Job Description

Cranford School

invites applications for the role of

Finance Manager

.
The successful applicant will support the Director of Finance and Operations (D.F.O.) in the management of the school's finances on an operational level. This is a key role in the school's support team. The post holder is responsible for ensuring all financial processes are completed on a timely basis and leads the finance team (currently 2 finance officers and 1 finance assistant) to ensure the quality and effectiveness of tasks. The postholder shall also work closely with the D.F.O. and assist with production of ad hoc reports when required.

The successful applicant will join a friendly, supportive, and ambitious team, both within the department and across the school. They will be wholly committed to the aims, ethos and values of Cranford School.

Cranford School is just 5 miles from the historic market town of Wallingford, less than thirty minutes from the picturesque town of Henley-upon-Thames and within a short commuting distance from Oxford and Reading.

Further Information

Please visit our website https://www.cranfordschool.co.uk/information/career-vacancies for further information including an Application Pack and Application Form

For more information, to discuss the role, or any aspect of working at Cranford School, please contact Human Resources on 01491 651218.

Application

To apply for this role, please email a completed Application Form to recruitment@cranfordschool.co.uk or post to HR Department, Cranford School, Moulsford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 9HT. Cranford School will only accept copies of a curriculum vitae alongside a fully completed application form. A curriculum vitae on its own will not be accepted.

Cranford School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Successful applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post applied for, including, but not limited to, checks with current and past employers and an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Candidates must complete an application form which can be found on https://www.cranfordschool.co.uk/information/career-vacancies

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Income

Oversee the production of termly invoices for school fees and the collection of fee income. Work closely with the finance officer to ensure fees are collected on time, following agreed protocols for escalating late payment to the D.F.O. Liaise with debt collection agencies . Ensure that other streams of income are invoiced and collected on a timely basis. Oversee the Fees in Advance scheme.

Expenditure

Oversee the entering of purchase invoices and the creation of payment batches. Act as budget holder for some operational areas of the school. E.g. Utilities. Approve payment batches.

Cash and Bank

Oversee the school's bank accounts, ensuring that sufficient funds are maintained in the daily bank account. Produce and update monthly, annually and 5-yearly cash flow forecasts. Oversee the timely banking of petty cash and other deposits Assist the D.F.O. in making informed decisions regarding changing current banking and cash collection arrangements.

Management Accounts

Produce monthly management accounts to be shared with the governing body. Discuss any significant variances with the D.F.O. and investigate causes. Review management accounts for trends and upcoming expenditure, flagging areas of the concern to the D.F.O.

Payroll

Review the monthly payroll (currently produced by 1 finance officer) and ensure accuracy. Oversee all payroll-related submissions e.g. pensions, HMRC, salary sacrifice. Oversee the monitoring of the payroll budget. Complete all payroll tasks if required, in the finance officer's absence e.g. holiday

VAT

Produce the quarterly VAT returns (currently supported by external VAT advisor) Produce required records relating to the Capital Goods Scheme. Support the finance officers in judgements regarding VAT treatment of purchases and income streams. Be responsible for keeping up to date with any changes to the VAT regulations or reporting processes, updating the D.F.O. on any such changes and the implications for the school. Be responsible for updating the school's internal VAT Guide when required. Be the lead contact with HMRC.

Bursaries and Fee discounts

Be the lead contact with Bursary Administration Ltd, the school's external bursary assessor. Be responsible for the overall bursary process, ensuring that annual applications are submitted to the governing body and outcomes reported to families in line with agreed time scales. Produce reports to the governor's Scholarships and Bursaries Committee. Oversee the application of bursaries and other fee discounts, ensuring these are applied correctly to fee bills. Work confidentially with families, processing requests for hardship (mid-year) bursaries and updating D.F.O. on these requests. Communicate the outcome of these applications to the families.

Audit

Be the lead contact with the school's external auditors. Ensure that all working papers for year-end accounts are produced accurately and timely. Work closely with the auditors to ensure that draft statutory accounts are produced in line with timescales agreed with the D.F.O. Respond to auditors' questions and requests for further information.

Annual Budget setting

Work closely with the D.F.O. to produce draft budgets for presentation to the governing body. Produce supporting evidence and reports.

Line management of staff

Manage member of the finance team (currently two finance officers and one finance assistant). Carry out day to day HR tasks such as approving annual leave requests and appraisals. Act as a mentor for members of the team. Ensure all members of the team attend required training and encourage CPD.

MARKETING & EXTERNAL LINKS:

Communicating and co-operating with persons or bodies outside the school (as necessary).

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT OF SELF & OTHERS:

In liaison with line manager, setting personal targets and take responsibility for own continuous professional development.

Liaising and sharing best practice with colleagues both in the department and the wider school.

Attending INSET.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS - ALL SCHOOL STAFF ARE EXPECTED TO:

Work towards and support the school vision and the current school objectives outlined in the School Development Plan.

Contribute to the school's programme of extra-curricular activities.

Support the whole school traditions and values of the school.

Support and contribute to the school's responsibility for safeguarding students.

Work within the school's H&S and First Aid policies to ensure a safe working environment for staff, students and visitors.

Work within the school's Diversity Policy to promote equality of opportunity for all students and staff, both current and prospective.

Maintain high professional standards of attendance, punctuality, appearance, conduct and positive, courteous relations with students, parents and colleagues.

Engage actively in the annual performance review process.

Adhere to policies as set out in the Staff Handbook.

Undertake other reasonable duties related to the role (e.g., break/lunch/after school duties).

REVIEW & AMDENDMENT:

This job description should be seen as enabling rather than restrictive and will be subject to regular review.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 50,000.00-55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension On-site parking
Application question(s):

Do you have an ACCA qualification or equivalent e.g. CiPFA
Education:

Diploma of Higher Education (preferred)
Experience:

working in a Qualified Accountant role: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 10/12/2025