Oaklands College - Chief Finance Officer

Doddpartners; St Albans; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Oaklands College is seeking a Chief Finance Officer to lead the financial strategy, ensuring integrity through planning, control and reporting that drives efficiency and growth.

You will provide day‑to‑day management of the finance function, oversee capital development and manage financial risk, supporting regional and international ventures.

Responsibilities

• Lead the financial strategy, ensuring financial integrity through stronger business planning, financial control and reporting to maximise efficiency and growth opportunities.
• Provide day‑to‑day line management for the finance function and support the capital development programme.
• Manage financial risk and support new business ventures (regional/international).
• Lead financial planning and compliance while delivering key management information to maintain a strong financial position.

Job description

Oaklands College - Chief Finance Officer

Vacancy Description

We are delighted to be working with Oaklands College (T/O Circa £50m), renowned for its diverse employer-led technical and professional provision with an enduring commitment to widening participation and student engagement. The College has significantly grown over the last few years, is in the top 10% for achievement rates and number 7 nationally for young people’s results. We are and continue to invest in our expansive estate development programme (Circa £100m) to further enhance the student experience and take forward our commercial and international activities. As Oaklands College expands to become Oaklands Educational Group, we are evolving to meet the needs of our rapidly changing economy and skills landscape and remain committed to our mission ‘to prepare every learner for work, rewarding careers and life’s opportunities’.

Reporting to the Principal and Chief Executive, you will lead the financial strategy, ensuring financial integrity through stronger business planning, financial control, and reporting to maximise efficiency and growth opportunities. You will provide the day-to-day line management for the finance function, support our expansive capital development programme, manage financial risk, support new business ventures (regional/international), lead financial planning and compliance whilst providing the key management information to maintain its strong financial and regulatory position.

You will be a qualified, commercially orientated finance leader with a wealth of strategic experience, ideally gained within a highly complex, customer-centric environment. You will have strong technical expertise, excellent analytical and planning skills, and full familiarity with complex revenue streams and capital investment initiatives. You will possess excellent interpersonal and presentation skills, with the capacity to engage at all levels across and beyond the organisation, to shape the strategic challenges through deliverable and workable business solutions.

For more information, please download the assignment brief below. To apply, please forward an up-to-date CV and covering letter, with salary details to [e-mail] by 9.00 am Monday 8th June 2026.

For a confidential and informal discussion, please call John Dodd on 07545 431848 / 01244 738450 or email him directly at [e-mail]