Equal Education Partners

Finance Manager

Equal Education Partners

full-time

Posted on:

Origin:  • 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

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Salary

💰 £36,000 - £44,000 per year

Job Level

Mid-LevelSenior

About the role

  • Own month-end: produce accurate monthly management accounts and divisional P&L; maintain balance-sheet reconciliations.
  • VAT & compliance: prepare quarterly VAT returns and ensure on-time submissions; maintain Companies House/HMRC compliance.
  • Payroll: run weekly and monthly payrolls for internal staff and contingent workers (supply teachers, tutors, mentors); ensure PAYE, pensions and statutory returns are correct.
  • Cash & controls: manage AR/AP, credit control and cash-flow forecasting; maintain strong controls, approval flows and audit trails.
  • Budgets & forecasting: lead annual budgeting and quarterly re-forecasting with division leads; track variances and advise on actions.
  • Systems & process improvement: own Xero, streamline reconciliations, and improve procurement/PO and expense processes.
  • Business partnering: translate numbers into insights; coach budget holders and improve financial literacy across the team.
  • Optional: People/HR duties during maternity cover: manage recruitment paperwork, contracts/variations and employee onboarding; maintain and update policies; support compliance and legal matters; prepare and submit reports to government and procurement bodies; keep HR records accurate; act as first point of contact for complaints; advise managers on core HR processes; contribute to wellbeing, engagement and L&D activities.

Requirements

  • Solid experience in SME finance management (management accounts, VAT, payroll, AR/AP, cash).
  • Confident user of Xero and strong Excel/Sheets skills.
  • Pragmatic, organised and quality-driven; able to own outcomes and meet deadlines.
  • Clear communicator who can explain finance to non-finance colleagues.
  • Alignment with our mission, values and commitment to safeguarding.
  • AAT Level 4 / PQ ACCA/CIMA / QBE in a comparable SME (desirable).
  • Experience with weekly payrolls and/or education/recruitment environments (desirable).
  • Familiarity with HR admin and UK employment basics (for the full-time option) (desirable).
  • Experience as a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or in a similar safeguarding role (advantageous but not essential).
  • Welsh language skills (advantageous but not essential).
  • Right to work in the UK required.
  • Appointment subject to satisfactory references and an Enhanced DBS Check.