Finance Manager

Balcarras School, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 8QF

11 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  7 August 2025

• Closing date

  7 July 2025 at 9am

• Date listed

  25 June 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time: 25 hours per week, all year round. It is anticipated this will be five hours per day over five days per week, however hours could potentially be flexibly distributed across a working week. A minimum of 2-3 days per week in the office at Cheltenham Bournside and remote working from home, as agreed.
• Contract type: Permanent
• Actual salary: £24,408.11

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are looking for a AAT or CIMA qualified Finance Manager to oversee and manage all financial systems and operations for Gloucestershire Association of Secondary School Leaders and GASSL Ltd, including the Teach Glos programme and GITEP SCITT.

• Good standard of general education
• GCSE English and Mathematics (Grade C or above) or their equivalent
• Finance management training or qualifications
• AAT or CIMA qualified
• Minimum of 2-3 years’ experience of financial procedures and processes, including forecasting, budgeting and monitoring.
• Internal and external audits
• Working knowledge of an accountancy IT system
• Project costing and budgeting
• Use of Microsoft Office applications, in particular Word and Excel

• Strong accounting skills up to P and L and TB
• Strong organisational skills
• Good numeracy skills and an eye for accuracy
• Good standard of written and oral communication
• Ability to prioritise and work under pressure to meet tight deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• A professional approach to work
• Thorough understanding of financial compliance and governance requirements

• Accurate and methodical in approach to work
• Proactive approach to challenges
• Adaptable, flexible and approachable
• A team player with a capacity for hard work and a willingness to go the extra mile
• Self-motivator who takes pride in their work

What the school offers its staff

What is it like working with GITEP?

GITEP is a school centred initial teacher training provider (SCITT). GITEP is a very successful programme, judged Outstanding by Ofsted in 2023 and rated among the top secondary teacher training providers in the country. GITEP SCITT recruits and trains around 80 new teachers each year with the intention they will go on and work in one of our 30+ partner schools in Gloucestershire. GITEP SCITT works in partnership with the University of Bristol, which accredits the Postgraduate Certificate in Education.

The Balcarras Trust is responsible for GITEP, but GITEP is run by the Gloucestershire Association of Secondary School Leaders and GASSL Limited. All GASSL Ltd staff work for schools. All members of the GITEP staff who are not currently serving teachers are employed by The Balcarras Trust, ensuring consistency of terms and conditions and access to the local government pension scheme.

GITEP SCITT is based at Cheltenham Bournside School. We have our own space within, but separate to, the main school. The space includes an area for meetings and training, and two small offices. There are currently six people based here but it is rare that everyone is there at the same time due to part-time and flexible working arrangements, and the fact that the course leaders spend a lot of time out and about in schools.

GITEP staff enjoy working as part of a team and value building relationships with all our partners, stakeholders, and trainees. It is vital to us to be seen as efficient and professional but also friendly and approachable. We also value flexibility and a willingness to pitch in and help with any tasks which need doing, especially when other members of the team are particularly busy.

Further details about the role

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.Financial Management & Reporting

• Lead the annual budgeting process in collaboration with programme leads and senior staff.
• Monitor income and expenditure, provide variance analysis, and deliver clear financial reports

to management and trustees.

• Financial Reporting: Prepare comprehensive financial reports for trustees and management committees, including

monthly management accounts, cash flow forecasts, and variance reports. Ensure reports are accurate, timely,

and clearly presented to non-financial stakeholders.

• Oversee sales invoicing and purchase orders, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Manage all period- and year-end procedures, including statutory returns to the DfE, Companies House

and Charity Commission.

• Maintain and operate the SAGE accounting system, ensuring data accuracy and providing user support.

2.Financial Operations

• Oversee bank reconciliation and day-to-day cash flow management.
• Process payments for suppliers, trainees, and bursaries in a timely and accurate manner.
• Manage fee collection and standing orders, ensuring prompt resolution of payment issues.
• Act as the key contact for trainee finance matters and liaise with bodies such as the Student Loans Company and DfE to process trainee data accurately.
• Respond to supplier and finance-related queries efficiently and professionally.

3. Programme Support & Liaison

• Work closely with programme teams to support financial planning and monitoring for training programmes (e.g., ITT, QTS AO, SKE, SBM).
• Provide financial advice to programme leads and support their budget management.
• Governance Participation: Attend and contribute to meetings of the GASSL Ltd trustees and GITEP SCITT.
• Management Committee, presenting financial updates, responding to queries, and supporting strategic financial

planning.

4. Compliance, Policy & Contracts

• Ensure financial activities meet legal, regulatory, and internal policy requirements including accounting standards, charity law, and company law.
• Develop and review finance policies and procedures, keeping them aligned with best practice.
• Manage contracts and relationships with financial service providers and key suppliers, monitoring performance and negotiating terms when required.
• Identify and mitigate financial risks through robust internal controls and regular review processes.

5. Leadership & Team Management

• Line manage the Finance Officer and finance admin staff, providing clear guidance, feedback, and development opportunities.
• Promote an organised, professional, and collaborative working environment.
• Ensure Health & Safety and GDPR compliance within the finance team.

General Responsibilities

• Flexibility: Adapt working hours and priorities as necessary to meet business demands, including occasional extended hours or workload reprioritisation.
• Professional Development: Participate actively in personal and professional development activities, including line
• management meetings, team meetings, training sessions, and annual appraisals.
• Data Protection: Maintain strict confidentiality and ensure compliance with GDPR in handling financial and personal data.
• Policy Compliance: Adhere to all organisationalpolicies and procedures, including Health and Safety, Equality, and Diversity

* The postholder’s duties may vary from time to time according to the needs of the business and stakeholders. Such variations do notnecessarily justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.

Commitment to safeguarding

Balcarras School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This role will involve regulated activity with children. We particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. Please also read the Recruitment Selection and Disclosure Policy within “How to apply” which includes our policy on recruiting ex-offenders. All posts are subject to an enhanced DBS check and receipt of two satisfactory references.

Applying for the job

Please download the application form using the link below, and once completed send to ksa@balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk

CVs are not accepted.

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.

Upload additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

Applicant Pack Jan Finance Manager.pdf - 1.89 MB (opens in new tab)

About Balcarras School

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary
• School size: 1422 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Balcarras School website
• Email address: ksa@balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk
• Phone number: 01242 515881
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/balcarras-school

Balcarras School is an outstanding secondary school on the outskirts of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

School location

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