Chief Finance and Operations Officer

Education Week Jobs; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

Endeavour Partnership Trust in the United Kingdom is seeking an exceptional Chief Finance and Operations Officer to join the Executive Leadership Team. You will drive finance, estates, digital strategy and risk management to support three primary schools and staff across the Trust.

Reporting to the CEO, you will shape scalable, efficient systems and partner with Trustees and Headteachers to secure continued school improvement and responsible use of public funds.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with credibility to advise the CEO and Trustees.
• Ability to lead across finance, estates, digital strategy, and risk.
• Strong governance and public funding understanding.
• Collaborative and solutions-focused leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership across finance, estates and premises, digital strategy, compliance and risk.
• Oversee procurement and income generation.
• Support strategic development and scalability as the Trust grows.
• Build relationships with CEO, Trustees and Headteachers.

Skills

Qualified accountant

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Finance and operations leadership

Education

Qualified accountant

Job description

A small Trust with big ambitions

Endeavour Partnership Trust is seeking an exceptional Chief Finance and Operations Officer to join our Executive Leadership Team at an exciting point in our development.

We are a small, ambitious and values-led Trust currently comprising three primary schools. Partnership is at the heart of who we are. We are proud of our collaborative culture, our commitment to inclusion and our strong track record of school improvement.

As we look to the future, we want to strengthen the systems, services and infrastructure that will enable our Trust to grow sustainably while continuing to provide the very best for our pupils.

The opportunity

This is a broad and genuinely strategic senior leadership role.

Reporting to the CEO and working closely with Trustees, Headteachers and senior colleagues, you will provide leadership across finance, estates and premises, digital strategy, compliance and risk, procurement, income generation and wider operational development.

You will play an important part in shaping the next phase of our Trust. We are not simply looking for someone to maintain existing systems. We want a CFOO who will bring expertise, ideas and constructive challenge, helping us develop approaches that are efficient, proportionate and scalable as we grow.

Most importantly, you will understand that excellent finance and operations are not ends in themselves. They create the conditions in which our schools, staff and pupils can flourish.

About you

We are looking for an accomplished, values-led finance and operations leader who combines strategic judgement with a strong understanding of operational delivery.

You will be a qualified accountant with the credibility to advise the CEO, Trustees and senior leaders, together with the leadership skills to build strong relationships across our schools.

You will bring integrity, sound judgement and excellent stewardship of public resources. You will also be collaborative, solutions-focused and comfortable operating in a role where strategic thinking and attention to detail are equally important.

Experience within the academy sector is desirable rather than essential. What matters is that you can bring strong professional expertise, understand the responsibilities associated with public funding and share our ambition for the Trust.

Why Endeavour Partnership Trust?

You will be joining us at an important stage in our journey and will have genuine scope to influence how the Trust develops. We can offer:

• a senior role with real strategic influence


• the opportunity to help shape a growing Trust


• close working relationships with the CEO, Trustees and Headteachers


• a collaborative, supportive and values-led culture


• a role where the impact of your work will be visible across our schools


• a strong commitment to your professional development and continued growth

Find out more

We have produced a comprehensive CFOO Applicant Pack, which provides further information about Endeavour Partnership Trust, the opportunity, what we can offer you, the full job description and person specification.

Salary: £80,000, negotiable depending on experience.

We would strongly encourage prospective applicants to read the Applicant Pack before applying.

If you are an experienced finance and operations leader who wants the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the future of a small but ambitious Trust, we would be delighted to hear from you.

For informal enquiries; please email [e-mail]

Please note that we are not accepting applications or approaches from recruitment agencies in relation to this vacancy.

Safeguarding and equality

Endeavour Partnership Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

The successful candidate will be subject to appropriate pre-employment and safer recruitment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and an online search in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be considered to enable candidates with disabilities to participate fully in the recruitment process.