Chief Finance Officer

Derby City Council; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational trust in Derby is looking for a Chief Finance Officer (CFO) to oversee the financial management of the Trust. This pivotal role involves collaborating with senior leaders and ensuring effective use of resources to enhance the educational experience for children. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and align with the Trust's ethos. A competitive salary and benefits are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Employee benefits

Qualifications

• Proven experience in financial management within an educational or similar setting.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong moral purpose and alignment with the ethos of the Trust.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial expertise ensuring effective resource use.
• Build strong collaborative relationships across the Trust.
• Support and improve all schools within the Trust.

Job description

Overview

We are looking to appoint a new Chief Finance Officer (CFO) to our seven school trust. The CFO will be a pivotal member of the Central Team and will have overall responsibility for the financial management of the Trust. The CFO will work alongside other senior leaders in the strategic development of the Trust.

Odyssey Collaborative Trust is a group of five primary and two junior schools, all within the City of Derby. We educate 2,111 pupils and employ 351 staff. We aim to be a Trust where, pupils thrive, our colleagues thrive and our community thrives. You can find out more about the trust through the CEO’s welcome and the vision and culture sections of our website.

The Trust has a turnover of around £17m. We pool reserves, but not General Allocation Grant Income. Schools have School Business Managers who work closely with the CFO.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial expertise ensuring the Trust uses its resources effectively to deliver on our thrive vision
• Build strong collaborative relationships with colleagues across the Trust
• Be a proactive part of the Trust’s activities and be fully committed to supporting and improving all schools in the Trust
• Demonstrate excellent communication and inter-personal skills, with a high level of integrity and strong moral purpose that aligns closely with the ethos of the school and the Trust

What we offer

• A key leadership role in a well-managed and financially sustainable Trust
• The opportunity to make a significant difference to the education of children across Derby
• The opportunity to work alongside a dedicated and committed Central Team that values its staff and fosters positive relationships across the Trust
• A competitive salary and a range of employee benefits

Safeguarding and equality

Odyssey Collaborative Trust is fully committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We have rigorous recruitment procedures that are designed to stop unsuitable candidates for being appointed. As the post is in regulated activity, the successful candidate will require enhanced DBS clearance and references will be taken before interview. Odyssey Collaborative Trust is committed to equality of opportunity in employment and services.

How to apply

We are keen to give candidates a chance to find out more about the role, please contact our CEO, Ian Dewes on 07708 475 638 or [e-mail].

To apply, please complete the attached Application form and return it to [e-mail].

The closing date for this vacancy is 29 September 2025 at midday. Any applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.

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