ADE UK Head of Finance

AD Education UK is a growing network of leading creative education institutes in the UK. The group's institutions are united around strong values and sharing a vision for creativity and innovation within creative media education. With over 40 years of pioneering and sector-leading experience, our graduates can be found throughout the music, film, games and wider creative media sectors, winning prestigious awards and employed within the highest echelons of their respective creative fields. Our market-leading portfolio of schools includes The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) and SAE Institute UK.

Location: Oxford or London Based. (There will be a requirement to travel to Campus locations)

Division: AD Education UK

Grade: 10

Contract: Full time (37 hours) Permanent

Job Overview

The Head of Finance will be responsible for the correct accounting in the finance system and the reporting for ICMP, SAE UK, Holding Companies. This role will report into the CFO, line manage the Finance team based across all sites and act as Deputy to the CFO. There will be a requirement to travel to Campus locations. The role will be actively involved in month end closing process, integration work between ICMP and SAE and across the ADE Group, working with stakeholders and implementing controls and process improvements. Excellent communication skills are critical for the success of this role as there is a need to manage a wide array of stakeholders, including many non-financial managers.

Key Responsibilities

Finance Transformation

1. Lead on the merge of finance systems between SAE and ICMP, completion by summer 2025
2. Lead on the merge of finance processes and improvement of internal controls across SAE and ICMP including but not limited to payroll, expense management, credit card management, bank account alignment, student finance management
3. Manage finance team and business stakeholders through the transition of finance systems providing support and reassurance

Finance Team Management, Transactional Processing and Month End

1. Manage the Finance Team and provide overall direction, support and development opportunities to create a high performing team
2. Lead the team with month end closing process as per month end timetable, initial focus on aligning ICMP and SAE timetable
3. Produce and present financial reports to senior management, including monthly performance reviews and ad hoc reports as required
4. Oversee accurate and timely administration of the SLC portal
5. Review and ensure completion of monthly balance sheet reconciliations ensuring that reconciliations are properly prepared and reconciling items are promptly resolved and cleared on a timely basis. Prepare commentary as and when required
6. Ensure all UK payroll and payroll related payments are made within authorisation policies and timelines
7. Review and sign off weekly payment runs and any ad hoc payments as required
8. Maintain review of IR35 checks across payroll and supplier payments
9. Maintain procedural documentation covering all tasks
10. Management of weekly Cashflow
11. Management of balance sheet forecasting, liquidity days and solvency ratios
12. Management of debtor reporting and debt escalation (in conjunction with the AR Manager)
13. Oversee intercompany transactions and manage reconciliation on monthly basis
14. Ensure appropriate controls are in place to monitor certain significant transactions such as bad debts, provision, prepayments, write-offs, Capex
15. Managing the enrolment and induction process from a finance perspective
16. Sage Intacct administrator/superuser, maintaining appropriate user access, amending approvers and/or chart of accounts, building reporting where required.

Business Partnering

1. Work with budget heads to ensure alignment and understanding with spend year to date
2. Lead on budget and forecasting collation
3. Help improve processing and business controls
4. Member of Senior Management Team and Senior Organisation Group
5. Member of the IT Working Group
6. Member of the Access and Participation Committee
7. Member of the ESG Working Group
8. Servicing Officer of Executive Committee

Regulatory, Reporting, Compliance and Audit

1. Lead external audit for the ADE UK legal entities
2. Preparation of Extended Trial Balances and support for auditors
3. Assist with the preparation of financial statements and annual audits, keep track of progress ahead of statutory filings and report any issues to CFO
4. Lead corporate tax computations for stats and final comps and working with CFO on all company tax planning
5. Ensure Sage ledger reconciles with statutory accounts and provide regular updates to the Finance Director
6. Support CFO with Budget and Forecast processing, accountable for budget and forecast model maintenance
7. Lead and manage VAT returns and review VAT processing and understanding within the team (specifically around reverse charge VAT)
8. Management and responsibility for the Access and Participation spend and tracking
9. Assist and maintain the risk register, updating identified risks on a regular basis and communicating new and growing risks to relevant management
10. Responsible for the finance team operational plan and quarterly review
11. ADE Group monthly reporting packs
12. ADE Group quarterly consolidation reporting using the consolidation tool under French GAAP
13. Quarterly reporting for Senior Organisation Group
14. Responsible for OfS returns including Annual Financial Return
15. Responsible for OnS returns
16. Liaising with the external auditors, bankers, insurance brokers and legal counsel as required from time to time

Other

1. Act as a cover for the CFO
2. Represent AD Education with the sector at BUFDG, IHE and Guild HE
3. Provide excellent internal and external customer service to all stakeholders
4. Promote and ensure safe working practices and team well-being.
5. Demonstrate and promote professional and ethical behaviour and appearance at all times.
6. Work cooperatively and flexibly with the team and wider regional team to support periods of absence, workload peaks and troughs as required and undertaking other duties and tasks as required.

Please see full job description here . The deadline for applications is 08/02/2025

Note: ADE is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. ADE is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults. Successful candidates will be required to obtain a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure.

Employee Assistance Program

Auto-Enrolment Pension Scheme with Royal Pension

Cycle to Work Scheme