Management Accountant

What skills and experience we're looking for

About You

The ideal candidate will enjoy turning financial detail into clear, practical information that helps others make decisions. With excellent presentation and organisation skills, you will build strong, collaborative relationships with key stakeholders and connect finance with operational management. Your analytical, detail-oriented approach and strategic thinking will help schools use their resources to support the highest standard of education for our pupils.

You do not need an education-sector background to apply: we will provide full training in education finance. You will have experience of working in a finance environment and be AAT qualified or working towards the qualification; full AAT qualification is preferred. Education-sector experience is a strong advantage, but we equally welcome applicants who can demonstrate transferable skills from other sectors.

Essential

• Experience of producing management accounts
• Experience of budget preparation
• Experience of balance sheet and year-end reconciliations
• AAT status or working towards AAT status
• Excellent IT and excel skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, be that written or oral
• Motivational and striving attitude
• Accurate and diligent work
• Works well in a fast-paced and high-volume role
• Passion for learning and development
• A passion for Finance and supporting the provision of excellent education

Desirable

• Fully or part ACA/ACCA qualified
• Degree or equivalent level of education
• Experience of working within the education sector

What the school offers its staff

We offer

• Generous annual leave, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with excellent employer contributions
• Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 virtual GP access, mental health support and claim-back options for healthcare costs *
• Cycle-to-work scheme, retail and theatre discounts (including discounted shopping vouchers, dentist and gym memberships), and salary sacrifice options (including home technology). *
• Free parking at most sites
• Personalised CPD and development programmes
• A structured and specific induction programme.

*Terms and conditions apply. Some benefits are only available following successfully passing probation.

Further details about the role

Location

Central Services, Cringleford Prep, Woolhouse Way, Cringleford, Norfolk, NR4 7FU

Salary

Support Staff

Pay Scale J - K

£41,177 to £48,738 per annum

Permanent

Full Time

37 hours per week from Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm

Working Weeks

All Year Round

Start Date

January 2027

Put your finance skills to work where they can make a difference to children’s education. This is an opportunity for an ambitious management accountant to gain valuable experience in the public education sector, joining our dynamic, high-achieving finance team. If you are organised, motivated and ready to help schools make the most of their resources, we would love to hear from you.

Your work will help school leaders understand their finances and plan confidently. You will deliver accurate monthly management accounts for our schools, prepare and monitor budgets, and help ensure that financial management meets regulatory and statutory requirements and follows best practice.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Take ownership of timely, accurate management accounts for an allocated group of academies, bringing together accruals, prepayments, monthly forecasting, variance analysis and clear commentary to explain the financial position.
• Help school leaders make informed strategic decisions about staffing levels by producing salary variance reports, with reference to the Department for Education’s Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning guidance.
• Build strong working relationships with school Principals and the Chief Financial Officer as you support the ongoing review and maintenance of Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning, helping schools align their curriculum plans with available resources.
• Preparation and monitoring of annual and 3-year budgets and support of Trust wide budgeting process, including meetings with key stakeholders.

About You

The ideal candidate will enjoy turning financial detail into clear, practical information that helps others make decisions. With excellent presentation and organisation skills, you will build strong, collaborative relationships with key stakeholders and connect finance with operational management. Your analytical, detail-oriented approach and strategic thinking will help schools use their resources to support the highest standard of education for our pupils.

You do not need an education-sector background to apply: we will provide full training in education finance. You will have experience of working in a finance environment and be AAT qualified or working towards the qualification; full AAT qualification is preferred. Education-sector experience is a strong advantage, but we equally welcome applicants who can demonstrate transferable skills from other sectors.

Essential

• Experience of producing management accounts
• Experience of budget preparation
• Experience of balance sheet and year-end reconciliations
• AAT status or working towards AAT status
• Excellent IT and excel skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, be that written or oral
• Motivational and striving attitude
• Accurate and diligent work
• Works well in a fast-paced and high-volume role
• Passion for learning and development
• A passion for Finance and supporting the provision of excellent education

Desirable

• Fully or part ACA/ACCA qualified
• Degree or equivalent level of education
• Experience of working within the education sector

Why Join Inspiration Trust

Develop your finance career while supporting schools across Norfolk and north Suffolk. At Inspiration Trust, we believe education can transform lives, and your expertise will help schools make the most of their resources. You will join a supportive, forward-thinking organisation that values collaboration and innovation, with opportunities for growth and a varied professional development programme. As part of a network of teachers, leaders and support staff, you will contribute your financial expertise to a shared educational purpose.

We offer

• Generous annual leave, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with excellent employer contributions
• Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 virtual GP access, mental health support and claim-back options for healthcare costs *
• Cycle-to-work scheme, retail and theatre discounts (including discounted shopping vouchers, dentist and gym memberships), and salary sacrifice options (including home technology). *
• Free parking at most sites
• Personalised CPD and development programmes
• A structured and specific induction programme.

*Terms and conditions apply. Some benefits are only available following successfully passing probation.

About Us

Inspiration Trust is a thriving family of schools across Norfolk and North Suffolk, recognised nationally for pupil progress and excellence in teaching and leadership. We believe every young person deserves the best education, regardless of background.

The Trust offers extensive networks and opportunities to collaborate with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to delivering outstanding professional and learning opportunities for all staff, supported by a rich programme of continuing professional development led by some of the country’s leading educational thinkers and practitioners.

Our central support services give school leaders more time to focus on education. By bringing key services together, we reduce workload for senior leaders, provide value for money across integrated services and give academies a strong local support structure where best practice can be shared. We continually review these services to keep them responsive to each academy’s needs.

Our Central Services team, currently based at the Cringleford Prep site in Norwich, provides expert support across HR, Payroll, Recruitment, Finance, ICT, and Estates - enabling our schools to focus on what they do best: teaching and learning.

Next Steps

Before applying, please read the attached Recruitment Pack and Job Description, for more details about the role. We ask that you read this pack carefully, especially the “Planning your application” section from page 11. This will support your application ensuring you have the opportunity to tell us about your relevant skills, experience and qualifications that relate to the job description and person specification in addition to details of your references covering the last 5 years.

If you would like to know more about this exciting opportunity, then please contact recruitment@inspirationtrust.org.

To apply for this role please click the Apply button to complete the online application form.

When you start your application, you will receive several emails from our application provider, Vacancy Filler. Please be aware that some email providers may mistakenly mark these messages as spam. To avoid missing important updates, we recommend checking your spam or junk folders regularly throughout the application process and marking these emails as safe.

Closing date for applications

12noon on Sunday 8th November 2026

Interview date

Tuesday 17th November 2026

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities

Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. We are an equal opportunities employer.

Commitment to safeguarding

Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and all staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced DBS checks. You will be required to provide references and undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check. This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are an equal opportunities employer.