Chief Financial Operations Officer

Peridot Partners; Kemp Town Estate; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable education trust in the UK is seeking a Chief Financial Operations Officer (CFOO) to lead financial operations and ensure resources align with the Trust's goals. The successful candidate will have senior leadership experience, financial acumen, and a commitment to child welfare, overseeing operations across multiple sites to enhance sustainability and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with significant senior leadership experience.
• Experience in complex, multi-site organisations.
• Proven ability to shape and deliver strategy at scale and oversee multiple functions.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership of financial operations, human resources, estates, IT and related services across CET.
• Oversee financial strategy, planning, reporting, and governance.
• Lead multi-site operations to ensure efficiency, sustainability and value for money.
• Engage with staff, schools, sponsors and partners to deliver the Trust's objectives.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial acumen

Stakeholder engagement

Operational expertise

Communication skills

Education

Qualified accountant

Job description

Overview

We have a new opportunity for an ambitious and strategically focused Chief Financial Operations Officer (CFOO) to join our executive team at Cumbria Education Trust (CET). We are seeking an experienced senior leader with the vision, expertise, and values to lead the evolution of our Trust Services to ensure our resources and operations are aligned to deliver the very best for every pupil.

You will be an experienced senior leader who can bring together financial acumen, operational expertise, and a commitment to our values. You will be a qualified accountant with significant senior leadership experience, ideally gained in a complex, multi-site organisation. You will bring a demonstrable track record of shaping and delivering strategy at scale, and the ability to oversee multi-disciplinary functions spanning finance, HR, estates, IT and operations. Strategic foresight will be essential, as well as a willingness to engage in the operational realities of a fast-growing Trust. Alongside technical and strategic expertise, we are looking for a leader who is visible and approachable, who can engage with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation, and who shares our values and believes that every child deserves the very best.

About CET

Cumbria Education Trust (CET) is seeking an ambitious and strategic Chief Financial Operations Officer (CFOO) to join our executive team at an exciting moment in our organisation's journey. We are the largest local multi-academy trust in Cumbria, celebrating 10 years and continuing to grow by welcoming additional schools into our family. We are looking for a leader with the vision, expertise, and values to ensure our resources and operations are aligned to deliver the very best for every pupil as we enter this exciting next stage of development. CET is the largest trust in the region, with a focus on efficient, sustainable operations, strong governance, and a culture where every child and school matters. Each decision, strategy, and investment is guided by how it will help our young people be the best they can be.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership of financial operations, human resources, estates, IT and related services across CET.
• Oversee financial strategy, planning, reporting, and governance.
• Lead multi-site operations to ensure efficiency, sustainability and value for money.
• Engage with staff, schools, sponsors and partners to deliver the Trust's objectives.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with significant senior leadership experience.
• Experience in complex, multi-site organisations.
• Proven ability to shape and deliver strategy at scale and oversee multiple functions.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified applicants. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.