Location: Exeter (Hybrid working considered)
Exeter Learning Academy Trust is a small, ambitious Trust based in the heart of Exeter - small enough for you to see your impact, ambitious enough to expect it. We work closely together, know our schools well, and are proud of the strong sense of community that runs through everything we do.
Our mission is clear: “Working together we will create an exceptional education for all children where they feel a strong sense of belonging, connection to their communities and have a life of opportunity and choice.”
Our values - Ambitious, Kind and Courageous - guide our decisions, our leadership and the way we work with one another every day.
As we continue to strengthen our organisation and plan for the future, we are seeking an outstanding Chief Finance Officer & School Business Leader to join our Trust-wide leadership team.
About the role:
This is a senior, strategic role with real influence across the Trust.
Working closely with the CEO and Trust Board, you will lead our financial strategy and play a key role in shaping how the Trust operates day to day and long term. Alongside finance, you will oversee a range of operational functions across our schools, including HR, estates, compliance, governance and risk management (aligned to your experience).
This is a broad brief - and that is intentional. As a small Trust, we value leaders who are strategic but also willing to stay close to the detail, who enjoy working collaboratively and who want to see the impact of their work quickly and clearly.
Your leadership will help ensure the Trust remains financially secure, well governed and operationally strong, so that our schools can focus fully on delivering the best possible outcomes for children.
Key responsibilities:
1. Provide strategic financial leadership across the Trust
2. Lead and oversee finance, with responsibility for HR, estates and operational functions depending on experience
3. Line manage the central services team and support their ongoing development
4. Manage and develop outsourced services to ensure value, quality and efficiency
5. Ensure strong governance, statutory compliance and robust internal controls
6. Lead budget setting, long-term financial planning and income generation
7. Oversee risk management, contracts, audit processes and regulatory reporting
8. Build strong, trusted relationships with school leaders, staff and external stakeholders
About you:
9. You will be a collaborative, solution-focused leader with strong financial expertise and the confidence to work at executive level.
10. You will bring clarity, sound judgement, and a people-centred approach to leadership, with the ability to influence decision-making and maintain high standards across a range of operational areas.
11. Experience within education, public or charitable sectors is welcome but not essential.
We are keen to hear from candidates who:
12. Understand how technology can support efficient and effective operations
13. Have experience working with outsourced services
14. Are motivated by purpose and long-term impact, not just process
Most importantly, you will share our values - ambitious in your thinking, kind in your leadership, and courageous when making difficult decisions.
What we offer:
15. A supportive, people-centred Trust where relationships matter
16. The opportunity to play a key role in shaping the Trust’s future
17. Bespoke professional development and leadership support
18. Hybrid working arrangements
19. A role where your expertise will make a visible difference to schools and children
Join us. Lead with purpose. See your impact.
Safeguarding Information
We are a people-focused organisation with strong principles of enabling every child and adult within our Trust to thrive. We have high aspirations for all our children, regardless of their starting point, and in turn, expect our staff to have high aspirations of themselves. We believe that our strength lies in working together and using our collective skills and expertise to benefit the children in our schools.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We encourage you to read our Safeguarding Policy before applying. We will ask for references and conduct an online search for all shortlisted candidates. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. This role also requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
Our Safeguarding policy can be accessed via the below link:
For an informal conversation about the role, please contact the CEO, Chris Briggs, at .