Location
London Borough of Harrow

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£62,349 per annum

About the Role
London Borough of Harrow is seeking an experienced and strategic Finance Manager (Education/DSG) to play a pivotal role in supporting the financial sustainability and effective delivery of education services across the borough. Reporting to the Head of Finance, you will provide expert financial leadership, business partnering and strategic advice across the Education Directorate, with particular responsibility for the management, planning and oversight of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and other education-related funding streams.

This high-profile role sits at the heart of education finance, working closely with senior leaders, schools, the Schools Forum and service managers to ensure funding is allocated effectively, statutory requirements are met and financial resources are used to deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people. You will provide robust financial analysis, challenge and support to enable informed decision-making and help shape the long-term financial strategy for education services.

The role will lead on all aspects of DSG financial management, including budget setting, forecasting, monitoring, funding allocations, statutory reporting and financial planning. You will work collaboratively with education colleagues to manage financial pressures, assess funding opportunities, develop sustainable solutions and ensure compliance with government regulations and guidance.

As a trusted finance business partner, you will also play an important role in wider corporate finance activities, supporting budget setting, capital programmes, transformation initiatives and year-end processes, while driving continuous improvement across financial management practices and systems.

Why join Harrow?
At Harrow, we are proud to be a diverse, ambitious and resident-focused council. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where our people can thrive, develop their careers and make a meaningful difference to the communities we serve. In return, you will have the opportunity to work alongside talented professionals, contribute to important corporate priorities, support our climate ambitions and help shape the future of local government finance. If you are looking for a rewarding role where your expertise will be valued and your contribution recognised, we would love to hear from you.

Experience
- Proven experience in local government finance with a strong background supporting education services or managing complex grant-funded budgets.
- Detailed understanding of the Dedicated Schools Grant framework, education funding arrangements and local authority financial responsibilities within the education sector.
- Experience managing or supporting DSG-funded budgets and education-related funding streams.
- Experience leading or supporting DSG budget-setting processes and financial planning activities.
- Strong working knowledge of the Authority Proforma Tool (APT) and statutory education finance returns, including Section 251 returns.
- Experience preparing and presenting financial information to Schools Forum and other education stakeholders.
- Understanding of capital budgets, capital financing and associated legislative requirements.
- Experience delivering finance management or business partnering responsibilities including annual budget setting, medium-term financial planning and monitoring of significant revenue and capital budgets.
- Experience providing financial advice and support for projects, service improvements and transformation programmes.
- Experience reviewing and authorising grant claims and statutory returns.
- Experience supporting year-end closedown processes including accruals, working papers, Statement of Accounts requirements and external audit queries.
- Proven ability to provide constructive challenge to financial forecasts, budget assumptions and performance information.
- Demonstrable experience employing continuous improvement techniques to strengthen financial management and processes.

About you
You will be a confident and proactive finance professional, able to work effectively with senior stakeholders, school leaders and elected members. You provide clear financial advice, constructive challenge and practical solutions to complex issues. You have excellent analytical and communication skills, capable of interpreting financial information, identifying risks and opportunities, and translating technical concepts into meaningful insights that support strategic decision-making. You are a collaborative leader committed to continuous improvement, developing colleagues and delivering high-quality financial services that support both educational outcomes and the Council’s wider objectives.

Qualifications
- A CCAB professional accountancy qualification.
- Evidence of continuing professional development and a commitment to maintaining professional expertise.
- Strong knowledge and understanding of local authority financial management and the associated legislative framework.
- Sound understanding of education funding arrangements and the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).
- Knowledge of DSG conditions of grant, statutory responsibilities of local authorities and governance and accountability arrangements within schools.