Deputy Chief Executive Officer - Finance & Operations

The Methodist Church in Britain; Sutton Coldfield; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Community Academies Trust is seeking a Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Finance and Operations. The role leads the trust’s finance and operational functions and acts as CFO and Company Secretary across HR, estates, IT and risk.

The post requires a qualified accountant with multi-site leadership experience and solid governance expertise. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will drive strategic financial planning, strengthen systems, ensure robust statutory reporting, and represent the Trust

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with senior leadership experience in finance and operations.
• Proven ability to lead multi-site financial and operational functions.
• Experience guiding strategic financial planning and governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Trust's finance and operational functions across schools.
• Support the Chief Executive on strategic matters.
• Act as Chief Finance Officer and Company Secretary.
• Provide strategic leadership for finance, HR, operations, estates, IT, data protection, health and safety, compliance and risk.
• Strengthen systems and controls across the Trust.
• Support long-term financial planning and sustainability.
• Ensure accurate statutory reporting and governance assurance.
• Represent the Trust externally.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder comms

Relationship building

Education

Qualified accountant

Job description

Community Academies Trust is recruiting a Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Finance and Operations to join its Trust Executive Team alongside the newly appointed Chief Executive. The post leads the Trust's finance and operational functions, acting as Chief Finance Officer and Company Secretary across HR, estates, IT and risk. Across 17 schools and over 7,600 pupils, it suits a senior, qualified accountant with multi-site experience. Visa sponsorship is not available and the post starts on 1 March 2027.

What the job involves

• Lead the Trust's finance and operational functions
• Support the Chief Executive on key strategic matters
• Act as Chief Finance Officer and Company Secretary
• Provide strategic leadership for finance, HR, operations, estates, IT, data protection, health and safety, compliance and risk
• Strengthen systems
• Support long-term financial planning
• Ensure effective statutory reporting and governance assurance
• Represent the Trust externally

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant

Experience

• Substantial senior leadership experience in finance and operations
• Proven track record of long-term financial planning, risk management, statutory reporting and governance assurance
• Specific examples from own career of decisions, challenges and outcomes, set out in the supporting statement

Skills & knowledge

• Leading people, resources, systems and organisational change with clarity and sound judgement
• Communicating complex matters clearly
• Building strong relationships across the Trust and beyond

Checks & eligibility

• DBS check
• Online checks
• References

Other

• Commitment to high-quality education, strong governance and effective support for schools
• Commitment to the Trust's values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, inclusion and aspiration

Nice to have

• Experience in a complex education, public sector or multi-site organisation