Head of Finance

Hales Valley Trust; Brierley Hill; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Hales Valley Trust in Dudley, West Midlands, invites applications for a Head of Finance. You will lead the Central Finance Team, oversee budgets, consolidate accounts and provide strategic financial analysis to support decision-making across the Trust.

You will report to the Director of Finance and Operations, ensuring robust controls, value for money and compliance with statutory requirements. A collaborative leader with strong communication will thrive here.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in financial management and leadership within a multi-school or complex organisation.
• Excellent understanding of financial management, accounting principles, budgetary control and financial regulations.
• Experience leading financial processes and systems to ensure effective financial management across an organisation.
• Ability to evaluate financial performance, identify risks and opportunities, and provide clear recommendations for strategic decision-making.
• Experience managing, developing and supporting finance teams to deliver an effective service.
• Excellent analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and support senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Central Finance Team, providing effective leadership, line management, training and professional development to ensure a high-quality and responsive finance service.
• Oversee the operational financial management of Hales Valley Trust, ensuring robust financial systems, processes and internal controls are maintained across all Trust schools.
• Lead the preparation, consolidation and monitoring of Trust-wide and school budgets, forecasts and management accounts, providing accurate financial information and analysis to support effective decision-making.
• Work closely with the Director of Finance and Operations to support the delivery of the Trust's financial strategy, ensuring financial planning aligns with wider priorities.
• Ensure compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook, Trust Finance Policy, statutory reporting requirements and financial regulations, identifying and escalating risks.
• Provide financial advice, guidance and support to Executive Headteachers, Headteachers, budget holders and school-based colleagues, promoting financial accountability and value for money.
• Coordinate financial due diligence and operational finance arrangements for new academies joining the Trust, supporting their successful integration through effective financial onboarding and training.
• Support the DFO, Chief Executive and Trustees by providing clear financial reporting, analysis and assurance to inform governance, financial oversight and strategic decision-making.

Skills

Financial leadership

Budgeting

Financial regulations

Finance analytics

Communication skills

Collaboration

Value for money

Job description

Hales Valley Multi Academy Trust is a primary academy trust, based in Dudley, West Midlands. We currently consist of seven very different primary schools, ensuring that our Trust is a diverse and exciting place to work and learn.

We put our children at the heart of everything we do and are dedicated to providing them with an enriching curriculum, underpinned by our overall commitment to high standards across the board.

We value our staff and ensure that they are well supported and trained. We have a continual professional development guarantee that provides a clear career pathway of training and opportunities for all staff at all levels.

Our family of schools work closely together, ensuring that staff and children benefit from sharing the excellent practice that exists across the Trust. Our schools are well supported by the Board of Directors and the Trust Central team.

We believe that we are stronger together - all schools sharing capacity, resources and expertise. We believe that collaboration is fundamental to providing the best learning opportunities through a meaningful curriculum where children and adults acquire the knowledge, skills and positive attitudes to prepare and strengthen them for their role in society: today, tomorrow and in the future. We support and care for each other, especially when things go wrong; we are a family.

This role provides you with an opportunity to join our family to improve outcomes for children. If you are interested in finding out more please do get in touch - we would be very happy to meet with you!

Head of Finance

Vacancy Reference: HVT0816

Hours of Work: Full time - 37 hours per week - All Year Round Contract

Location: Hales Valley Trust, Woodside Primary School, DY2 0SN and travel between Trust schools where necessary.

Job Purpose

The Head of Finance will be responsible for the operational leadership, performance and continuous development of a high-quality, efficient and customer-focused finance service across Hales Valley Trust.

Working closely with and reporting directly to the Director of Finance and Operations (DFO), you will lead and develop the Trust's Finance Team, ensuring effective financial processes, robust internal controls and accurate, timely financial reporting across all Trust schools.

You will play a key role in supporting the delivery of the Trust's financial strategy, providing professional financial analysis, advice and operational support to the DFO, while ensuring that statutory, regulatory and financial reporting requirements are met.

The role will involve overseeing financial planning, budgeting, monitoring, accounting systems and financial controls, alongside providing guidance and support to senior leaders and school-based colleagues. You will also support the DFO in securing value for money, challenging expenditure, identifying financial risks and opportunities, and driving continuous improvement across the Trust.

As the Trust continues to develop and grow, you will support the financial due diligence of prospective academies, coordinate finance-related on boarding and provide structured training to ensure consistent and effective financial management across the organisation.

The successful candidate will be a confident and experienced finance professional with strong leadership, analytical and communication skills, able to manage competing priorities, influence and support senior colleagues, and ensure the effective delivery of the Trust's finance service within agreed policies and delegated authority.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has substantial experience in financial management and leadership, ideally within a multi-school or complex organisation.

• Has an excellent understanding of financial management, accounting principles, budgetary control and financial regulations.

• Has experience of leading and developing financial processes and systems to ensure effective financial management across an organisation.

• Can evaluate financial performance, identify risks and opportunities, and provide clear recommendations to support strategic decision-making.

• Has experience of managing, developing and supporting finance teams to deliver an effective and efficient service.

• Has excellent analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail.

• Has excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence, challenge and support senior leaders.

• Is confident in presenting complex financial information clearly to a range of audiences, including Trustees and senior leaders.

• Is committed to collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement and achieving value for money across the Trust.

In this role you will:

• Lead and develop the Central Finance Team, providing effective leadership, line management, training and professional development to ensure a high-quality and responsive finance service.

• Oversee the operational financial management of Hales Valley Trust, ensuring robust financial systems, processes and internal controls are maintained across all Trust schools.

• Lead the preparation, consolidation and monitoring of Trust-wide and school budgets, forecasts and management accounts, providing accurate financial information and analysis to support effective decision-making.

• Work closely with the Director of Finance and Operations (DFO) to support the delivery of the Trust's financial strategy, ensuring financial planning aligns with the Trust's wider priorities and long-term sustainability.

• Ensure compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook, Trust Finance Policy, statutory reporting requirements and financial regulations, identifying and escalating risks or areas of concern.

• Provide financial advice, guidance and support to Executive Headteachers, Headteachers, budget holders and school-based colleagues, promoting financial accountability and value for money.

• Coordinate financial due diligence and operational finance arrangements for new academies joining the Trust, supporting their successful integration through effective financial on boarding and training.

• Support the DFO, Chief Executive and Trustees by providing clear financial reporting, analysis and assurance to inform governance, financial oversight and strategic decision-making.

Closing Date : 11th December 2026 (Midday)

Shortlisting Date : 11th December 2026 (Midday)

Interview Dates : 15th December 2026

Additional Information:

Hales Valley Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). This means that certain convictions and cautions are considered 'protected' and do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974