Chief Finance Officer

Job Description

Find out exactly what skills, experience, and qualifications you will need to succeed in this role before applying below.

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. xwzovoh

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