Head of Financial Planning & Analysis

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of annual budgets, forecasts and long-term financial plans, ensuring alignment with the group’s strategic objectives, adjusting as necessary
• Work closely with senior leadership, department heads and executive colleagues to create a comprehensive and sustainable financial plan, balancing educational and sector priorities with financial viability
• Ensure that financial resources are allocated efficiently across the group to support key initiatives, reviewing and challenging budget assumptions as required to ensure accuracy and consistency
• Act as a trusted advisor to key stakeholders, providing financial insights and recommending actions to achieve business objectives
• Provide in-depth financial analysis and reports highlighting financial performance, variances, risks, and opportunities
• Prepare regular financial forecasts, advising on potential challenges and providing recommendations to address them
• Analyse key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to the FE sector, such as EBITDA and QAR
• Monitor and manage cash flow and reporting, ensuring that all financial planning and reporting comply with government regulations, funding requirements (e.g., Ofsted, Education and Skills Funding Agency or DFE), and accounting standards

Qualification & Requirements

What Qualifications We Need From You

• Grade A-C GCSE in English and Maths or equivalent
• Bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting
• Accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA) desirable

Knowledge And Experience

• Demonstrable experience in a senior financial planning & analysis role
• In-depth knowledge and experience of financial planning, analysis, budgeting, and forecasting across a group of companies
• Experience working remotely and completing tasks to a high standard, without close supervision
• Strong understanding of the financial challenges and funding mechanisms ideally related to the Further Education sector
• IT literate with effective MS Office skills including Teams, Excel, Word and Outlook
• Flexible with the ability to travel nationally and commit to potential overnight stays as required

Skills And Abilities Required To Succeed

• Exceptional communication skills – both written and verbal
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to extract meaningful insights from financial data
• Ability to communicate and present complex financial information clearly to non-financial audiences, including senior leadership, executive and board members
• Advanced problem-solving skills, with an awareness of project management techniques

Benefits

• 20 days annual leave – increasing with length of service and a holiday purchase scheme
• 3 Knovia Days for our Operational December Closure and 8 Public Bank Holidays
• Up to 3 days of paid volunteering leave and corporate conscience initiatives
• Your birthday off, for us to celebrate you
• Perkbox – a suite of lifestyle benefits and wellness tools
• Recognition and long service awards to celebrate our colleagues’