Chief Financial Officer

Abbey Hill Academy, Stockton-on-Tees, TS19 8BU

19 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  20 May 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  1 May 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other leadership roles
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: circa £80,000 depending on experience and wider portfolio responsibilities

What skills and experience we're looking for

Horizons Specialist Academy Trust consists of eight academies and one sixth form across Tees Valley, Durham and North Yorkshire, serving approximately 1,000 students with a broad range of special educational needs.

Following the retirement of the current postholder, the Trust is seeking to appoint an exceptional and strategic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join the Executive Leadership Team. Based at Abbey Hill Academy, the CFO will play a pivotal role in shaping financial sustainability and supporting the Trust’s long-term strategic direction at an exciting stage of growth, building on strong and stable financial foundations.

Reporting to the Chief Executive and working closely with the Board of Trustees, the CFO will lead all aspects of financial strategy, planning and operations. This includes ensuring robust financial governance, delivering value for money, and enabling high-quality decision-making that supports improved outcomes for pupils.

The CFO will also lead the central finance function and contribute to wider Trust strategy, working collaboratively with senior leaders across education and operations to align financial planning with organisational priorities.

The successful candidate will:

• Be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with significant senior leadership experience.
• Demonstrate a strong track record of strategic financial leadership within a complex organisation (education or public sector experience desirable but not essential).
• Have experience advising Boards and senior stakeholders, translating financial information into clear strategic insight.
• Ensure strong financial governance and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Be an inspirational, collaborative leader with the ability to develop high-performing teams and build effective relationships.
• Bring strong commercial acumen with a focus on efficiency, sustainability and continuous improvement.

What the school offers its staff

Horizons Specialist Academy Trust can offer:

• An ambitious and forward-thinking Chief Executive Officer and Board of Trustees.
• A highly collaborative and supportive Executive Leadership Team.
• A committed and skilled Central Team across Finance, HR, Estates, IT and Operations.
• Well-established systems, processes and infrastructure.
• Extensive and varied professional learning opportunities.
• Access to a wide range of support for your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Family Friendly Working policies to support work-life balance.
• Access to a generous Local Government or Teachers’ Pension scheme.
• Recognition by Investors in People as a Gold organisation and Silver award for wellbeing.

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.

If you have the vision, expertise and leadership to drive financial excellence and support the continued success of Horizons Specialist Academy Trust, we would very much like to hear from you. For further information about this post please visit our website – www.horizonstrust.org.uk.

Please apply by downloading the non-teaching application form from our website www.horizonstrust.org.uk. The Trust have partnered with Edwin People for this recruitment. Completed application forms should therefore be emailed to: executiverecruitment@edwinpeople.com

If you have any questions about the vacancy or would like to arrange a visit to Horizons Specialist Academy Trust or one of our Academies, please don’t hesitate to contact us by emailing executiverecruitment@edwinpeople.com or by calling 07713 669323.

Commitment to safeguarding

Horizons Specialist Academy Trust is committed to safer recruitment practices and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed, this may include online searches. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

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

HSAT CFO Brochure.pdf - 5.53 MB (opens in new tab)

About Abbey Hill Academy

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 19
• School size: 367 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Abbey Hill Academy website
• Email address: helen.mett@horizonstrust.org.uk
• Phone number: 01642 664147
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/abbey-hill-academy

Abbey Hill Academy & Abbey Hill Academy Sixth Form are at the forefront of current developments in the education of young people with special needs. We specialise in meeting the needs of students aged 11 to 19 who have a full range of learning disabilities.

Abbey Hill Academy, where this post will be situated, provides for approximately 320 young people aged 11 to 19 years who have learning difficulties, as well as other physical, medical and social needs.

Arranging a visit to Abbey Hill Academy

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email helen.mett@horizonstrust.org.uk.

School location

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