Chief Financial Officer

Job details

Job role

• Other leadership roles

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Working pattern

Full time

Contract type

Permanent

Full-time equivalent salary

circa £80,000 depending on experience and wider portfolio responsibilities

What skills and experience we're looking for

Horizons Specialist AcademyTrust consists of eight academies and one sixth form across Tees Valley, Durham and North Yorkshire, serving approximately 1,000 students with a broad range of special educational needs.

Following the retirement of the current postholder, the Trust is seeking to appoint an exceptional and strategic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join the Executive Leadership Team. Based at Abbey Hill Academy, the CFO will play a pivotal role in shaping financial sustainability and supporting the Trust's long-term strategic direction at an exciting stage of growth, building on a strong and stable financial foundation.

Reporting to the Chief Executive and working closely with the Board of Trustees, the CFO will lead all aspects of financial strategy, planning and operations. This includes ensuring robust financial governance, delivering value for money, and enabling high-quality decision-making that supports improved outcomes for pupils.

The CFO will also lead the central finance function and contribute to wider Trust strategy, working collaboratively with senior leaders across education and operations to align financial planning with organisational priorities.

Requirements

The successful candidate will:

• Be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with significant senior leadership experience.
• Demonstrate a strong track record of strategic financial leadership within a complex organisation (education or public sector experience desirable but not essential).
• Have experience advising Boards and senior stakeholders, translating financial information into clear strategic insight.
• Ensure strong financial governance and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Be an inspirational, collaborative leader with the ability to develop high-performing teams and build effective relationships.
• Bring strong commercial acumen with a focus on efficiency, sustainability and continuous improvement.

What the school offers its staff

• An ambitious and forward-thinking Chief Executive Officer and Board of Trustees.
• A highly collaborative and supportive Executive Leadership Team.
• A committed and skilled Central Team across Finance, HR, Estates, IT and Operations.
• Well-established systems, processes and infrastructure.
• Extensive and varied professional learning opportunities.
• Access to a wide range of support for your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Family-Friendly Working policies to support work-life balance.
• Access to a generous Local Government or Teachers' Pension scheme.
• Recognition by Investors in People as a Gold organisation and Silver award for wellbeing.

Commitment to safeguarding

Horizons Specialist Academy Trust is committed to safe recruitment practices and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed, this may include online searches. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Application requirements

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

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