Management Accountant (Norwich)
| Posting date: | 06 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £39,862 to £47,181 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Salary: Support Staff Pay Scale J - K: £39,862 to £47,181 per annum |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 February 2026 |
| Location: | Norwich, Norfolk |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Inspiration Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | FEB20263248 |
Summary
Salary: Support Staff Pay Scale J - K: £39,862 to £47,181 per annum
Working Weeks: 52 weeks
Start Date: March 2026
This management accountant vacancy is a rare and exciting opportunity for an ambitious management accountant to gain valuable experience in the public education sector. We are seeking a highly organised and motivated management accountant to welcome into our dynamic, high achieving finance team.
You will deliver accurate monthly management accounts for our schools, preparing and monitoring budgets, ensuring that we meet all regulatory and statutory requirements and best practice.
You’ll work mainly from our central offices in Norwich (currently NR1 2PW), which will be relocating to new, modern facilities in Cringleford (NR4 7FU) on the outskirts of the city in approximately April 2026.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Timely production and accuracy of management accounts for an allocated number of academies to include accruals, prepayments, monthly forecasting, variance analysis and commentaries
- Production of salary variance reports to enable strategic decision making around staffing levels, with reference to the Department for Education’s Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning guidance
- Supporting school Principals and Finance Director with ongoing review and maintenance of our Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning
- Preparation and monitoring of annual and 3-year budgets and support of Trust wide budgeting process, including meetings with key stakeholders
About You:
You’ll have excellent presentation and organisation skills and the ability to build strong collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring that we are offering the highest standard of education to our pupils at all times. You will also be analytical, detail-oriented strategic thinker with strong communication skills, bridging the gap between finance and operational management.
You will ideally need to be fully AAT qualified, with experience of working in a finance environment. Experience of working within the education finance sector would be a significant advantage but demonstration of the ability to transfer skills from other sectors would be equally advantageous. Full training around finances in the education sector will be provided.
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
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.
We believe it is important to support every school by centralising key support services. This approach reduces workload for senior leaders, provides value for money across a range of integrated services, and ensures that our academies benefit from a strong local support structure that promotes the sharing of best practice.
Our Central Services team, currently based at The Hewett Academy site in Norwich, provides expert support across HR, Payroll, Recruitment, Finance, Governance, Operations, ICT, Marketing, 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.
Closing date for applications: 12pm on Sunday 22nd February 2026
Interview date: Wednesday 4th March 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.
Working Weeks: 52 weeks
Start Date: March 2026
This management accountant vacancy is a rare and exciting opportunity for an ambitious management accountant to gain valuable experience in the public education sector. We are seeking a highly organised and motivated management accountant to welcome into our dynamic, high achieving finance team.
You will deliver accurate monthly management accounts for our schools, preparing and monitoring budgets, ensuring that we meet all regulatory and statutory requirements and best practice.
You’ll work mainly from our central offices in Norwich (currently NR1 2PW), which will be relocating to new, modern facilities in Cringleford (NR4 7FU) on the outskirts of the city in approximately April 2026.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Timely production and accuracy of management accounts for an allocated number of academies to include accruals, prepayments, monthly forecasting, variance analysis and commentaries
- Production of salary variance reports to enable strategic decision making around staffing levels, with reference to the Department for Education’s Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning guidance
- Supporting school Principals and Finance Director with ongoing review and maintenance of our Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning
- Preparation and monitoring of annual and 3-year budgets and support of Trust wide budgeting process, including meetings with key stakeholders
About You:
You’ll have excellent presentation and organisation skills and the ability to build strong collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring that we are offering the highest standard of education to our pupils at all times. You will also be analytical, detail-oriented strategic thinker with strong communication skills, bridging the gap between finance and operational management.
You will ideally need to be fully AAT qualified, with experience of working in a finance environment. Experience of working within the education finance sector would be a significant advantage but demonstration of the ability to transfer skills from other sectors would be equally advantageous. Full training around finances in the education sector will be provided.
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
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.
We believe it is important to support every school by centralising key support services. This approach reduces workload for senior leaders, provides value for money across a range of integrated services, and ensures that our academies benefit from a strong local support structure that promotes the sharing of best practice.
Our Central Services team, currently based at The Hewett Academy site in Norwich, provides expert support across HR, Payroll, Recruitment, Finance, Governance, Operations, ICT, Marketing, 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.
Closing date for applications: 12pm on Sunday 22nd February 2026
Interview date: Wednesday 4th March 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.