Finance Business Partner - Schools

We are working with a London Borough looking for a Financial Consultant to join them two days a week on a rolling basis for the foreseeable future.

The Borough manage around a dozen non academy. DSG funded Schools and need a specialist in this area to focus on tackling overspend.

Naturally this individual will have significant experience liaising with schools from a council perspective, but who is also diplomatically astute enough to understand the pressures schools face from OFSTED and wider financial pressures and have that reflected in their interactions with them.

Preferably some office presence is required but floor the right candidate a remote working situation can be considered.

• Lead financial challenge and recovery work across 12 maintained (non-academy) DSG-funded schools, identifying and addressing significant budget overspends while supporting the council's wider financial sustainability objectives.
• Provide expert local government schools finance advice, combining strong technical knowledge of school budgets and financial management with the ability to navigate the political and operational complexities of the education sector.
• Build effective relationships with Headteachers, Governors and school leadership teams, delivering robust financial challenge in a tactful and collaborative manner while recognising the pressures associated with OFSTED, staffing and educational outcomes.
• Work independently on a consultancy basis, delivering trusted financial leadership and influencing budget-setting, forecasting and recovery plans.