Chief Finance & Operations Officer (CFOO)

Sdbe Multi Academy Trust, London, SE1 1TD

41 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  1 June 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  21 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Headteacher
  • Other leadership roles
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2, Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Pay scale: Competitive, Depending on Experience

What skills and experience we're looking for

Post: Chief Finance & Operations Officer (CFOO) Accountable To: Chief Executive

Location: London & South-East (Three days office based two days flexible)

Salary: Competitive, Depending on Experience

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

The SDBE Multi Academy Trust is a growing family of Church of England schools, rooted in strong values and a shared commitment to excellence. We currently serve 14 schools across London and the South-East, supporting over 3,000 children and more than 500 staff, with more schools due to join us in the years ahead.

Following the launch our new five year strategic plan, we are looking for a dynamic and experienced Chief Finance and Operations Officer to deliver on our ambitious plans.

This is a key leadership role in a stable, high performing Trust with a clear sense of direction and purpose. You will be responsible for leading functions including finance, estates, ICT, compliance and risk, procurement, and payroll, ensuring that each is forward thinking, responsive and strategically aligned to our mission.

In our Trust, we see our central teams as an extension of our school leadership teams, true partners in the work of school and business improvement. Our role is to empower our heads and their teams to be the very best they can be. We are committed to building capacity through thoughtful, well-designed and proactive support that removes barriers, enabling leaders to focus their energy where it matters most: on teaching, learning and nurturing every child in our care. For these reasons, we will be expecting you to get to know our schools well, so that you can help them to determine the very best in financial performance.

You will be inheriting a finance function that has already been through a period of significant change and is now well positioned to provide high quality support. You will help shape the next stage, creating collaborative hubs, embedding excellence, and growing a culture of professional trust.

You will bring strong academy trust experience, alongside a proven ability to lead impactful business operations and build high performing teams. Most importantly, you will share our ambition to be dynamic and forward thinking in all areas of our work, shaping a Trust that is continually learning, developing and delivering for its schools and communities.

If you are excited by this challenge and ready to make a meaningful contribution, we would love to hear from you. To arrange a confidential conversation, please contact Mark Burnett, CEO at mark.burnett@sdbemat.org.

Closing date: 9am Monday 1st June 2026

The duties may be amended from time to time, in consultation with the postholder, to reflect changing needs and circumstances.

The SDBE Multi-Academy Trust is committed to actively addressing discrimination in all its forms. We strive to ensure that everyone in our community has fair and equal access to opportunities and an inclusive experience within employment. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, particularly those currently underrepresented in our workforce. We are respectful and supportive of all individuals, regardless of race, age, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, caring responsibilities, disabilities, or cultural background.

The SDBE MAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and references.

What the school offers its staff

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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 job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

Chief Finance Operations Officer Job Description Person Specification Apr26.docx - 697 KB (opens in new tab)

2025 SDBEMAT Application Form.docx - 503 KB (opens in new tab)

About Sdbe Multi Academy Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Sdbe Multi Academy Trust website
• Email address: people.team@sdbemat.org
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/sdbe-multi-academy-trust

Head office location

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