Reference: SCCG2720A | Closing Date: 03/06/2024 | Interview Date: First stage of interviews 10th or 11th June, 2nd stage to be confirmed.

Salary: £50,539 – £57,212. Incremental progression throughout the band is available

Contract Type: Permanent | Hours per Week: 36 (full-time) Location: Frontier House, Merchants Quay, M50 3SR

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our welcoming Finance Department as Deputy Head of Finance, reporting to Head of Finance. You will be an integral and proactive member of the Finance Team, and have responsibility for leading the finance business partnering function and team in this wide-ranging and fast-paced role.

We are seeking to appoint a Deputy Head of Finance to provide a comprehensive, high quality and professional financial management, accounting and advisory service to the Salford City College Group (c.£45m turnover). Acting as the lead business partner and a key adviser to budget holders on financial issues, you will play a significant role in ensuring effective financial stewardship and seeking opportunities to improve systems and processes to enhance services provided to stakeholders. The Deputy Head of Finance is required to be proactive in managing our finances to support the College to achieve its strategic objectives.

You will be CCAB (ICAEW / ACCA / CIPFA) or CIMA qualified, with significant and recent experience of providing a financial management service, ideally in the education (e.g., FE, HE, MAT), public or third sector. However, relevant experience from all sectors, along with an appreciation of the challenges faced in the FE sector, are also welcomed.

You will have a strong background in management accounting, but also have proven technical financial accounting skills, and a track record of being a hands-on and effective manager. Experience in the production of the annual statutory accounts and liaising with external audit is desirable.

You will demonstrate outstanding communication, organisational and managerial skills, and be strongly committed to working with the College’s values and ethos. You must demonstrate the ability to lead a comprehensive financial management service and team, and advise on financial matters affecting the College. You will have considerable drive, a proactive can-do attitude, and be positive about change and innovation, and be able to drive forward system and process improvements.

Our current working arrangements:

• 3-month probation, would be required to work full time in the office

• Following probation set Mon, Tues, Wed always in the office.

• Thursdays and Fridays would then be able to work from home dependant on business need. For example, if in the middle of forecasting or if Management accounts analysis fell on one of these days, would need to be in the office.

• A few pinch points in the year like forecasting and year-end accounts may be required to do longer days (Overtime), but would get the time back.

• Year-end falls in Aug (3-week period) have to be in the office full time.

Informal enquiries are actively encouraged. Please contact Rebecca Eardley, Head of Finance, to arrange an informal discussion.

Reason to Join Us:

• We have Generous Terms and Conditions (Sixth Form College’s Association style terms and conditions) including 40 days annual leave entitlement (including bank holidays)

• We have a 3pm finish on Fridays, Free on-site parking and various health and wellbeing resources and benefit schemes including two Staff Wellbeing days per year.

• We offer automatic enrolment to the Local Government Pension Scheme with 20.70% employer pension contribution.

• Our College is an incredible community, there is a lot that staff and their families can get involved with.

• We have family friendly policies and we are happy to talk about flexible working.

• We invest in our people and offer a range of training & career opportunities for all staff as part of our Be Outstanding Development programme.

• We have an amazing Staff Benefits Package with discounts and savings for supermarkets, petrol, high-street retailers, holidays, cinemas and other leisure.

• Our shared purpose: We believe in the value of education for a successful future and we want the best for our learners and our staff.

• Our core values are at the heart of everything we do. Staff and students behave with respect, integrity and kindness.