Chief Financial Officer - Chiltern Way Academy

Buckinghamshire Council; Wendover; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational trust is seeking a strategic CFO to lead financial directions. The role involves partnering with executives to enhance educational impact, driving governance, and ensuring financial sustainability. Candidates should be professionally qualified with extensive experience in financial leadership, particularly in multi-site or public sector settings.

Qualifications

• Senior financial leadership experience in multi-site/public sector.
• Evidence of delivering financial sustainability and strategic growth.
• Clarity and confidence in engaging stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic financial direction of the Trust.
• Partner with stakeholders to maximize impact.
• Drive governance excellence and innovative income streams.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Financial leadership

Governance

Compliance

Value creation

Education

Full professional accounting qualification (CCAB)

Job description

Overview

Join one of the UK’s most ambitious and innovative trusts. We’re growing fast, thinking differently, and redefining what’s possible for young people.

If you're an exceptional financial leader ready to step into a role with real influence, this is your moment.

Salary Type: Leadership

Salary details: £80k - £100k flexible package based on qualifications and experience

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full-time | 37 hours/week | 52 weeks/year

Interviews to be held: TBA

About us

Chiltern Way Academy Trust (CWAT) is an Ofsted 'Outstanding' academy, providing cutting edge and transformational approaches to educating students with ASC and SEMH. We currently have four campuses, with two secondary schools, one primary school and one combined school.
www.chilternway.org

About the role

As CFO, you’ll be more than a finance lead – you’ll be a partner, a strategist, and a core architect of our future.

You will:
· Lead the strategic financial direction of a Trust that is redefining education
· Partner with the CEO, Trustees, and Exec Team to maximise educational and social impact
· Drive excellence in governance, compliance, and value for money
· Develop and empower a high-performing, future-facing finance function
· Bring insight and help us grow smarter, model innovative income streams and deliver sustainable growth
· Play a critical role in system-wide change

About you

We’re seeking a strategic and values-led CFO who brings:

· Full professional accounting qualification (CCAB: CIPFA, ACCA, ICAEW or equivalent)

· Senior financial leadership experience, ideally in a multi-site or public sector organisation

· Strategic thinking combined with operational quality and an appetite for scale and innovation

· Evidence of delivering long-term financial sustainability, strategic growth, and value creation

· Clarity, confidence, and credibility when engaging diverse stakeholders

· A passion for inclusion, education, and transforming lives

Other information

To find out more please contact: Natasha Wakley, HR Administrator

Chiltern Way is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020).

It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. All shortlisted applicants will be required to complete self-disclosure form and return prior to interview.