About the role: Are you an experienced Finance Manager with prior experience of working within a school/academy environment, considering a new professional adventure? Leigh Academies Trust has the opportunity for a qualified and credible finance professional to join our team in this pivotal role. Our successful candidate will join us as soon as possible, offering a comprehensive financial service to the Principals from the off-set. Acting as the budgetary advisor to the Principals on all finance-related issues, you will be responsible for the financial management within the academies, ensuring that it complies with the requirements of the Trust’s financial policies and processes.

This opportunity is ideal for a candidate who is seeking progression and further responsibility in their career, and looking to join a highly successful multi-academy trust.

This role has the responsibility between the following academies;
The Leigh UTC and Inspiration Academy
The Leigh Academy
Dartford Primary Academy

This is a permanent, full time opportunity offering a salary of £38,600 - £49,643 per annum, commensurate with experience. Please be aware that shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on Wednesday 13th December.

Our ideal candidate will:
Have school/academy experience (strongly desirable)
Have experience working with spreadsheets and computerised accounting software
Have experience in budgeting and forecasting

Our successful candidate will work with;
Honesty, integrity, drive and determination
Ability to secure the confidence of the senior and middle management and governors
Initiative and flexibility
Commitment to the aims of the academy and the Trust and to securing best value.

Being part of Leigh Academies Trust: As of 1st September 2022, our Trust comprises 31 geographically organised academies (15 secondaries, 14 primaries and 2 special) educating 20,000 students, and employing 3,000 talented staff. The Trust is establishing four ‘clusters’ of academies: North Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. In addition, the Trust is responsible for one of the region’s biggest initial teaching training organisations, a large teaching school hub and is an accredited apprenticeship provider. Our future plans are found in our Vision 2030 document available on our website.

As part of Leigh Academies Trust, you will have ample opportunity to collaborate with your peers both within the academy and across the whole Trust. This is an important part of our vision as we know through experience that we perform better when we work together. You are supported to undertake regular self-development to continue your professional development and hopefully progress further within the organisation.

Our commitment to safeguarding: Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates - you can read more about this in our Recruitment Guidance. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

Our commitment to equality and diversity: As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role regardless of any protected characteristics which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices and not discriminating on any grounds.