Interim Chief Operating Officer

Sellick Partnership; Cricklade; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing Multi Academy Trust is seeking an experienced Interim Chief Operating Officer in the Southwest, offering flexible hybrid working. This pivotal role involves providing strategic leadership and ensuring the Trust's operational efficiency, financial health, and compliance. The ideal candidate will possess significant experience in operations and finance within the education sector. Applications are encouraged from candidates of diverse backgrounds and experiences. Closing date for applications is January 23rd.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in regulated environments.
• Experience presenting management accounts and implementing financial controls.
• Confidence in advising at board level.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across non-academic functions.
• Ensure financial health and compliance of the Trust.
• Support effective governance and risk management.

Skills

Leadership experience in operations and finance

Knowledge of the Academy Trust Handbook and GDPR

Strategic financial planning

Understanding of employment law

Education

Accountancy qualification (advantageous)

Job description

Interim Chief Operating Officer

Rate: £700 - £900 per day

Location: Southwest/hybrid

We are pleased to be partnering with a growing and values-led Multi Academy Trust in the South West to appoint an Interim Chief Operating Officer at a pivotal point in its development.

Reporting to the CEO and working closely with the Board, the COO will provide strategic leadership across all non-academic functions, ensuring the Trust's operational, financial, and people infrastructure enables sustainable growth and outstanding outcomes for pupils.

This is a high-impact interim assignment, offering the opportunity to shape systems, strengthen governance, and lead complex change across a diverse portfolio of mainstream and specialist settings.

Scope & Accountability

• Providing strategic vision and leadership across core non-educational functions, aligned to the Trust's mission, values, and long-term growth strategy
• Ensuring the financial health, sustainability, and regulatory compliance of the Trust
• Oversight and continuous improvement of Trust-wide services including finance, operations, estates, ICT, HR, and resourcing
• Leading on employment law compliance, organisational design, and policy development in response to evolving legislation
• Supporting effective governance, risk management, and assurance across the Trust and its entities
• Acting as a visible, credible leader, fostering high performance and engagement across senior teams and the wider organisation

Candidate Profile

This role will suit a seasoned executive interim with a strong track record in complex, regulated environments.

Essential experience

• Significant senior leadership experience across operations and finance, ideally within Education or a Multi Academy Trust
• Proven experience presenting monthly management accounts, implementing robust financial controls, and leading strategic financial planning
• Strong working knowledge of the Academy Trust Handbook, GDPR, and education-sector regulatory frameworks
• Demonstrable executive leadership of multi-disciplinary business functions
• Deep understanding of employment law, workforce strategy, and organisational design
• Confidence operating at Board and executive level, advising on risk, compliance, and strategic decision-making

Desirable

• Experience supporting or leading SEND-related developments
• An accountancy qualification (advantageous but not essential)

This is an opportunity to join a purpose-driven organisation that is deeply committed to realising the potential of every child. The Trust places inclusion, care, and excellence at the heart of everything it does, and this role will play a critical part in ensuring the infrastructure is in place to support that ambition.

How to Apply

For a confidential discussion about the Interim Chief Operating Officer role, please contact Kathryn Evans at Sellick Partnership.

Closing date: Friday 23rd January at 4:00pm

Sellick Partnership is proud to be an inclusive and accessible recruitment business and we support applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances. Please note, our advertisements use years' experience, hourly rates, and salary levels purely as a guide and we assess applications based on the experience and skills evidenced on the CV. For information on how your personal details may be used by Sellick Partnership, please review our data processing notice on our website.