Academy operations manager jobs

About Spear

Spear is a national youth employment charity. The award-winning Spear Programme was launched over 20 years ago, and is now running in 18 Spear Centres across the country, equipping unemployed 16–24-year-olds facing barriers to employment with the skills and mindset they need to secure work and thrive in work and life. 

Please see the 'Work with us’ pack for more information. 

About the role

We're looking for an ambitious, proactive and relationship-driven individual who excels at securing strategic, long-term corporate partnerships that drive the growth and impact of Spear. Joining our dynamic and growing Corporate Partnerships team, you will play a key role in developing and stewarding high-value partnerships that generate significant income and enable Spear to reach more young people facing barriers to employment.

This role is ideal for someone with strong business development and relationship management skills, who enjoys working both strategically and hands-on to generate income, develop compelling partnership opportunities and build lasting relationships with corporate supporters.

Key Information

• Salary: from £43,000 depending on experience
• Full-Time, One Year Fixed Term Contract
• Annual leave: 28 days annual leave (including Christmas gift days) plus bank holidays
• Closing Date: Friday 24th July (We interview on a rolling basis and will close the role early if we find the right candidate)

For more information please read through our Job Specification.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Person Specification

• A practising Christian, passionate about Spear's values and mission, with a desire to engage and inspire corporate partners to support young people facing barriers to employment into sustainable work.
• Significant senior-level experience in corporate fundraising, corporate social responsibility, business development or strategic partnerships.
• Proven ability to raise funds, develop business partnerships or drive sales. Excellent client management using CRM tools such as Salesforce are desirable.
• An excellent communicator with strong relational skills and the confidence and ability to develop a rapport with and positively influence a variety of people from diverse backgrounds in the corporate space.
• Excellent writing skills, attention to detail and accuracy, including the ability to produce compelling proposals for a professional, corporate audience.
• Demonstration of leadership capabilities; proactive, responsive and a self-starter. Ability to manage multiple priorities to meet targets and deadlines.
• Strong numerical, reporting and organizational skills, including the ability to establish appropriate and effective processes and structures​.
• Line Management experience desirable but not essential.

Faith Expressions

Spear is a Christian charity, working in a range of settings, in partnership with people from all faiths and none. Although the Spear programme itself has no faith element, Our Christian faith underpins everything we do; it motivates and sustains us and is core to our mission. Prayer and worship are embedded into our daily working practises, and all staff are required to lead a team prayer meeting from time to time. As such, there is a Genuine Occupational Requirement for our team to be practising Christians – our team share a belief in a triune God and we welcome applications from people of all denominations and expressions of Christianity.

Financial Controller - Multi Academy Trust 

Location: Thrapston, Northamptonshire
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £51,000 -£58,000 per annum

· Lead and develop a Finance Operations team within education

· Partner directly with the CFO on strategic financial planning

· Hands-on financial accounting role managing a team

· Develop your career within a Trust committed to professional growth

Our client, a well-established Multi-Academy Trust with schools across Corby, Kettering and Wisbech, is seeking an experienced Financial Controller to join their central finance team – in the Thrapston Head Office. This is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional looking to make a meaningful impact within the education sector while advancing their career in a supportive and values-driven organisation.

Company Overview 

This Multi-Academy Trust of 12 primary & secondary schools is committed to enhancing strategic financial insight across its schools and leadership teams. They focus on the efficient allocation of resources, integrating finance with curriculum planning, and ensuring compliance with ESFA and academy handbook requirements. The Trust values continuous improvement and invests in the ongoing professional and personal development of every employee. With a strong emphasis on collaboration, high standards, and courteous service, they create an environment where finance professionals can grow while making a real difference to students and staff across their schools.

Position Overview

As Financial Controller, you'll play a key role in ensuring financial sustainability across the Trust. Working closely with the CFO, you'll manage capital and revenue budgets, produce financial reports and statements, and lead the Finance Operations team of 4 staff. This position is central to maintaining robust financial controls, managing risk, and ensuring compliance with financial and legal obligations. You'll also build strong relationships with external stakeholders including banks, the DfE, and auditors, while identifying opportunities for cost savings and improved efficiency across the Trust.

Responsibilities 

· Manage and monitor capital and revenue budgets effectively

· Support the CFO in producing regular finance reports and budget packs

· Prepare financial statements including cash flow, income and balance sheets

· Perform monthly balance sheet reconciliations and fixed asset reporting

· Maintain the Key Financial Controls Framework across the Trust

· Conduct fixed asset verifications and stock takes

· Manage financial risk and ensure compliance with regulations

· Build and maintain relationships with banks, DfE, auditors and stakeholders

· Organise and follow up on internal and external audits

· Lead, develop and manage the Finance Operations team (4 staff)

· Monitor cost-effectiveness of services and identify savings opportunities

· Oversee transactional processes including banking, purchase ledger and sales ledger

· Manage working capital and cash flow forecasting

· Partner with the CEO, Regional Executive Principals and School Business Managers

Requirements 

· Proven experience managing budgets and financial controls in a similar role

· Ideally fully-qualified ACCA, CIMA, ACA or CIPA accountant

· Strong technical accounting skills including balance sheet reconciliations and financial statements

· Experience leading and developing finance teams

· Knowledge of compliance requirements, ideally within education or public sector

· Ability to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders

· Experience managing audits and working with external bodies

· Strong analytical skills to identify cost savings and efficiency improvements

· Understanding of working capital management and cash flow forecasting

· Commitment to continuous improvement and professional development

Benefits

· Competitive salary of £51-58k

· Leading public sector pension contributions

· The role is office based but there is flexibility to work from home during quieter periods

· Commitment to ongoing professional and personal development

· Supportive leadership and clear career progression opportunities

You'll join a Trust that genuinely values its people and invests in their growth. Working alongside committed professionals, you'll be part of an organisation focused on continuous improvement, high standards, and making a positive impact on education.

How to Apply 

If you have the skills and experience to succeed in this Financial Controller role and are looking to advance your career within the education sector, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience. We look forward to hearing from you.

Closing date: Ongoing/ASAP

Donor Experience Officer - Fundraising

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

We're looking for a Donor Experience Officer to play a vital role within Acorns Children's Hospice's Fundraising team. As one of the first points of contact for our supporters, you'll help ensure every donation, enquiry and interaction receives a professional, personal and timely response.

This is a varied role that combines supporter care, relationship building, administration and communications. You'll be responsible for managing the end-to-end journey of donations, from processing gifts and maintaining accurate supporter records through to creating meaningful communications that show donors the impact of their support.

Working with colleagues across fundraising, marketing and care, you'll help deliver supporter journeys and stewardship communications that make supporters feel recognised, valued and connected to the difference they are making for local children and families. At the same time, you'll help ensure our fundraising operations run smoothly through excellent administration, data management and attention to detail. 

About the Role

As Donor Experience Officer, you'll play a central role in delivering Acorns' donor experience strategy and ensuring supporters receive an exceptional experience at every stage of their journey with us. You'll balance relationship-focused supporter engagement with the day-to-day administration that underpins successful fundraising activity. 

Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as a first point of contact for supporter enquiries across email, telephone, social media and written communications. 
• Supervising the recording, banking and thanking of donations, ensuring supporter gifts are processed accurately and efficiently.
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date supporter information within our CRM system.
• Supporting the delivery of donor journeys, stewardship activity and supporter engagement plans.
• Creating and coordinating supporter communications, fundraising content and impact reports.
• Gathering supporter feedback and using insight to help improve supporter experiences.
• Supporting fundraising teams with stewardship planning and engagement activity
• Managing fundraising resources and materials to ensure supporters receive what they need at the right time.

About You

We're looking for someone who combines excellent organisational skills with a genuine passion for supporter care.

You'll understand that great donor experiences are built on both meaningful relationships and excellent administration. Whether you're responding to a supporter enquiry, processing a donation or creating stewardship content, you'll take pride in delivering a high-quality experience and ensuring every supporter feels valued.

You'll bring:

• Experience in supporter care, fundraising, customer service, administration or relationship management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to create engaging content for a range of audiences.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience using CRM systems such as Raiser's Edge, Donorfy, Salesforce or similar.
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
• A collaborative and proactive approach to work.
• A passion for delivering outstanding supporter experiences.

This role would suit candidates with experience as a Supporter Care Officer, Donor Stewardship Officer, Customer Experience Executive, Customer Relations, Membership or Community Engagement Officer, or Fundraising Officer/Administrator. We also welcome applicants with transferable experience in customer service, relationship management and stakeholder engagement.

About Acorns Children's Hospice

At Acorns, we provide specialist palliative care and support for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and their families across the West Midlands. We support families in our hospices, in their homes and within the community, providing care wherever and whenever it's needed.

As one of the UK's largest children's hospice charities, we need to raise more than £14 million every year to fund our vital services. Every supporter who donates, fundraises or campaigns for Acorns helps make that care possible. The Donor Experience team plays a crucial role in nurturing those relationships and ensuring every supporter understands the impact of their generosity

What We Offer 

• £31,110 per annum
• 37.5 hours per week
• Based in Birmingham (B29 6HZ)
• Employee discounts from leading retailers – including the Blue Light Card
• Discounts on refurbished tech
• Health cash plan
• Gym membership and equipment discount scheme
• Bike2Work scheme - save up to 42% on bikes and equipment 
• Wellbeing, legal and financial support
• Career development through our Acorns Academy offering leadership, coaching, fundraising, clinical training and more.   
• Generous contribution to group personal pension plan (7.5%) or continuation of current NHS pension scheme
• NHS pension scheme life assurance or Acorns group life assurance scheme
• Annual leave entitlement increases with length of service 

You need to be eligible to work in the UK to be considered for this role. We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and therefore any successful candidate will be asked to provide two satisfactory references.

As a UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting organisation, we are committed to ensuring that the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child is embedded into both culture and practice within the organisation. As an employee you will be a Duty Bearer for Children’s Rights and support all children to be Rights Holders.

Find out about our culture, career development, benefits and more here: Why Work for Acorns?

Regarding the application for this vacancy - you don't need to include a supporting statement, but there are a few questions to answer.