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Head of Finance (Chief Finance Officer) Cumbria Education Trust
Recruitment Pack
Be the best you can beRESPECT. RESPONSIBILITY.
RESILIENCE
www.cumbriaeducationtrust.org
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Welcome to Cumbria Education Trust 3
Supporting our students and staff 4
The role 5
Main responsibilities 7
Who and what we are looking for 9
Living and working in Cumbria 11
Application and interview process 12
CONTENTS
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OUR VISIONTo enable every young person to reach their potential and achieve the success they deserve by providing an innovative and inspiring learning experience.
OUR VALUESAt the heart of our organisation are the principles of:
• Respect• Responsibility• Resilience
WELCOME TO CUMBRIA EDUCATION TRUST
YANWATHPrimary School
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your interest in this exciting position within Cumbria Education Trust (CET). Within this pack you will find lots of information about the Trust, the role, our family of schools, our vision and values.
Cumbria Education Trust is a not-for-profit charitable organisation. It was formed in 2015 in response to an invitation from the Department for Education. Cumbria Education Trust is one of the first school-based MATs in North Cumbria - we currently have nine schools within our family; six primary and three secondary schools.
Our purpose is to deliver outstanding educational provision and ensure all pupils/students receive high quality teaching and learning opportunities.
Our aim is for each CET academy to demonstrate consistent year-on-year improvement. We believe in the importance of working with others to share knowledge and best practice and we want all our pupils/students to develop a thirst for knowledge. We are passionate about putting young people first and equipping them for success in the future.
By achieving our aim, we can enable every young person to reach their potential.
If you believe you can make a positive contribution to the development of CET, then we would be delighted to hear from you.
Yours sincerely,
Lorrayne HughesCEO - Cumbria Education Trust
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Although each of our schools and academies has its own unique ethos, they all share a common vision and common values. These values are central to the life of the schools and underpin all the Trust’s activities.
All our schools and academies share a commitment to the achievement, personal development and well‐being of the children and young people within the Trust.
We operate with a student-centred approach which values relationships and respect for others:
Inspiring learning – creating a happy, positive and vibrant learning environment for ALL pupils/students.
Achieving success – enabling every pupil/student to reach their potential by providing high quality teaching.
Creating opportunities – broadening children’s experiences and opportunities.
Empowering communities – working in partnership with the local community to bring education alive for all.
CET strives to be recognised as an employer of choice. We believe that quality of life outside work significantly shapes the way in which staff perform whilst at work, so the need to achieve a healthy work life balance is a very important aspect of our commitment to staff.
We therefore place great importance on developing caring and supportive relationships. Our open-door policy provides the opportunity for anyone who is concerned or anxious to ask for guidance or clarification without censure.
With an aim which seeks year-on-year improvement, we also recognise the need to reward effort and good results. One of the ways we do this is through our commitment to staff with individually tailored CPD programmes. These are geared to maximising not merely job satisfaction, but the chance to significantly increase expertise, confidence and leadership skills.
We exercise a ‘people first’ approach at all times so that staff feel part of a community; confident to both support and yet challenge one another and where everyone regardless of position or seniority, feels valued and able to make a contribution.
SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF
We are committed to supporting all pupils/students, staff and academies within the Cumbria Education Trust to ‘be the best they can be’.
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POST TITLE: Head of Finance (Chief Finance Officer, CFO)RESPONSIBLE TO: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
SALARY: L2 – L6 (£42,093 - £46,457)
HOURS: 37 hours, full year
THE ROLE
Main Purpose
Together with the Finance team, the Chief Executive Officer and the Operations Director, develop the financial operations within Cumbria Education Trust (CET), ensuring compliance with statutory duties and to provide robust reporting on the Trust’s financial position to enable the Leadership team to make appropriate decisions and ensure the financial stability of CET.
Review
It is the practice of the Trust periodically to examine employees’ job descriptions and to update them to ensure that they relate to jobs as they are being performed, or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed. It is the Trust’s aim to reach agreement on any alterations.
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DO YOU SHARE OUR PASSION TO INSPIRE EVERY YOUNG PERSON TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL? We wish to appoint a dynamic and creative Head of Finance with the commitment, drive and ambition to grow and develop our organisation.
The successful candidate will bring:• Appropriate academic and financial qualification(s) (or be working towards).• Demonstrable experience in a senior finance role, including strategic business and financial
planning, budget setting and monitoring, risk management, payroll and a full understanding of financial control, compliance and reporting requirements.
• High level ICT skills and ability to fully utilise a range of industry-standard software packages.• Sound team leadership skills and experience with the ability to manage and develop people in a
fast-paced and demanding environment. • Excellent time management, prioritisation and delegation skills.• The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people across and outwith the Trust.
We can offer:• A commitment to your personal and professional development and the opportunity to develop
your role within the Trust.• A friendly and vibrant Trust community with a supportive team ethos.
The post-holder will embody our inclusive, child centred ethos, and will be someone who: Will promote Cumbria Education Trust’s motto to ‘be the best you can be’ and model our values
3R’s – Respect, Responsibility and Resilience at all times. Believes in the potential of every child and adult in the school communities across CET.
THE ROLE
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MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct Line Management:
Line manage the CET Finance team to ensure effective operational and strategic financial support for the Trust.
Accountabilities under the direction and guidance of the CEO and Operations Director:
Assist the Trustees, CEO and Operations Director in formulating the financial aims and objectives of the Trust and in establishing the policies, systems and procedures through which they shall be achieved.
Support the Trust to achieve compliance with financial guidelines and requirements regarding: Department for Education/Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) including Academies Financial Handbook, company law, and charity law, local and national legislation.
Fulfil the duties of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of CET and discharge the duties as defined in the Academies Financial Handbook (annually revised), Funding Agreements and Articles.
Ensure that CET has appropriate reporting mechanisms to the Trust Board and relevant sub committees on actual and projected financial positions throughout the year.
Specific responsibility over budget setting and financial monitoring for the ‘Central Team’ and any other school or academies as designated, recognising that as the Trust grows, this may evolve.
Design and implement a central finance shared services structure and systems that support the development of financial strategy.
Organisational Support:
Deputise for the Operations Director when required and carry out any other duties as required to contribute to the smooth and effective running of the Trust.
Develop and lead on risk management policies, procedures and systems to ensure that all financial risks are known and managed across the Trust including risk analysis of all trust financial activities to enable it to expand.
Contribute to the development of the financial strategy, policies and procedures for CET.
Provide guidance and training to CET finance managers where needed to ensure financial recording meets statutory requirements (i.e. VAT/Financial Handbook Requirements).
Attend CET Leadership Team meetings and Business Leadership Team Meetings.
Contribute to CET’s business planning process.
Finance and accounting:
In consultation with the CEO and Operations Director, prepare the Trust’s annual budget and update as necessary.
In liaison with the CEO and Operations Director devise and implement the MAT Finance Strategy
Monitor income and expenditure in relation to the Trust budget, and produce monthly reports for the CEO and Operations Director and the Trustees.
Manage the Trust Finance systems, income (including lettings, consultancy etc.), invoicing, purchase order, asset register & depreciation.
Maintain accurate VAT accounting systems and procedures.
Carry out and keep analyses of costs and other statistical information.
Ensure compliance with all Trust financial policies and procedures and with DfE/ESFA regulations including the Academies Financial Handbook and Academies Accounts Direction. Report any non-compliances to the CEO, Operations Director and Trustees.
Be conversant with the general principal of taxation applicable to the Trust and the financial implications of charitable status.
Deal with the Trust rating assessments. Be conversant with the formulae used for funding
Academies and keep abreast of any proposed changes to model impact on the Trust's long term financial viability.
Co-ordinate the annual external audits, liaising with all parties involved.
Manage the payroll system, ensuring all staff are paid correctly, including new appointments, changes and terminations, and the system is operating in accordance with best practice. Ensure compliance with all legislation, HMRC, Teachers Pensions Service, Local Government Pensions Scheme, and other deduction schemes (childcare, cycle scheme etc.).
Ensure that all the necessary financial data required for payroll, the Teachers’ Pension and Local Government Pension agencies is submitted.
Ensure staff expenses and claims are paid correctly. Prevention of fraud. Ensure all Trust Finance systems
and procedures are designed to minimise opportunities for fraud. Keep up to date with fraud awareness, topical fraud issues. Work with the Operations Director and CEO in supporting fraud awareness information and training to staff.
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Attend CET Leadership Team meetings and Business Leadership Team Meetings.
Contribute to CET’s business planning process.
Finance and accounting:
In consultation with the CEO and Operations Director, prepare the Trust’s annual budget and update as necessary.
In liaison with the CEO and Operations Director devise and implement the MAT Finance Strategy
Monitor income and expenditure in relation to the Trust budget, and produce monthly reports for the CEO and Operations Director and the Trustees.
Manage the Trust Finance systems, income (including lettings, consultancy etc.), invoicing, purchase order, asset register & depreciation.
Maintain accurate VAT accounting systems and procedures.
Carry out and keep analyses of costs and other statistical information.
Ensure compliance with all Trust financial policies and procedures and with DfE/ESFA regulations including the Academies Financial Handbook and Academies Accounts Direction. Report any non-compliances to the CEO, Operations Director and Trustees.
Be conversant with the general principal of taxation applicable to the Trust and the financial implications of charitable status.
Deal with the Trust rating assessments. Be conversant with the formulae used for funding
Academies and keep abreast of any proposed changes to model impact on the Trust's long term financial viability.
Co-ordinate the annual external audits, liaising with all parties involved.
Manage the payroll system, ensuring all staff are paid correctly, including new appointments, changes and terminations, and the system is operating in accordance with best practice. Ensure compliance with all legislation, HMRC, Teachers Pensions Service, Local Government Pensions Scheme, and other deduction schemes (childcare, cycle scheme etc.).
Ensure that all the necessary financial data required for payroll, the Teachers’ Pension and Local Government Pension agencies is submitted.
Ensure staff expenses and claims are paid correctly. Prevention of fraud. Ensure all Trust Finance systems
and procedures are designed to minimise opportunities for fraud. Keep up to date with fraud awareness, topical fraud issues. Work with the Operations Director and CEO in supporting fraud awareness information and training to staff.
Ensure that all necessary returns, reports and documentation are completed accurately within time constraints including financial reporting requirements, claims, bids, reports to Trustees and Local Academy Boards (LABs), and statistical returns (internal and external).
Communication:
As a senior member of the Business Leadership Team, you will be actively involved with ensuring the operational effectiveness of the Trust.
Establish and maintain outstanding professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders and ensure effective communication across the Trust.
General:
To support and encourage the Trust’s ethos and objectives, policies and procedures.
Comply with and assist with the development of policies and procedures across CET.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equal opportunities for all.
Contribute to the development and implementation of the vision and values of CET.
Develop constructive relationships and communicate with other agencies/professionals.
Take responsibility for your own ongoing personal development and growth of expertise.
Participate in training and other learning activities and appraisal as required.
Train and develop other employees, for proper succession planning and risk management.
Other duties as required by the CEO and Operations Director within the scope of this post.
Location:
Although the role will be based at CET’s head offices in William Howard School, Brampton, the post holder will be required to work at other schools. A valid driving licence and access to a vehicle is necessary to fulfil this role.
Safeguarding:
CET is committed to the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of all children and young people in its care. All staff have a key role and responsibility in this area and will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure check.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
KEY SKILLS AND/OR KNOWLEDGE EXPERIENCES REQUIRED/DESIRABLE
Qualifications/Training/Competences Essential- An appropriate professional financial qualification (e.g.
ACA/ACCA/CIPFA/CIMA and/or 2 years’ experience in a senior finance role) and can demonstrate a sound understanding of financial procedures, including those listed in the job description.
- Appropriate academic qualifications to at least ‘A’ level standard, or be able to demonstrate competency through proven experience in a similar role.
- Evidence of significant recent CPD and updating professional skills.
Desirable- Educated to degree level standard or equivalent.
Experience/Knowledge Essential- Experience of financial management systems, strategic business
and financial planning.- Experience of managing a finance function in line with
accounting best practice and within financial constraints.- Experience of managing expenditure. - Experience of managing payroll.- Experience of planning, organising, prioritising and delegating
workloads effectively and meeting deadlines.- Knowledge of Financial Reporting Standards (UK GAAP, IFRS and
Charities Accounting).- Knowledge of UK taxation – PAYE, Corporation Tax and VAT.- Knowledge of principles and methods of financial control and
reporting, and their adaptation to various purposes, including the preparation of financial accounts.
Desirable- Experience of schools’ finance systems.- Experience of managing change and implementing new
systems/procedures/controls.- Successful track record in working within the education sector in
a finance role.- Good working knowledge of school finance systems. - Knowledge of academies financial reporting systems.- Knowledge of academies funding.- Knowledge of company accounts and reporting.- Good understanding of safeguarding and compliance with Child
Protection Procedures.
Skills Essential- Excellent working knowledge of finance, computerised finance
systems and accounts, VAT, spreadsheet and word processing software packages.
- Excellent prioritisation and time-management skills, including supervisory experience and the ability to work effectively and efficiently within set deadlines and timescales.
- Ability to lead a busy team and a willingness to carry out all
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WHO AND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
aspects of the finance duties if required at times of peak pressure.
- Excellent inter-personal skills and be able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, both orally and in writing.
Working Arrangements/Requirements
Essential- Ability to work at times convenient to the Trust requirements
i.e. attendance at Trust Board and LAB meetings, this may include evenings.
- Ability to travel to meetings across Cumbria on a frequent basis.- A full driving licence and access to transport is essential to fulfil
this role.
Moral Purpose - Pupils/students first – a belief that all pupils/students can achieve and ‘Be the Best They Can Be’.
- Championing the vulnerable.- Commitment to equality of opportunity.
An effective team player to the support and development of the vision and ethos of CET
- Dynamic and supportive.- Committed and passionate.- Innovative and high performing.- Emotionally intelligent.- Proactive contribution.
Dynamic and creative leadership - Leading through others.- Commitment to the principle of working collaboratively with all
schools within the Cumbria Education Trust.
A significant contributor to strategic thinking and development
- Inspire and drive.- Oversee the development of strategy and policy.- Lead consultation and implementation.
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WORKING AND LIVING IN CUMBRIA
As a place to live, Cumbria takes some beating, from the stunning beauty of the coast, to the challenge of the Lake District, and the history of Hadrian’s Wall, Cumbria offers something for everyone.
A predominantly rural county, Cumbria is home to some of England’s highest mountains and some of England’s biggest lakes. Cumbria is a big county with big opportunities for those who chose to live and work here. The county is famous worldwide for its stunning scenery. Perhaps less well known are its bustling market towns filled with shops and brimming with life.
Venturing further afield it has great links to the rest of the country by the M6, to Scotland via the M74 and to Newcastle upon Tyne by the A69, connectivity to Cumbria is excellent.
There are also excellent rail links to Newcastle, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester and London. If you’re travelling by air, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle and Blackpool Airports are all within two hour’s drive.
This is the place to be – to live and work – and to have an excellent quality of life to spend with your family and friends and to stretch yourself professionally.
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Thank you for taking the time to read through this pack. We hope that it has given you enough of a flavour of CET and the post.
To apply please complete an application form and in addition please add a cover letter outlining your reasons for applying and evidence of your suitability for the post. Please send completed application forms to [email protected]
Please note Cumbria Education Trust does not accept CVs.
Closing date: 12 noon, Monday 18 November 2019
Interviews: Tuesday 26 November 2019
For an informal discussion or to arrange a visit please contact the trust on 016977 45369.
Cumbria Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we will check the suitability of staff to work with children. Applicants must be willing to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and overseas police checks (where applicable). Please see CET’s Safeguarding and Recruitment Policies for further details.
APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS
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e: [email protected] w: www.cumbriaeducationtrust.org
