Chief finance officer

Northampton
Permanent
Robertson Bell
Chief financial officer
Posted: 27 April
The role

Caroline Chisholm School is partnering with Robertson Bell on a retained basis to appoint a Chief Finance Officer on a permanent basis. This is a pivotal leadership role within a high-performing and ambitious organisation, offering the opportunity to shape financial strategy, lead transformation, and support the school’s evolution

Caroline Chisholm School is a high-achieving, values-led all-through school with a strong reputation for academic excellence, staff engagement, and community impact. Already operating at a scale and complexity comparable to a multi-academy trust, the organisation is entering an exciting new phase of growth, with plans to expand into primary provision and formally develop as a MAT.

This is a unique opportunity to join a forward-thinking leadership team and play a central role in driving financial sustainability, operational transformation, and long-term strategic growth.

The role

  • Partner with the Principal, Trustees and Senior Leadership Team to develop and deliver a long-term financial strategy, supporting the school’s growth ambitions.
  • Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting across a complex and evolving organisation, ensuring strong financial control and sustainability.
  • Take ownership of a significant transformation agenda, including digital system implementation (Bromcom), contract optimisation, and operational redesign.
  • Support with the operational re-design of financial systems providing strategic oversight of major projects such as introduction of Bromcom for financial processes, ensuring robust due diligence, and stakeholder management.
  • Act as a key advisor to Trustees, auditors and external stakeholders including the DfE and Local Authority.
  • Drive value for money through effective procurement, contract negotiation and cost optimisation initiatives.
  • Lead and develop the finance function, fostering a high-performing, collaborative and forward-thinking team culture.
  • Support wider organisational leadership, overseeing linked operational areas including IT and educational visits.
  • Identify opportunities for income generation, funding and financial innovation to support future growth.

    • The organisation

    Caroline Chisholm School is a school with a strong ethos centred on kindness, curiosity and integrity. With a highly engaged workforce and a 96% positive staff survey rating, the school offers a collaborative and ambitious working environment.

    The organisation has successfully navigated recent financial pressures, delivering significant savings while maintaining educational excellence. With a clear financial sustainability plan in place and strong governance support, the school is now well positioned for its next phase of growth.

    Alongside this, a major digital and operational transformation programme is underway, modernising systems and infrastructure to support long-term efficiency and scalability.

    Essential criteria

  • Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent)
  • Proven experience in a senior financial leadership role within a complex organisation
  • Strong track record of leading financial strategy, planning and reporting
  • Experience managing multi-million-pound budgets and driving financial sustainability
  • Demonstrable experience leading transformation projects (systems, operations or organisational change)
  • Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at Board and executive level
  • Commercial mindset, with the ability to identify efficiencies and funding opportunities
  • A collaborative and adaptable leadership style, aligned to a values-driven environment

    • Apply now

    If you are a strategic and forward-thinking finance leader looking to make a tangible impact within a high-performing and ambitious organisation, we would love to hear from you. This role requires primarily on-site working during term time, with some flexibility available.

    Applications close on the 24th May but will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

    Something like this as we see the COO role (already recruited for) being responsible for PFI handback process and procurement of same.

    Apply
    Create E-mail Alert
    Job alert activated
    Saved
    Save
    See more jobs
    Similar jobs
    Finance jobs in Northampton
    jobs Northampton
    jobs Northamptonshire
    jobs England
    Apply
    Create E-mail Alert
    Job alert activated
    Saved
    Save