JOB DESCRIPTION FOR

Head of Finance and Corporate Services

The Head of Finance and Corporate Services plays a key role in the management of the school and is directly responsible to the Principal and designated Vice-Principals for the management of the financial affairs, budgetary control, administration and statutory reporting.

It is the school’s policy that:

(i) the facilities within the Resource management, Personnel and Payroll Modules of the C2k system should provide the fundamental source of financial information

(ii) the relevant procedures described in the booklet {Financial and Audit Arrangements for Voluntary Grammar Schools} [DENI, Schools Finance Branch] are followed

The responsibilities of the Head of Finance and Corporate Services include by way of example, but are not necessarily limited to the following:

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL

• Advising on general financial policy to the Governors and Principal as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

• Exercising management control over the financial affairs of the school and ensuring the preparation and submission to the Board of Governors and to the Department of Education for Northern Ireland (DENI) of the Annual Statement of Accounts within the stipulated time

• Monitoring income and expenditure in relation to budget and presenting regular management reports to the Board of Governors

• Preparation and monitoring of cash flow and budgetary projections.

• Reviewing on an ongoing basis the School Procedures Manual in line with DENI regulations on Internal Audit arrangements and ensuring that all such procedures are followed. Ensuring procedures and documents are in place for the Internal Audit in March each year.

• Preparation of Annual Financial Statements and subsequent liaison with External Auditors

• Scrutinising and passing for payment all invoices and statement of accounts.

• Oversee the payroll function using our Software including preparation and submission of monthly BACS salary transfer.

• Administering pension schemes for teaching and non-teaching staff.

• Keeping an analysis of costs and other statistical records and making such returns as required by the Statutory Authorities.

• Preparation of gift aid, VAT Returns and monthly returns.

• Acting as correspondent for DENI and being responsible for the records and returns required.

• Organising as appropriate tenders for services and equipment.

• Exploiting the school assets and amenities to the greatest financial advantage, taking into account the priority of the school’s own curricular and extra-curricular needs.

• As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, advise the Principal and the Board of Governors of likely changes to the financial outcomes for the school and provide revised financial forecasts as necessary.

• Free School Meals administration to include all returns and projections to the Department.

• Manage the Canteen account to ensure that the account is breaking even annually, working with the Catering Manager to ensure the effective and efficient day to day management of the canteen.

• Operational management of the cleaning contract including the day-to-day link with the cleaning supervisor and the area supervisor as required.

• Monitoring the quality of the cleaning service and ensuring the improvements to the service are made as required.

• Liaise with the school’s Internal and External Auditors to ensure reports are submitted to the Department of Education on a timely basis.