Management Accountant

Springwell Alternative Academy; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 42,000 - GBP 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Chelmsford is seeking a qualified Management Accountant to join its Finance Department. This role involves preparing monthly management accounts, producing and analyzing budgets, and providing financial insight to support educational projects. Candidates should hold a professional accounting qualification and have experience in management accounting, preferably within the education sector. The position offers a collaborative environment and opportunities for continuous improvement.

Benefits

Excellent benefits & CPD

Lunch without charge in term time

Discounted annual membership for New Hall Sport Club

Qualifications

• Proven experience in management accounting within a complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of financial analysis and variance reporting.
• Experience in producing monthly accounts, budgets, and forecasts.
• Ability to explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• Detail oriented with high levels of integrity and organization.
• Experience within the education sector is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare timely monthly management accounts with analysis and commentary.
• Produce and analyze budgets and forecasts.
• Provide financial insight for educational initiatives.
• Work with budget holders to monitor performance and control costs.
• Support year-end processes and audit preparation.
• Contribute to improving finance systems and controls.

Skills

Management accounting principles

Analytical skills

Excellent Excel skills

Budgeting and forecasting

Attention to detail

Problem-solving skills

Adaptability

Teamwork

Education

Professional qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent)

Tools

Financial systems

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a qualified Management Accountant to join our Finance Department and support the financial stewardship of New Hall School Trust and New Hall School Enterprises Limited. This role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to the effective running of a complex, values-led educational environment at a time of growth and investment. Working closely with the Head of Finance and colleagues across the School, the Management Accountant will play a pivotal role in delivering financial reporting and analysis as well as shaping continuous process improvement.

Key responsibilities

• to prepare timely and accurate monthly management accounts including profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cash flow reporting with clear variance analysis and commentary on financial performance and trends
• to produce and analyse budgets, forecasts, and longer-term financial planning, providing clear explanations and actionable insights
• to provide financial insight to support educational and operational initiatives, including capital and estates-related projects
• to business partner with budget holders across academic and support departments to monitor performance, control costs and improve efficiency
• to support year-end processes, audit preparation, and strong financial governance
• to contribute to continuous improvement in finance systems, controls, and reporting, ensuring data integrity and consistency
• to support the evaluation of new initiatives, capital projects, and business cases, including sensitivity and risk analysis
• to support risk management activities by identifying financial risks and proposing appropriate mitigating actions
• to ensure compliance with accounting standards, company policies and regulatory requirements
• to work collaboratively with colleagues across the Finance Department, including the Financial Accountant and Assistant Accountants
• to provide cover and support across all finance functions when required, particularly during peak periods

The successful candidate will be expected

• to hold a full, professional qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent)
• to have proven experience and a strong understanding of management accounting principles within a complex organisation
• to have experience producing monthly management accounts, budgets and forecasts with a strong track record of clear financial analysis and variance reporting
• to have strong analytical skills with the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues
• to have excellent excel skills and experience of financial systems
• to be detail orientated with high levels of accuracy, integrity, and organisation
• to have strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail with the ability to challenge assumptions constructively and add value beyond the numbers
• to be adaptable and open to change with a continuous improvement mindset
• to be a strong team player who is proactive and self-motivated with the ability to work independently
• to have previous experience working within the education sector

What New Hall offers

• Excellent benefits & CPD
• Lunch without charge in term time
• Discounted annual membership for New Hall Sport Club

New Hall School offers an exceptional working environment. The main campus occupies the stunning Grade I listed former Tudor palace of Beaulieu. The School’s conference and events venue is at the Grade I listed Boreham House, one mile away. New Hall is a warm, welcoming, and supportive community, with a staff of around 300.

Beaulieu Park railway station is at the entrance to New Hall’s Avenue: 30 minutes to Stratford and 38 minutes to London Liverpool Street. The Elizabeth Line at Shenfield (13 minutes by train) terminates at Heathrow airport. There are nearby airports: London Stansted, London Southend and London City.

Early applications are encouraged. We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date of this advertisement.

Application closing date: midday, Friday 27 February 2026

All adults employed by the New Hall School have a responsibility for data protection and have a duty to observe and follow the principles of the GDPR Regulations. All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. As part of our need to comply with UK immigration rules, you will be required to provide Home Office stipulated documentation prior to interview.

As well as verification of identity, we ask all successful candidates to undertake an enhanced DBS disclosure. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance, we may also conduct an online search about any shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence to identify any matters that might relate directly to our legal duty to meet safeguarding duties, in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). New Hall School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Due to the nature of this role, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. In making your application, it is essential you disclose whether you have any pending charges, convictions, bind-overs or cautions and, if so, for which offences. This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act, and, in the event of the employment being taken up; any failure to disclose such convictions will result in dismissal or disciplinary action. The fact that a pending charge, conviction, bind-over or caution has been recorded against you will not necessarily debar you from consideration for this appointment.