Chief Financial Officer

THE VINES ACADEMY TRUST Chief Financial Officer Recruitment Information CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER THE VINES ACADEMY TRUST 1

Background The Vines Academy Trust is a local group of church schools who have come together through shared values and ethos and a shared ambition to maintain and improve our record of good provision and outcomes. The founder schools in our Trust will be Houghton on the Hill CE Primary, All Saints CE Primary, Wigston, Richard Hill CE Primary School and Hope Hamilton CE Primary School. The Vines aims to ensure an outstanding education for all its children, and to promote the Christian ethos and distinctiveness of its schools. We believe in the importance of the church school at the heart of the local community, with strong links to the parish church. The Vines will work closely with its existing partnerships, including Oadby Learning Partnership, STEP Teaching School Alliance and the Leicester Diocesan Board of Education, sharing resources and common values. We anticipate over time that our trust will grow to include other likeminded schools, including community schools as well as church schools. Core Principles The Vines Academy Trust is committed to the following guiding principles for its work: The learning outcomes and wellbeing of pupils are at the heart of all decisions and actions; The workings of the Trust related to finance, performance and strategy are transparent, efficient and effective; The Trust works as a collaborative partnership, with all its members being givers and receivers of support and professional development; Members, Trustees, governors and employees act and speak with openness, honesty and respect; The Trust is committed to uncompromising challenge of all aspects of its work in all schools; All members of the Trust will be committed to respecting and preserving the unique and distinctive character of each school. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER THE VINES ACADEMY TRUST 2

Job Purpose The Vines Academy Trust is a small primary MAT which will have four schools within it when it launches in June 2018, with an annual turnover around 5m. The core role for CFO is to focus on the financial direction of the MAT, creating, embedding and operating systems that support the running of the Trust and ensuring that all requirements of the Department for Education (DfE) and Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) are met. Working with the Chief Executive Officer and Trust Directors, the post holder will lead on Trust Finance matters: including preparing an annual budget for the Trust Board and managing day to day operational spend. The CFO will work with colleagues in the individual schools to ensure compliance with financial procedures, including the purchasing of services, the preparation and monitoring of individual academy budgets and ensuring that academies comply with their statutory obligations. Beyond that core role the CFO will lead, particularly as the Trust becomes established and grows, on securing greater efficiencies in the way in which the Trust operates; including in a review of procurement and of the contracts in place on conversion; driving savings in Trust operations; and seeking out and applying for additional funding. For these reasons, the focus in making this appointment is on a candidate who has a strong understanding of academy funding; a track record of successfully managing significant budgets; experience of implementing and maintaining sound financial procedures and working with auditors; and experience of identifying and bidding for funding streams. Job Description The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will be responsible for the financial sustainability and development of the Vines Academy Trust. The CFO will provide high quality leadership and management of the Trust s finance and business functions to enable the Trust to run smoothly, efficiently and effectively. The CFO will lead the organisation of good financial management so that public money is safeguarded and is used appropriately, efficiently, economically and effectively. This is a fulltime post, with a salary of 50,000-60,000. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER THE VINES ACADEMY TRUST 3

Key Responsibilties 1. To maintain a secure overview of the management of all financial issues within each of the Trust s schools. 2. To keep the CEO and Trustees up to date with the latest Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) changes and other statutory guidance. 3. To advise the CEO and Trustees on all matters related to financial strategy, on the impact of their decisions on the financial position of the Trust, and to advise on the framework for financial controls. 4. To maintain effective systems of internal control. 5. To review Trust policies, processes and procedures to ensure compliance with external regulations including VAT, PAYE, ESFA, DfE and HMRC. 6. To provide effective financial assistance to the CEO, Trustees and Headteachers on all aspects of financial management within the Trust. 7. To ensure all forms and returns required by the ESFA and Trustees are prepared and submitted in the formats specified by the ESFA/DfE and filed by the relevant deadlines. 8. To write an Annual Report and prepare the consolidated financial statements for auditing by external auditors, and to arrange a timeline and detailed checklist of work to be done in-house and by auditors to ensure statutory audited accounts are file with the ESFA by 31 st December each year. 9. To prepare quarterly, monthly and ad hoc management accounts. 10. To maintain a strategic financial plan including a three-year budget forecast for the Trust. 11. To create and maintain the Risk Register for the Trust. 12. To liaise with external regulators such as the ESFA/DfE, Charity Commission, Companies House and external auditors. 13. To develop checklists for month-end reports and ensure such reports are prepared on a reliable and consistent basis. 14. To develop and maintain the Trust s own Financial Manual and Regulations, setting out the Trust s operational procedures. 15. To assist Headteachers and Business Managers in setting and managing school budgets alongside the Trust s budget. 16. To cooperate with, initiate and manage audit processes. 17. To liaise with the Trust s accountants, appointed auditors and bank management. 18. To attend relevant committee meetings as required to advise on all financial aspects of key decisions. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER THE VINES ACADEMY TRUST 4

19. To support on leading financial and operational risk assessments and assist with implementing financial safeguards. 20. To receive, analyse and interpret financial reports, and communicate these in a simplified format as necessary. 21. To research and advise the CEO and Headteachers of additional funding, procurements benefits, revenue/income opportunities and additional business opportunities. 22. To prepare appropriate bids or tender documents to acquire additional funds or grants. 23. To perform other ad hoc duties and assignments as may be determined by the CEO and Trustees. Specific Areas of Responsibility BUDGETS/BUDGETARY CONTROL Oversee the preparation of an annual draft budget for each academy school for consideration by Trustees before the start of each relevant financial year. Monitor expenditure and report to the CEO regarding income and cash flow against approve budgets and submit reports on each academy s financial position at each meeting of Trustees. Approve virements within the delegated financial limits of academies and the Trust, and report on such approvals to the Trustees. Ensure compliance with PAYE, NI, VAT and other relevant legislation. Procure and oversee an effective internal audit function. Ensure internal reports are shared with the CEO, Headteacher and Finance Trustees/Governors. Implement recommendations for improvement PURCHASING Maintain an overview of all the Trust s schools and provide best value options for key purchases, including joint procurement where possible. Oversee tenders for service contacts and cost effectiveness of these. Provide guidance to staff with financial responsibilities and the CEO over retention of quotes obtained for goods, works, services and other associated documentation. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER THE VINES ACADEMY TRUST 5

PAYROLL & PERSONNEL Develop and evaluate the payroll service. Ensure the monthly payroll is checked, and certified with the Trust s Headteachers. Compare the actual payroll costs each month to budgeted costs and report on this to the CEO and Trustees. DEVELOPMENT Work with Headteachers and staff with financial responsibilities to identify sources of additional funding to support the development of the Trust. GENERIC DUTIES Represent and promote the Trust s values, internally and externally. Act as a champion for change and improvement, constantly enhancing quality. Actively promote the Trust s policies, including Health & Safety, Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities. Undertake duties commensurate with the job level. The post holder with act professionally with colleagues to ensure understanding and awareness of responsibilities of all colleagues and undergo any relevant training. Elements of this job description may be amended following consultation. Terms of Employment All offers of employment are subject to the Trust receiving proof of identify, two satisfactory references, a pre-employment medical check, an enhanced DBS disclosure, a signed Code of Conduct, evidence of qualifications and successful completion of a six-month probation period. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER THE VINES ACADEMY TRUST 6

Working hours are usually 8:00am-5:00pm, with flexibility to allow for the expectation to work outside of normal working hours in order to attend Trustee and other meetings as required. Full year appointment. Applications Applications should be made using the accompanying application form, together with a letter, setting out relevant experience and how the candidate meets the requirements of the post. Please send applications to: Jan Knox, Houghton on the Hill CE Primary School, Main Street, Houghton on the Hill, Leics. LE7 9GD or by email to janknox1@houghton.leics.sch.uk Closing date: Tuesday 8 th May 12:00 noon. Expected starting date as soon after 1 st June 2018 as possible. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER THE VINES ACADEMY TRUST 7