What skills and experience we're looking for
We are seeking an exceptional and experienced senior leader with the following qualifications, experience, and abilities:
Qualifications
* Professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA) with current membership, or a postgraduate qualification in management/school business management.
* A Master’s degree or MBA in a relevant subject is highly desirable.
Experience
* Senior leadership experience in a complex, multi-site, or shared services organisation.
* Strategic financial planning, budgeting, and resource management within financially constrained public sector or education settings.
* Operating at executive/board level, presenting and influencing strategy and delivery.
* Leading organisational change, service transformation, and growth at scale.
* Managing, developing, and motivating high‑performing teams.
* Driving innovation, system improvement, and the effective use of digital technology.
* Experience within education, multi‑academy trusts, or other relevant public sector organisations.
* Managing risk, audit processes, and governance frameworks.
* Contract, procurement, estates, and capital project management.
Knowledge and Understanding
* Financial strategy, audit, compliance, and internal control systems.
* Regulatory frameworks for academy trusts, including the Academy Trust Handbook, charity, and company law.
* Education funding, operational challenges, and workforce management.
* Governance, assurance frameworks, and stakeholder engagement.
* Data analysis and the ability to communicate complex information clearly.
* Safeguarding, child protection, equality, diversity and inclusion, and health & safety in education.
* Employment law and HR practices in education.
* Change management, risk management, and operational excellence principles.
Skills and Abilities
* Strategic leadership, resource management, and decision‑making.
* Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder engagement skills.
* Ability to lead, motivate, and develop staff at all levels.
* High‑level organisational, analytical, and prioritisation skills.
* Digital literacy and the ability to leverage technology to improve systems and processes.
* Strong problem‑solving, risk management, and operational delivery capability.
Personal Qualities
* Integrity, professionalism, and commitment to public service values.
* Resilient, adaptable, and able to perform under pressure.
* Collaborative, relationship‑focused, and politically aware.
* Strategic thinker, proactive, innovative, and solution‑oriented.
* Ambitious, nurturing, and optimistic, with a commitment to excellence and continuous professional development.
What the school offers its staff
At Cheviot Learning Trust, we recognise that each individual brings a unique blend of expertise and experience to our schools. We have cultivated an environment we are proud to call a great place to work, where our staff feel valued, supported, and empowered to give their best.
As CFOO, you will be a senior executive in an organisation committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and motivating environment, understanding that when our staff thrive, so do the students across our schools.
Benefits
* A supportive, values‑driven executive team with strong collaborative culture.
* A crucial leadership role with real influence across the Trust.
* A forward‑thinking environment committed to innovation, improvement and positive outcomes for pupils.
* Employee assistance programme.
* Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
* Cycle to work scheme.
Commitment to safeguarding
We are strongly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. If your application is successful, this self‑disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure and Barring Service before your appointment is confirmed. This role will include Regulated Activities and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure is required for this post.
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