Chief Financial and Operations Officer

The Role

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will hold strategic and operational responsibility for all financial matters across the Trust.

You will lead multi-year financial planning, oversee statutory reporting and compliance and manage the external audit relationship. You will also work closely with headteachers and school business managers across the Trust, making financial leadership visible and accessible at every level.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Strategic financial leadership and planning
• Statutory accounts and financial reporting
• Governance, compliance and regulatory assurance
• Budget-setting and resource allocation across 14 schools
• Finance team leadership and development
• Payroll, pensions (LGPS and TPS) and procurement

Who we are looking for

You will bring senior financial leadership experience from a complex, multi-site organisation ideally in the public sector, a charity, or an educational setting. You will have a strong track record in statutory compliance, budgeting, audit and board-level reporting.

A professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) is desirable, as is familiarity with the Academy Trust Handbook, ESFA requirements and the school funding system.

Just as important are your personal qualities: you are collaborative, solutions-focused, approachable, and able to challenge constructively at all levels.