Description CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO) Location: Newquay, however hybrid or remote working would also be considered Contract status: Permanent Hours: 37 hours/week, however part-time working would also be considered, 52 weeks Salary: £69,957 - £85,029 Start date: To be negotiated, but early March 2026 would be preferable to allow for handover Are you our next financial mastermind? We are looking for an excellent finance leader to be our next CFO. You will join our trust at a pivotal time; a time where school budgets are being evermore squeezed and a time where the need to make our money go further, and work harder for us, has never been more important. About our trust Kernow Learning is a primary specialist academy trust of 21 schools in Cornwall. All our schools celebrate their individuality whilst holding our trust’s shared values, mission, and philosophy close to their heart. We believe that our trust is at the precipice of something great; through a mix of collective synchronicity and autonomy, our schools are working together to provide strength so that they can stretch their offer beyond expectations in their drive for excellence. We are proud to be an Associate College of National Institute of Teaching; the only one in Cornwall. About our Shared Services Our trust has a centralised Finance Services Team, supporting our schools to ensure that they are appropriately resourced, and ensuring that our trust remains compliant and viable. This team sits within our wider Shared Services Team that performs a wide range of functions and services across a number of areas including finance, estates, IT, and HR, as well as our English Hub and Teaching School Hub (both linked to Trenance Learning Academy), and our Initial Teacher Education programme, KITE (Kernow Initial Teacher Education). About you You will be a phenomenal finance leader. A leader that is able to quickly establish themselves as a team player; a leader who is a motivator with the ability to forge strong relationships and provide clear direction in order to secure success for everyone. You will dream big and achieve big; by ensuring that our finances are superbly managed you will open up futures for all our children. Our next CFO will be an experienced and highly qualified accountant with a demonstrable record of managing large and complex budgets. You will be able to evidence the ability to foresee future difficulties and barriers, as well as being able to bring a strategic mind to navigate successfully around these. Our next CFO will have the courage to innovate, but will also have the wisdom to ensure that we always operate within tight financial regulations. The successful candidate will want to make a difference; they will be committed to maximising our funding to ensure that every child, in every school, is able to achieve their best – after all, we are Building Excellent Schools Together. If you think that you can bring financial brilliance to our trust and lead our Finance Services Team with both love and rigour, then we would love to hear from you. If you think that you can bring innovation, strategy, and a forensic eye for detail then we would love to hear from you. If you think that you are a team player, a motivator, and an inspirational coach, then we would love to hear from you. To apply for this role, visit our trust website at www.kernowlearning.co.uk, or our vacancies page at www.schooljobsincornwall.co.uk where you can complete our application form and read our Information Pack for Candidates. Closing date: Midnight on Wednesday 28th January 2026 Interviews: anticipated – week beginning 2nd February 2026 Kernow Learning is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and follows the Safer Recruitment process. The successful applicant will be expected to share this commitment and will be subject to checks including an enhanced DBS and prohibition checks. An ‘online presence’ check will also be undertaken for all shortlisted candidates. Contact: Contact our HR Team at hr@kernowlearning.co.uk or call 01637 303106 This is not a Cornwall Council vacancy therefore please contact the organisation direct for further information. Organisation address: Kernow Learning, The Old Cricket Pavilion, Treninnick Hill, Newquay, TR7 2JU Contact detail: Kernow Learning Email: hr@kernowlearning.co.uk Website: www.kernowlearning.co.uk/vacancies