Financial Controller
E Act, Kettering, NN15 7HP34 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 January 2026
Closing date
9 November 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
6 October 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
- £70,975.00 - £76,278.00 Annually (Actual) Salary information given by Julie circa £75,000. Scale point 55-58 (£70,975 - £76,278)
Financial Controller job summary
Financial Controller
Join E-ACT as a Financial Controller and play a pivotal role in ensuring robust financial management across the Trust. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, you will lead central finance and payroll teams, oversee financial systems, and deliver high-quality financial reporting to senior leaders. You’ll drive operational efficiency, support strategic planning, and ensure compliance with financial regulations. This is a full-time, permanent role ideal for a finance professional who thrives on leadership, continuous improvement, and making a positive impact in education.
Key Responsibilities:
- Oversee all financial management and reporting for the Trust, ensuring compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook and relevant regulations.
- Prepare financial reports for the CFO, CEO, Board of Trustees, and committees.
- Lead and develop the central finance and payroll teams, nurturing talent and ensuring high performance.
- Manage management accounts, and statutory annual accounts production.
- Lead internal and external audits, and ensure robust financial controls are in place.
- Provide financial guidance to senior leaders and support business planning across the Trust.
- Oversee and optimise financial systems, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of the Trust.
- Ensure compliance with VAT, HMRC, and pension scheme requirements.
- Manage procurement processes and contracts with external suppliers.
- Contribute to the development of financial literacy across the Trust by producing guidance materials and delivering training.
Qualification Requirements:
- A recognised accountancy qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA).
- Experience in financial management, reporting, and leading finance teams
- Excellent knowledge of UK financial regulations, including the Academy Trust Handbook and Charity Commission requirements
- Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
- Commitment to safeguarding, equality, and continuous professional development.
About the Trust:
At E-ACT, we believe every child deserves opportunity. Our ‘Opening Minds, Opening Doors’ strategy breaks down barriers and builds pathways to success; driven by purposeful leadership, collaboration, and innovation. We champion diversity, encourage a people-first culture, and ensure every voice is heard.
We are proud to lead system-wide change both locally and national - providing sector-wide support while transforming futures. Fresh off winning MAT of the Year 2023 at the MAT Excellence Awards and National School Awards and also the TES Trust leadership Award 2024, E-ACT is recognised for shaping bold educational outcomes.
With 38 academies and over 25,000 pupils, our dedicated staff make excellence possible. We prioritise wellbeing, tackle workload, and continuously raise the bar. We don’t just educate, we inspire ambition and empower every child to thrive.
Benefits:
Financial and Lifestyle - We offer a strong financial package including access to defined benefit pension schemes (LGPS or TPS), life cover at three times pensionable pay, and 31 days of annual leave for year-round employees. Staff can also benefit from the Cycle to Work scheme, promoting healthy and sustainable commuting.
Professional Growth and Development - We invest heavily in staff development through tailored INSET days and high-quality CPD opportunities. Teaching staff benefit from automatic TLR progression, a structured 9-point pay scale (M1 to UPS3), and full TLR payments for part-time colleagues fulfilling full responsibilities.
Culture and Wellbeing - Our people-first culture values every colleague. We support wellbeing through the Wisdom app and a free Employee Assistance Programme offering counselling and financial advice. Collaboration is at the heart of our Trust, encouraging shared learning and collective success.
This role will be based 3 days in the Kettering office and 2 days working remotely.
If you are interested in having a conversation to find out more please contact Sian John on sian.john@e-act.org.uk
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About E Act
- Type
- Multi-academy trust
- Website
- E Act website
Head office location
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