appraisals.

Other

• To complete the required Safeguarding and Mental Health training.

• To participate in arrangements for further training and development to initiate new ideas.

• Any other activity needed by the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Child Protection Officer.

• To ensure a safe working environment is maintained at all times.

• To be aware of and comply with policies and procedures, relating to child protection, safeguarding, pastoral issues, health and safety, security, confidentiality and data protection - reporting all concerns to the appropriate person.

• It should be noted that the above list of principal duties and responsibilities is not necessarily a complete statement. Alterations and further duties may be necessary and will be subject to consultation. The post hold is expected to accept any reasonable changes to his / her job description.

The duties and responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present. This role will be reviewed annually as part of the performance appraisal process and the post holder is expected to accept any reasonable alterations that may from time to time be necessary.

Westfield Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Children and Young people. To meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Person specification

Attributes	Essential (or expected to train / qualify to that standard)	Desirable
Qualifications & Experience	Qualified Accountant (CIMA/ACCA) A commitment to undertake high level CPD Experience of managing and maintaining accurate financial systems and processes Strong IT skills	Experience of leading teams School experience Experience of working on ACCESS finance system Experience with google docs and sheets
Knowledge, skills & abilities	Ability to build and form good relationships with colleagues and other professionals. Ability to work constructively as part of a team, understanding school roles and responsibilities. Excellent and meticulous organisational skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills appropriate to the need to communicate effectively with colleagues, students, and other professionals. Ability to absorb and understand a wide range of information and work to a high degree of accuracy. Ability to provide and seek relevant advice to problem solve effectively.	Knowledge and understanding of safer recruitment requirements in schools. Knowledge of Education legislation. Working knowledge of relevant policies, procedures, codes of practice, and awareness of relevant legislation such as school governance, Freedom of Information Act. Knowledge of VAT Accounting and preparation of VAT returns.
Personal qualities	Personal Integrity, ability to maintain confidentiality and remain impartial. A flexible approach to working hours. Good interpersonal skills Ability to show initiative and prioritise one’s own work when under pressure. Able to follow direction and work in collaboration with line manager senior leaders. Able to work flexibly to support others and respond to unplanned situations. Desire to enhance and develop skills and knowledge through CPD. Recognition of the importance of personal responsibility for health and safety. Commitment to the highest standards of child protection and safeguarding. Commitment to the Trust’s ethos, aims and its whole community.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Westfield Academy and it's Trust Board fully recognise that they have a duty of care to ensure arrangements are in place for safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children. We recognise that all members of the school community, including volunteers and Trustees, will at all times play a full and active part in protecting our students from harm.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Westfield Academy

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary
• School size: 1335 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Westfield Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/westfield-academy

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Westfield Academy. We are an over-subscribed, high-performing, non-selective Academy. We have been a consistently "Good" OFSTED school since 2012, with our most recent inspection being December 2019. During my time as Headteacher, our students have consistently achieved some of the best exam results in South West Herts.

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