Chief Financial Officer
Creative Education Trust, London, WC2E 9JD18 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
20 April 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
2 April 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
- Salary dependent upon experience
What skills and experience we're looking for
Creative Education Trust invites you to apply for the role of Chief Financial Officer - a pivotal leadership position shaping our trust-wide financial strategy, governance and long‑term sustainability. This is a unique opportunity to lead our financial direction, champion equity and ensure the strong stewardship that enables ambition to thrive for every pupil, colleague and community we serve.
Job Title: Chief Financial Officer
Location: Home-based with significant trust-wide travel
Salary: Competitive, commensurate with experience
Start Date: September 2026
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full-time
Application Closing Date: Monday 20th April 2026
Interview Dates: w.c. 27th April (1st Round at The Wrenn School, Wellingborough and 2nd Round at The Milton Keynes Academy, Milton Keynes)
Role Overview:
Creative Education Trust is appointing a bold, strategic and forward‑looking Chief Financial Officer. As a core member of the Executive Team, the position carries significant influence, shaping decisions that underpin the success and resilience of every Creative Education Trust school.
The Chief Financial Officer will be responsible for developing and delivering a confident, future‑focused multi‑year financial strategy aligned to the Trust’s ambitions. The role oversees all financial planning, reporting and compliance, ensuring robust governance and full adherence to statutory and regulatory requirements. It leads the continuous improvement of financial systems and processes, driving digital transformation and embedding strong financial controls across all academies.
This role provides strategic insight and high‑quality analysis to inform Executive and Board decision‑making. It ensures resources are allocated effectively, risks are well‑managed, and the Trust can invest in growth, improvement and long‑term impact. The Chief Financial Officer will set high standards for financial discipline, transparency and accountability, building capability within the finance team and supporting leaders throughout the organisation.
About You:
Reporting directly to our CEO, Nicole McCartney, the successful postholder will bring substantial post‑qualification, multi‑site experience, deep financial expertise and the authority to lead complex operations with clarity, conviction and purpose. Your strategic judgement and principled stewardship will strengthen the Trust’s financial resilience and unlock the capacity to invest where it matters most. Through bold financial leadership, efficient use of resources and an unwavering commitment to excellence, you will empower Creative Education Trust to invest ambitiously in its people, its schools and the students at the centre of its mission. Your leadership will combine analytical precision with strong people management, enabling you to influence with confidence from Board level to in‑school teams, fostering collaboration, trust and a shared drive for continuous improvement across the organisation.
Our Ideal candidate will have:
Strategic financial leadership: Experience leading multi‑year planning, scenario modelling and investment decisions that secure the Trust’s long‑term sustainability and resilience.
Regulatory authority: Bringing deep, authoritative knowledge of the Academy Trust Handbook, Academies Accounts Direction, Companies Act and Charity Commission guidance, ensuring expert direction and full compliance across the trust.
Executive influence: The ability to communicate complex financial information with clarity and impact, shaping strategic decisions and inspiring confidence at Board, Executive and school level.
Leadership excellence: Develop high‑performing teams, modelling professionalism, ambition and a culture of continuous improvement and strong financial governance.
Technical mastery: Combining advanced financial management skills with systems thinking, strengthening controls, driving digital transformation and embedding efficient, data‑led processes across the Trust.
Insight‑driven decision‑making: Utilising data, modelling and financial analysis to guide priorities, monitor performance and enable informed, timely and effective decision‑making.
Championing sustainability and assurance: Ensuring resources are deployed wisely and transparently, advocating for accountability, long‑term value and opportunities that maximise ambition, equity and student impact.
Proactive risk and assurance leadership: Taking a forward‑thinking approach to risk management, procurement and due diligence, safeguarding the Trust’s integrity, resilience and long‑term success.
About the Finance Department:
The Finance Department is a collective of over 20 finance professionals and play a pivotal role in strengthening Creative Education Trust’s ability to deliver exceptional opportunities for young people. As a strategic partner to schools, central teams and the Executive Board, the department provides the insight, leadership and financial stewardship that ensure resources are used wisely and aligned with the Trust’s ambition for improvement and long‑term sustainability. The Team’s work enables confident decision‑making and ensures every financial choice supports the mission to improve life chances across all communities we serve.
Alongside its strategic leadership, the department maintains the robust financial operations that underpin the Trust’s resilience and effectiveness. From planning and reporting to the vital Accounts Payable and Receivable functions, the team ensures high‑quality, timely and transparent processes that uphold strong financial governance and support colleagues and partners with professionalism and reliability. Together, this purposeful approach empowers Creative Education Trust to operate with clarity, integrity and ambition - ensuring resources reach the classrooms and students where they make the greatest difference.
What the school offers its staff
About Creative Education Trust:
Creative Education Trust is a growing network of 17 schools, educating over 13,500 children and young people across England. Since 2010, we’ve worked in partnership with communities to deliver an education that inspires ambition, promotes equity, and unlocks opportunity for every learner.
We believe every child has talent, every community has strength, and every school can be a place where excellence thrives. Our curriculum is rich, broad, and inclusive - designed to build knowledge, nurture creativity, and prepare students for the future.
We are united by a shared purpose: to transform lives through education. Our schools are places where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to lead their own lives with confidence. Through collaboration, high expectations, and purposeful leadership, we ensure that success is both expected and achieved - together. Visit our Trust website to explore how we support our staff and discover more about our mission, values, and opportunities.
Further information about the job
Ready to Join Us?
Submit your application directly through our website. We warmly welcome confidential conversations, to arrange a call please contact the Senior Recruitment Team at recruitment@creativeeducationtrust.org.uk, and we'll be delighted to assist you.
Want to stay connected? Join our Talent Pool here and be the first to hear about future opportunities.
Essential Information:
Creative Education Trust (CET) is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people by keeping them safe, we expect all our colleagues to share in this responsibility.
All shortlisted candidates are subject to online checks prior to interview.
The CET Recruitment Policy follows the guidance set out by Keeping Children Safe in Education, where all offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS Check, separate Barred List Check, References and where appropriate a Prohibition from teaching search.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.
CET is committed to developing, maintaining, and supporting an inclusive culture and environment for the benefit of its employees and the communities it serves.
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
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Creative Education Trust
- Type
- Multi-academy trust
- Email address
- recruitment@creativeeducationtrust.org.uk
Arranging a visit to Creative Education Trust
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@creativeeducationtrust.org.uk.
Head office location
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