Chief Finance Officer

Thrive Education Partnership, Birmingham, B2 5QJ

4 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  1st January 2027

• Closing date

  6 November 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  20 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £95,000.00 - £110,000.00 Annually (FTE)

Chief Finance Officer job summary

Help shape Thrive’s future

Thrive Education Partnership is seeking a Chief Finance Officer who will help shape our future and secure the resources our schools need to deliver excellent education. Our financial decisions must support the learning, wellbeing and future opportunities of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, you will lead financial strategy, planning and control across the Trust. You will work with trustees, school leaders and central colleagues to strengthen financial sustainability, improve value for money and support responsible growth.

We are looking for a leader who combines technical financial expertise with commercial judgement, clear communication and the ability to turn strategy into action. You will bring the confidence to advise and challenge constructively, develop the finance team and build trusted relationships with schools.

You will be a fully qualified accountant with current professional body membership, or hold the CIPFA Diploma in School Financial and Operational Leadership. Experience of leading or advising trusts of 10 or more schools, or organisations of comparable scale and complexity, would be advantageous. SRMA accreditation or equivalent demonstrable expertise in school resource management would also be advantageous.

Working arrangements

Hybrid working, with a minimum of three days per week at the Trust’s central office and/or schools. Additional attendance may be required, including evening governance meetings. The role involves travel between Trust sites. Reasonable adjustments and flexible working requests will be considered.

Safeguarding

Thrive is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The role requires school visits and adherence to safeguarding procedures. Appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check and other applicable pre-employment checks. Online searches of shortlisted candidates may be undertaken.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, subject to applicable filtering rules. Protected convictions and cautions do not need to be disclosed and will not be taken into account.

Job description

Salary: £95,000-£110,000 per annum. Appointment to a spot salary within this range, outside the NJC pay scale, determined by experience and expertise.

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Hours: Full time, 36.5 hours per week

Working arrangements: Hybrid working, with a minimum of three days per week at the Trust’s central office and/or schools. On-site days will be agreed with the CEO to meet the needs of the role. Additional attendance may be required, including evening governance meetings. Travel between Trust sites is required.

Reasonable adjustments and requests for flexible working will be considered in line with Trust policy and statutory requirements.

Job purpose

Provide strategic leadership and professional management of the Trust’s financial services, ensuring financial sustainability and supporting the delivery of its educational priorities and future development.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Finance Officer will lead financial strategy, planning, reporting and control across the Trust and its schools. The post holder will provide clear, reliable advice to the CEO, Trust Board and senior leaders so that decisions are informed by their financial implications.

The post holder will hold a recognised professional accountancy qualification or the CIPFA Diploma in School Financial and Operational Leadership, supported by substantial senior financial leadership experience. They will maintain effective financial governance and ensure compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook, Academies Accounts Direction, relevant legislation and Department for Education requirements.

Strategic leadership and financial sustainability

• Lead the Trust’s financial strategy and maintain a three to five year financial plan aligned with its priorities, development and long-term sustainability.
• Advise the CEO, as Accounting Officer, and the Trust Board on financial strategy, the financial implications of decisions and the use of resources within the Board’s agreed financial control framework.
• Maintain a clear overview of the financial position of every school and the Trust as a whole, identifying risks and recommending timely action.
• Contribute to the Trust’s strategic direction and overall management as a member of its senior leadership team.
• Lead financial due diligence for schools joining or leaving the Trust, assess financial risks and support the integration of financial systems and processes as the Trust grows.
• Work with relevant central team colleagues and school leaders to identify additional income, funding and commercial opportunities that support the Trust’s charitable purpose, and contribute to bids and tenders.

Budgeting and financial reporting

• Lead the development, preparation and monitoring of the annual Trust budget and each school’s budget, presenting draft budgets to the Finance Committee and Trust Board before the start of the financial year.
• Support headteachers and staff with financial responsibilities to set and manage budgets that enable effective, cost-conscious delivery of the curriculum.
• Oversee the preparation of consolidated monthly management accounts, including an income and expenditure account with budget variances, cash flow forecasts and a balance sheet. Share these with the chair of trustees each month and provide them to the Board for consideration at its meetings. Provide quarterly, annual and ad hoc reports as required.
• Monitor income, expenditure and cash flow against approved budgets, report variances to the CEO and provide school financial reports to each Finance Committee meeting.
• Provide headteachers with financial reports at least monthly and the information they need to manage their school’s finances effectively.
• Maintain reliable month-end procedures, including monthly bank reconciliations, so that reports are accurate, consistent and produced on time.
• Oversee accounting for capital expenditure, accruals, depreciation and asset disposals, and maintain the fixed asset register.

Governance compliance and financial control

• Lead the development and implementation of financial policies, processes and procedures, including the financial elements of the Trust’s scheme of delegation and its Finance Manual.
• Maintain effective accounting, reporting and internal controls, including segregation of duties, fraud prevention and compliance with delegated authorities. Promote ethical conduct and sound financial governance.
• Ensure required financial forms, returns and filings are prepared in the specified formats and submitted by the relevant deadlines.
• Oversee compliance with applicable financial and statutory requirements, including VAT, PAYE, HMRC, company and charity requirements and Department for Education requirements.
• Coordinate preparation of the annual report and consolidated statutory financial statements, with a clear timetable and allocation of responsibilities for staff and external advisers.
• Liaise with regulators, Companies House, external accountants and other relevant bodies on financial matters.
• Advise the CEO and Trust Board promptly where fraud is suspected or identified.
• Attend Finance, Audit, local governing body, Trust Board and senior leadership meetings as required, ensuring the financial implications of key decisions are understood.

Audit and risk management

• Coordinate management support for independent internal scrutiny and external audit, ensuring auditors receive accurate information and access to relevant records. Preserve the independence of internal scrutineers and the oversight role of the Audit and Risk Committee.
• Plan and manage the annual statutory audit, provide the evidence required by auditors and ensure audited accounts are submitted by the relevant deadlines.
• Support delivery of the risk-based internal scrutiny programme agreed by the Audit and Risk Committee. Ensure findings are made available promptly to all trustees and implement and track management actions arising from recommendations.
• Work effectively with external accountants, internal auditors and external auditors, initiating and supporting audit procedures as required.
• Lead or support financial and operational risk assessments and help implement appropriate safeguards.

Procurement and value for money

• Maintain oversight of significant purchasing and contracts across the Trust, advising on value for money, whole-life costs and financial risk.
• Develop a coordinated approach to procurement, ensuring competitive processes, appropriate frameworks and compliance with applicable procurement law and current Academy Trust Handbook requirements.
• Provide guidance on retaining quotations and supporting documentation for goods, works and services, including records of meetings, decisions and reports.

Payroll and insurance

• Develop and evaluate the payroll service with the Trust’s HR Director or Manager.
• Ensure monthly payroll is checked, certified and authorised, with monthly review by the CEO.
• Compare actual payroll costs with budget each month, share reports with the CEO and retain records for audit purposes.
• Review insurance arrangements to ensure appropriate cover is in place across the Trust.
• Liaise with schools and insurers on insurance matters and claims, ensuring claims are completed and appropriate payments received.

Professional support and wider responsibilities

• Provide practical financial advice and support to the CEO, Trust Board, headteachers and school staff with financial responsibilities.
• Analyse and interpret financial reports and communicate findings clearly to colleagues with different levels of financial knowledge.
• Represent and promote the Trust’s values internally and externally.
• Lead and develop the finance team, maintaining clear accountability, effective support for schools and continuous improvement in service quality.
• Uphold safeguarding, health and safety, equality and data protection policies. Complete required safeguarding training, maintain professional boundaries and report concerns promptly through the Trust’s procedures.
• Contribute to improving outcomes for pupils and maintaining a caring and stimulating learning environment.
• Undertake the wider responsibilities of a senior leader and other duties appropriate to the level of the post, as reasonably required by the CEO and Trust Board.

Safeguarding and safer recruitment

Thrive Education Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The CFO will visit schools and must uphold safeguarding procedures, maintain professional boundaries and report concerns promptly.

Appointment is subject to satisfactory references, verification of identity, right to work, professional qualifications and relevant memberships, an enhanced DBS check and other applicable pre-employment checks. A children’s barred list check will be undertaken where the role constitutes regulated activity. It is an offence for a barred person to apply to undertake regulated activity with children.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, subject to the applicable Exceptions Order and filtering rules. Protected convictions and cautions do not need to be disclosed and will not be taken into account.

Online searches of shortlisted candidates may be undertaken as part of safer recruitment due diligence. Any relevant concerns may be explored at interview. Applicant information will be processed in accordance with the Trust’s applicant privacy notice.

Person specification

Essential qualifications

Applicants must meet one of the following qualification routes:

• Fully qualified chartered accountant, chartered certified accountant, chartered management accountant or chartered public finance accountant, with current membership of ICAEW, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or an equivalent recognised professional accountancy body.
• Alternatively, the CIPFA Diploma in School Financial and Operational Leadership, developed with ISBL and recognised by DfE as its CIPFA Level 7 qualification route.

All applicants must also demonstrate relevant continuing professional development.

Essential experience knowledge and skills

• Evidence of strategic financial leadership in a multi-academy trust or an organisation of comparable scale and complexity, with accountability for budgeting, cash flow, statutory accounts, audit and controls.
• Commercial judgement demonstrated through procurement, contract management, resource allocation and measurable improvements in financial sustainability.
• Knowledge of academy trust finance and governance, including the Academy Trust Handbook, Academies Accounts Direction and relevant statutory requirements.
• Ability to support growth, assess financial risk and align resources with educational priorities.
• Ability to lead and develop finance teams, build productive relationships with headteachers and explain complex financial information clearly to trustees and colleagues.
• Integrity, sound judgement, constructive challenge and commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and improving outcomes for pupils.

Experience and accreditation that would be advantageous

• Experience of leading or advising a trust of 10 or more schools, or an organisation of comparable scale and complexity.
• School Resource Management Adviser accreditation, or equivalent evidence of effective school resource management reviews and improvements.
• Accredited School Business Professional Mentor status, or equivalent experience of developing school business professionals.
• Experience of SEND funding, integrated curriculum and financial planning, mergers, financial due diligence and integration.

Application and assessment

Candidates should complete the Trust’s application form via My New Term and provide supporting information against the following headings:

• Qualifications and professional development
• Experience and knowledge
• Leadership commercial judgement and achievements
• Personal skills values and safeguarding

Include a brief description of duties and achievements in your current or most recent role, together with a full employment history and explanations for any gaps. A CV may accompany the application form but does not replace it.

Evidence for selection

Applications and interviews will be assessed against the published essential and advantageous criteria. Candidates should give specific examples of their contribution and its impact. Qualifications and relevant memberships will be verified before appointment.

Applicants may request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. The Trust will assess candidates fairly and consistently.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Thrive Education Partnership

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/thrive-education-partnership

Thrive Education Partnership (TEP) is a growing Multi-Academy Trust consisting of six Special Needs Academies, an autism specific primary satellite provision and an SEMH/AS resource base within a large secondary mainstream school. TEP employs approximately 700 staff and supports approximately 1000 pupils (2-19 years of age).

The Warwickshire Academy caters for children and young people aged 9-19 years. This is a non-residential special school for boys and girls with Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH), Autism and behaviours that challenge.

We are seeking to appoint Governor’s for The Warwickshire Academy and would value your experience as this would complement the existing governance arrangements in place

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