Finance Business Partner

Cornwall Education Learning Trust, St Austell, PL26 7RN

13 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  4 Jan 2027

• Closing date

  16 November 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  3 November 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time, full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £47,347.00 - £55,796.00 Annually (FTE) Would consider part time 4 days per week.

Finance Business Partner job summary

About the Role

Salary: L1-L6 (£47,347-£55,796 FTE)

Full-time or part-time would be considered on 4 days per week.

This is a CELT Shared Services position that will be based at Poltair School, St Austell.

Are you an experienced finance professional looking for an opportunity to use your financial expertise to make a real difference in education?

Cornwall Education Learning Trust (CELT) is seeking a proactive, analytical and commercially minded Finance Business Partner to join our team and provide high-quality financial management, strategic support and professional advice across a number of our schools.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in partnership with Headteachers, Directors of Phase and senior leaders, helping to shape financial strategy, support effective decision-making and ensure resources are used efficiently to deliver the best possible educational outcomes for our learners.

What will you be doing?

As a Finance Business Partner, you will play a key role in supporting the financial sustainability and strategic development of our schools. Working closely with the Trust Finance Lead and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), your responsibilities will include:

• Financial planning and strategy: Leading financial planning for allocated schools, supporting the annual budget cycle and developing accurate multi-year forecasts and scenario models to inform strategic decisions.

• Financial management and reporting: Preparing monthly budget monitoring reports, analysing financial performance and providing clear, timely financial information to school leaders, executive leaders and Trustees.

• Strategic business partnering: Building strong, trusted relationships with Headteachers, Directors of Phase, Finance Officers and other key colleagues, translating complex financial information into meaningful insights and practical recommendations.

• Financial sustainability: Advising leaders on staffing structures, pupil numbers, funding changes and other financial considerations, ensuring budgets align with educational priorities and long-term plans.

• Compliance and governance: Supporting statutory financial reporting, audit processes and compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook, Funding Agreements and internal financial policies.

• Systems and continuous improvement: Identifying opportunities to improve financial processes, reporting tools and internal controls, promoting efficiency and consistency across the Trust.

• Leadership and development: Supporting and line managing allocated finance staff, encouraging collaboration, accountability, professional development and a positive team culture.

You will also contribute to financial training and guidance across the Trust, helping colleagues strengthen their financial understanding and make informed, effective decisions.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a confident and collaborative finance professional who can combine strong technical expertise with excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

You will be comfortable analysing complex financial information, developing forecasts and financial models, and presenting clear advice to colleagues who may not have a finance background. With a high level of Excel proficiency, excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines, you will bring a proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.

You will hold an AAT/CCAB Level 4 qualification or above, have at least five GCSEs including English and Maths at grade C or equivalent, and have experience working within a finance function or accountancy practice. Experience operating financial systems and presenting complex financial information to non-financial audiences is essential.

Experience within an educational setting, producing management accounts and complex financial forecasts, or managing junior staff would be advantageous. Knowledge of school-based accounting systems, the Academy Trust Handbook and education sector funding would also be beneficial.

Above all, you will share our commitment to using resources responsibly and effectively to support our schools, colleagues and learners.

Why join Cornwall Education Learning Trust?

At CELT, our mission is to provide every learner with an exceptional educational experience. Our family of 16 schools educates approximately 9,000 learners across mid-Cornwall, supported by a collaborative community of around 1,200 colleagues.

Joining CELT means becoming part of a values-driven organisation where collaboration, innovation and care for people are at the heart of everything we do.

We are committed to empowering our people and creating opportunities for professional and personal growth. Our staff entitlement includes:

• Professional development: Access to training, mentoring, networking and opportunities to develop your skills and career.

• Health and wellbeing: Access to health screenings, discounted gym and leisure memberships, mental health support and a confidential employee assistance helpline.

• Family and flexibility: Family-friendly policies, flexible working arrangements and up to five days of paid emergency leave for dependants.

• Financial benefits: A generous public sector pension scheme and access to the Cycle to Work scheme.

You will have the opportunity to contribute to the long-term success of our schools, influence strategic financial decisions and work alongside colleagues who are passionate about making a difference to the communities we serve.

Ready to make a difference?

If you are a skilled finance professional who enjoys building relationships, providing strategic advice and helping organisations make the most of their resources, we would love to hear from you.

Join Cornwall Education Learning Trust as our next Finance Business Partner and help us ensure that effective financial planning supports exceptional educational experiences for every learner.

To find out more about the role or arrange a discussion, please contact our Recruitment Team at recruitment@celtrust.org.

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

Cornwall Education Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all
staff to share this commitment. The postholder is required to follow all of the Trust’s policies and procedures in relation to safeguarding at all
times, and to adhere to the statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’. The postholder must take appropriate action in the event
that they have concerns, or are made aware of the concerns of others, regarding the safety or wellbeing of children or young people.

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 Cornwall Education Learning Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Cornwall Education Learning Trust website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/cornwall-education-learning-trust

As a Trust, we agree that a child needs to feel that they are wanted, loved and valued for exactly who they are, from the beginning. There is no replacement for that and if it’s not right at the start, everything that follows is playing catch up. After that, it is about nurturing the individual genius of each child. Every child is unique and has their own strengths, weaknesses, and passions. It doesn’t matter what these might be; what matters is focusing on what it is they love and giving them the space and time to explore those passions.
We cannot forget that the core business of schools is ensuring that children and young people are able to read, write and be numerate. We also know that whatever the world may look like in the future, there will be a need to instil universal human values. Values-based education empowers schools to emphasise the centrality of all people in society
and focuses on valuing self, others and the environment, underpinning their curriculum with universal positive human values such as respect, justice, equality, integrity, harmony, trust and honesty.
At CELT, we believe that nature is a gift we should try to give to each child so forming a relationship with nature early on is a very powerful thing. Our schools are all situated in unique locations. We want children to grow up
remembering their childhood as a happy, safe place where they connected with Cornwall’s beautiful natural environment.
Young people have their own voice - our role is to hear that voice and offer the space and opportunity for it to grow.
A CELT education gives each child a moral compass and self-leadership, it enables reflection and a code of personal ethics. Our pupils become the Captain of their own ship, which ultimately enables them to navigate their wonderful, individual journeys as custodians of our future.

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