Chief Financial Officer

Eastern Education Group Trust, Bury St. Edmunds, IP33 3RL

21 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  14 September 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  24 August 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other leadership role
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time: -
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: -

What skills and experience we're looking for

Full Time | Executive Leadership Role

Eastern Education Group is one of the largest and most ambitious education organisations in the East of England, bringing together colleges, schools, specialist provision and training organisations to create life-changing opportunities for learners of all ages.

As we continue to grow and evolve, we are seeking an exceptional Chief Financial Officer with significant senior leadership experience, experience within the education sector would be advantageous to join our Senior Executive Team and help shape the future of our organisation.

A CFO Role with Broader Impact

Whilst financial stewardship remains central to the role, we are looking for a strategic executive leader who understands the complexity, accountability and funding environment of the education sector and can drive organisational success across a broad portfolio including finance, estates, procurement, capital projects and funding opportunities.

Working closely with the CEO, Board and Executive Team, you will play a critical role in ensuring the Group remains financially resilient whilst delivering the infrastructure, resources and investment required to achieve our ambitious strategic objectives.

You will lead major capital developments, identify and secure funding opportunities, shape our estates strategy and ensure our procurement approach delivers maximum value across a complex and diverse education organisation.

About the Role

As Chief Financial Officer, you will:

• Provide strategic financial leadership across Eastern Education Group.
• Develop and deliver a sustainable long-term financial strategy.
• Lead the Group's estates, capital projects and procurement functions.
• Identify and secure capital funding and investment opportunities.
• Support organisational growth, innovation and transformation.
• Work collaboratively with the Board and Executive Team to shape strategic decision-making.
• Ensure robust governance, compliance and risk management arrangements are in place.
• Drive value for money and operational excellence across the organisation.
• Provide strategic leadership within the context of education funding, regulation, governance and accountability.

About You

We are seeking an experienced executive leader who can demonstrate:

• Significant senior financial leadership experience within the education sector. This is an essential requirement for the role.
• A strong understanding of the financial, regulatory, funding and governance environment within education.
• A strong track record of financial leadership within a large and complex organisation.
• Significant experience operating at Board and Executive level.
• The ability to lead beyond finance and contribute to wider organisational strategy.
• Experience of estates, capital programmes, procurement or major infrastructure projects.
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking skills.
• Outstanding leadership, influencing and stakeholder management capabilities.
• A passion for delivering positive outcomes for learners, colleagues and the communities we serve.

Experience within a large multi-site education organisation, further education, schools, multi-academy trusts or similarly complex education settings would be particularly valuable.

What the school offers its staff

This is a unique opportunity to join an ambitious and growing education organisation at a pivotal point in its development.

You will have the opportunity to influence strategy at the highest level, lead significant transformation and investment programmes, and help shape the future of education across the communities we serve.

If you are an ambitious executive leader with substantial education-sector experience and are looking for a role that extends far beyond traditional finance responsibilities, we would welcome your application.

This role will initially operate on a split-contract basis with our sponsored Eastern Education Group Trust.

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

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Eastern Education Group Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Email address: recruitment@easterneducationgroup.ac.uk
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/suffolk-academies-trust

Arranging a visit to Eastern Education Group Trust

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@easterneducationgroup.ac.uk.

Head office location

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