Finance Manager/Management Accountant

Finance Manager/Management Accountant

Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours, full year, permanent contract. Flexible working considered.
Salary: DCSF Scale Point X50 – X62, £35,351 – £42,193 FTE

Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation comprises of two prestigious schools which date back to the early 1400s: Chorister School and Durham School.

Situated in the historic city of Durham, our schools have a rich tradition of academic excellence and holistic education, rooted in the values of community, heritage, and innovation.

We provide a nurturing environment where students thrive academically, socially, and personally, preparing them for successful futures.

We are looking to appoint a hands-on Finance Manager. This is an exciting opportunity for the right person to get involved in a wide range of financial matters, from daily oversight of the fees ledger, to budget setting and producing management accounts.

The post holder will manage, and work as part of the Finance team, to provide customer focused, timely and accurate financial information to budget holders and senior leadership, as well as Governors.

Management Accounts

• The preparation of monthly management accounts is a key part of this role. This will cover all companies and funds, including profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, consolidations, detailed cashflow forecasts and commentary
• Preparation of specific debtors information to support the management accounts pack

Annual Financial Statements

• Preparation of the Annual Financial Statements of all companies and funds
• Responsibility for liaising with Auditors, including ensuring that financial records are compliant, responding to queries and preparing supporting papers
• Submission of Annual Financial Statements to the Charities Commission and Companies House

Budget holder support

• Respond to budget holder queries, including issuing budget request forms and providing monthly expenditure updates
• In conjunction with the Finance team provide specific support for trips and visits, including creation of cost centre codes and monitoring of income
• Support in relation to tendering / procurement

Fees

• Management of the fees ledger, including oversight of the production of fee invoices, collating and charging of extras, as well as establishing and processing direct debit arrangements
• Liaison with parents regarding queries

Other income

• Oversight of the production of invoices
• Oversight of funding claims for EYFS funding

Debtors

• In conjunction with the Operations Manager and Credit Controller, oversee/action the follow up of all outstanding debtor accounts within the framework and timescales agreed by governors
• Liaise with external debt collection agencies regarding debtor balances referred for action
• Review the need for debtor balances to be provided for through the bad debt provision in conjunction with the Operations Manager

Cash Management

• Reconciliations of the fees and general bank accounts
• Oversight of banking, reconciliation of credit card statements, petty cash, cheque and BACS payments

General ledger

• Oversight of monthly recharge journals
• Preparation and posting of ad hoc journals as appropriate
• Monthly reconciliations of all balance sheet accounts

Management of staff

• Management of the Finance team to ensure that a customer focused, timely and accurate service is provided to staff, parents and others at all times

Person specification

• CIMA or ACCA qualified or equivalent. AAT qualification will also be considered
• Experience of working within a financial/accounting field
• Experience with accounting software packages and databases. Ability to use school systems, such as iSAMS and iFinance would be an advantage
• Have exceptional people skills, including excellent customer service and communication skills
• Be well organised and efficient
• Have the ability to work well under own direction and as part of a team

Please apply using the non-teaching application form from our website: https://www.dcsf.org.uk/about-dcsf/work-at-dcsf

Completed applications should be returned directly by email to hr@dcsf.org.uk

Closing Date: Friday 4^th April 2025, at noon.