Finance & Admin Manager

The Finance & Admin Manager is responsible for the overall operation of the School's Finance &
Administration function, combining hands-on financial responsibilities with team management and
financial reporting.
The role takes direct responsibility for budget preparation and monitoring, PO review, funding
planning, cash-flow forecasting, payment authorisation, banking, and management/Group reporting,
while overseeing the Accounting function through the Chief Accountant.
Key Accountabilities:
The Finance & Admin Manager is accountable for ensuring that:
• The School's budget, funding and cash position are effectively planned and monitored.
• Financial commitments and payments follow appropriate approval and control procedures.
• Bank payments are properly authorised.
• Leadership and Group Management receive reliable and timely financial information.
• The Finance & Administration team operates effectively on a day-to-day basis.
Detailed responsibilities:
1. Budget, Financial Planning & Funding
• Lead and coordinate the annual budget process.
• Consolidate departmental budgets and prepare the overall School budget for Leadership and
Group approval.
• Monitor actual expenditure and income against the approved budget and follow up on
significant variances with relevant departments.
• Review financial commitments and approved but unpaid amounts to ensure appropriate budget
and cash management.
• Prepare and manage the monthly Funding Plan and funding requests.
• Prepare cash-flow forecasts using actual cash position, expected receipts, payments and
financial commitments.
• Work with the Chief Accountant to ensure accounting data used for budget monitoring,
funding and forecasting is accurate and up to date.
2. PO, Payment & Banking
• Prepare/review POs and monitor the approval process.
• Check expenditure against the approved budget before financial commitments are made.
• Consolidate PO information from departments for Leadership/Group approval as required.
• Review Payment Vouchers and payment requests prepared by the Accounting team.
• Review payment approvals and ensure required financial controls have been followed before
payment.
• Act as the School's Account Holder / Authorised Bank Signatory, where designated.
• Authorise/sign approved payments and release/submit payments to the bank.
• Follow up on payment status and work with the Chief Accountant to resolve significant
banking or payment issues
3. Financial & Management Reporting
• Prepare and analyse regular management reports for School Leadership.
• Review actual financial performance against budget and explain significant variances.
• Prepare cash-flow, funding and other financial information required for management
decision-making.
• Own financial reporting and responses to Group Management.
• Coordinate with the Chief Accountant to obtain accurate accounting schedules and supporting
information for management and Group reports.
• Respond to financial queries from School Leadership and Group Management accurately and
within required timelines.
• Review VAS/statutory reports prepared by the Chief Accountant where required.
4. Financial Control & Operational Oversight
• Maintain practical oversight of the School's financial controls and approval processes.
• Review significant or unusual transactions and follow up on financial-control issues.
• Review key outputs from MISA and bank reconciliations where required.
• Monitor the financial impact of payables, commitments and significant receivable issues.
• Maintain oversight of significant VAT, PIT, FCT, CIT and other compliance matters managed
by the Chief Accountant.
• Ensure appropriate segregation between payment preparation, checking, approval and bank
authorisation. Support the Finance team directly with operational work during busy periods,
staff absence or complex transactions.
• Support the Finance team directly with operational work during busy periods, staff absence or
complex transactions.
5. Team & Administration Management
• Manage the overall Finance & Administration function and ensure responsibilities are clearly
allocated.
• Directly manage and support the Chief Accountant.
• Maintain overall oversight of the two Accountants through the Chief Accountant.
• Directly manage the Receptionist and Front Office function.
• Coordinate Finance and Administration activities with other School departments.
• Ensure effective communication of relevant financial and administrative requirements across
the School.
• Improve practical workflows, documentation, systems and reporting processes where
appropriate.