Group Finance Manager, Brighton, Job Description
Reporting to: CEO
Hours per week: Full time (37.5 hours) per week, Monday to Friday between the hours of 08:30 and 17:30 (exact hours to be confirmed).
Job Description
Responsible to the CEO for all duties, the Group Finance Manager will lead the Finance Team and be responsible for all aspects of ELC group accounting and finance. The role primarily consists of all aspects of payroll, credit control, month-end reconciliations, management quarterly accounts and year-end preparation, audit preparation, VAT returns, budgeting, forecasting and cashflow analysis across the group of schools.
1. Day to day tasks
- Ensure bank balances are at suitable levels and keep CEO regularly informed
- Daily monitoring of payments/receipts in all bank accounts
- Monitor and ensure correct controls and procedures are undertaken across the schools
- Monitor currency exchange rate fluctuations and arrange transfers of EUR/USD funds into Sterling when necessary
- Monitor ETO debtors and inform CEO as appropriate
- Monitor arrivals and leavers to ensure all balances are settled prior to arrival or departure
- Advise CEO on a regular basis of outstanding debts
- Accommodation host family payments
- Monitor and organise return of ETO overpayments and commission
- Manage and lead a small Finance Team
- Assist admin teams with student finance and payment queries
2. Payroll & HR
- Administer payroll across the three schools
- Collating payroll information, checking correct payroll documents have been received from new employees
- Obtaining approval for payroll from CEO
- Keeping accurate records of FTC contract holidays
- HMRC PAYE & NI payments and reconciliations
- Pension schemes’ administration, reporting, payments and reconciliations, dealing with any queries from Pension providers and staff
- Complete all Xero postings and journals
- Assist with administration of Breathe HR with holidays, absences, new starter and leavers documents and information
3. Month-end reconciliations
- Ensure month-end and bank reconciliations completed by Senior Accounts Administrator are complete and accurate
- Responsible for discrepancies and correcting any potential errors found
4. Management quarterly accounts and year-end procedures
- Prepare quarterly management accounts for all schools, including analysis work
- Record and post any prepayments and accruals and prepare nominal schedules of accounts
- Forecast annual and quarterly accounts with comparisons to budget for CEO and the Board of Trustees
- Prepare finance memo for the Board of Trustees
- Analyse and forecast cashflows
- Liaise with and assist auditors after year-end
- Companies House annual return and notification of changes in directors
- Charity Commission annual return and notification of changes in directors
- Revaluation of multi-currency bank accounts each quarter
- Complete schedule for VAT returns, file them, and make payments on time to HMRC
5. Other duties
- Prepare financial and non-financial reports for CEO
- Visit schools to oversee procedures, check petty cash float and social cash takings
- Complete regular ONS surveys
- Manage Bus Savers stock control & purchasing
- Maintain company PCI DSS policy, ensuring compliance, monitoring changes, and delivering training annually to relevant staff
- Oversee and negotiate utility contracts for all schools, ensuring correct tariffs are being charged
- Collate and declare all student and group booking insurance to external insurance company
- Cover for Senior Accounts Administrator during any absence
- Any other duties as required by the CEO
Qualities/Skills
Essential
- Chartered Accountant (CIMA, ACCA, ACA or equivalent)
- Knowledge of Xero accounting software
- Significant experience of preparing payroll
- Significant experience of purchase ledger, sales ledger and bank reconciliation
- Significant experience of preparing management accounts
- Significant experience of cash collection systems and internal controls
- Experience of multi-currency transactions
- Excellent accuracy and efficient data entry
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
- Excellent external and internal customer service and communication skills
- Very good standard of written and spoken English
- Excellent knowledge of basic Microsoft packages (Word, Excel)
- Adaptable with the ability to multi-task
Desirable
- Knowledge of Breathe HR
- Experience of effective communication with overseas customers
- Experience of Class by Infospeed
- Awareness and understanding of a variety of cultural backgrounds
- Proficient in managing international business correspondence
Under 18’s and Vulnerable Adults
Appointments are subject to the current legislation covering vetting arrangements for adults. You are required to comply with the company’s relevant procedure.
Company policies can be found here: https://www.elc-schools.com/policies
ELC Ethos
Our aim is to provide excellent teaching and services in a caring and friendly environment so that every student can derive the maximum benefit from their stay. For more information about ELC, the charity, mission, goals and values see www.elc-schools.com/about/elc-mission
Pay: £50,000.00-£55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- How many years post qualification experience do you have?
- Which accounting bodies are you a member of?
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
