South Pennine Academies is recruiting a Chief Financial Officer who wants their impact to be felt across an organisation, not just reflected in its reports. The role offers the opportunity to shape how financial thinking supports decision‑making, influences behaviour and contributes to better outcomes for pupils.
The Trust is looking for someone who can bring clarity and perspective to conversations, helping colleagues understand not just the numbers, but what they enable. This is a senior finance leadership role operating within a highly regulated, publicly funded environment where governance, control and compliance are critical. The Trust already benefits from strong financial discipline, robust audit and well‑established controls. Maintaining that integrity is fundamental, and any evolution of the function must be built on those solid foundations.
Responsibilities
The Chief Financial Officer will act as a trusted partner and sounding board for the Chief Executive and senior leadership team, ensuring that financial insight is embedded into both strategic and day‑to‑day decision‑making across the Trust. This includes engaging directly with headteachers and school leaders, building relationships that allow finance to be understood, valued and actively used. The role further develops the way financial information is produced and used, improving accessibility, timeliness and relevance, and evolves systems through automation, technology and AI to improve efficiency and reduce friction. Financial planning, forecasting and longer‑term modelling will support sustainability and informed investment decisions.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA) with experience of operating at a senior level within a complex organisation. Experience within education or the public sector is helpful, but the ability to work within a well‑governed, publicly accountable environment and balance financial discipline with a forward‑looking, solutions‑focused approach is essential.
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