Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Owlcotes Multi Academy Trust; Pudsey; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Strategic impact

Supportive culture

Professional growth

Perks at Work

Annual leave 28+ days

Job summary

Owlcotes Multi-Academy Trust is seeking an ambitious Chief Financial Officer to lead the central finance function across 10 primary schools in Leeds. You will partner with the CEO, Deputy CEO and CIO to shape growth, oversee multi‑million‑pound budgets and deliver robust financial reporting to the Board and committees.

The role requires a qualified accountant, strong strategic finance experience and a collaborative leadership style.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA or part-qualified working towards qualification.
• Proven capability in strategic financial management and multi-year planning.
• Experience with Academy Trusts or public sector budgeting is advantageous.
• Commitment to professional development and safeguarding.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the CEO, CIO, Executive Leadership Team and Trustees on strategic decisions.
• Provide strategic financial oversight across all Trust schools and the Central Team.
• Lead 3- to 5-year medium-term financial planning and ICFP.
• Line manage and develop the central finance team.
• Drive value for money through procurement and capital estates management.
• Liaise with DfE, auditors and regulatory bodies; ensure compliance with academy frameworks.
• Deliver regular financial reporting and management accounts to the Board and Committees.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial planning

Governance

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Owlcotes Multi-Academy Trust is a 10 school primary-only MAT, based in Leeds. The Trust currently employs 600 staff and serves 3500 pupils across Leeds. The Board of Trustees is seeking to appoint an ambitious, values-driven Chief Financial Officer. As our strategic finance lead on the Executive Leadership Team, the ideal candidate will work closely with the CEO, Deputy CEO, Chief Information Officer (CIO), Board of Trustees, and school Headteachers to achieve our strategic objectives, manage a multi-million-pound budget, and shape future Trust growth.

The ideal candidate will provide strong leadership to our central finance team, school office teams, while serving as a visible, collaborative partner to our school Headteachers.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

• Collaborating effectively with the CEO, CIO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Trustees on Trust-level decision-making and growth strategies.
• Providing strategic financial oversight across all Trust schools and the Central Team, including leading 3- to 5-year Medium-Term Financial Planning and Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning (ICFP).
• Supporting school Headteachers to manage delegated budgets through value-for-money spending and sustainable staffing structures.
• Line managing, mentoring, and developing the central finance team.
• Driving Trust-wide value for money through collective procurement, contract consolidation, and capital estates management.
• Liaising with the DfE, external and internal auditors, and regulatory bodies, ensuring absolute compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook and Academies Accounts Direction.
• Delivering regular, insightful financial reporting and management accounts to the Board of Trustees, Finance, Risk and Audit Committee sub-committee, and produce reports for school Local Governing Boards.
• Managing relationships with external providers such as payroll and pension providers.

We are looking for an effective leader and communicator who models professional integrity at all times and brings a positive, solution-focused mindset. The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a recognised accountancy qualification from an accredited provider (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, or CIPFA), or, as a minimum, be part-qualified and actively working towards completion of a recognised accountancy qualification.
• Demonstrate proven capability in strategic financial mangement, budget setting, medium-term forcasting, and internal controls.
• Understand the regulatory financial framework that Academy Trusts operate within, alongside public sector spending principles and value for money (transferable senior finance experience from local government, charity, housing, or commerical sectors is also welcomed).
• Be committeed to continious professional development and genuinely aligned with our mission to improve life chances for primary school children.

Staff are out most important asset, and we believe in giving people support to succeed in their role. Benefits of working with Owlcotes include:

• Strategic Impact: The opportunity to lead the financial strategic direction of a successful Trust.
• Supportive Culture: A friendly, collaborative network of school leaders and Central Team colleagues.
• Professional Growth: Ongoing training and leadership development and coaching tailored to your career goals.
• Employee Perks: Access to our employee benefits and discounts scheme via Perks at Work.
• Annual Leave & Continuity: 28+ days annual leave plus public holidays, with continuity of local government service honoured for leave and sickness benefits. Maximum two weeks' annual leave during the school summer break.
• Pension: Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (West Yorkshire Pension Fund).

Informal visits or conversations are warmly encouraged. For more information, or to arrange a discussion about this role, please contact Joe Wilson (Chief Information Officer) on 0113 8874523 or email [e-mail].

We reserve the right to interview candidates and close this vacancy early should we receive a number of suitable applications; early application is therefore strongly encouraged.

Application Deadline: Thursday 3rd December 2026 at 12 noon.

Interviews & Assessment Day: Monday 7th December 2026.

Owlcotes Multi-Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We promote diversity and strive for a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure, a Section 128 management check, satisfactory references, and must abide by all Trust safeguarding and child protection policies.