Financial Controller

Cabot Learning Federation, Bristol, BS15 4JT

14 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 July 2026

• Closing date

  21 May 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  7 May 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full-time equivalent salary: £55,747 - £61,534 (CLF Grade L4 - L8)

Financial Controller job summary

Job Title: Financial Controller

Actual Annual Salary: £55,747 - £61,534 (CLF Grade L4 - L8)

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

Contract Length: Fixed until 31/12/2026

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, All year-round

Additional information: You will work through a blended model that includes home working and with two days per week based at Federation House, Kingswood, Bristol.

Provisional Start Date: July 2026 (Subject to completion of pre – employment checks)

Shape financial excellence across our trust

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Financial Controller to lead the operational finance function across the Cabot Learning Federation. This is a pivotal leadership role within our Central Finance Team, where you will drive high-quality financial management, ensure robust compliance, and support the delivery of our Trust-wide financial strategy.

Working closely with the Finance Director, senior leaders, and academy teams, you will oversee the day-to-day finance operations, statutory reporting, and audit processes, ensuring that financial outputs are accurate, timely, and aligned with regulatory requirements. You will play a key role in shaping a culture of continuous improvement, strengthening financial controls, and delivering high-quality financial services that support positive outcomes for our staff and students.

In this role, you will lead and develop a team across finance operations, treasury, and financial accounting, while building strong relationships across the Trust and with external partners such as auditors, banks, and other stakeholders.

About you

You will be a highly capable finance leader who brings both technical expertise and a collaborative, forward-thinking approach.

You will have:

• Strong technical accounting knowledge, with the ability to lead on statutory accounts production and ensure compliance with relevant frameworks and regulations
  
• A recognised accountancy qualification with significant post-qualification experience in a senior finance role
  
• Proven experience of leading and developing high-performing teams within a complex organisation
  
• Experience of managing month-end processes, financial reporting cycles, and working to tight deadlines
  
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interrogate financial data, identify risks, and drive performance improvements
  
• Confidence to influence, challenge, and provide expert financial advice to senior stakeholders
  
• Experience of leading audits, managing external relationships, and ensuring compliance across financial operations
  
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly to a range of audiences
  
• Proficiency in financial systems and Excel
  

It would also be advantageous if you have:

• Experience within the education, public or charity sector
  
• Knowledge of Academies Accounts Direction, Charity SORP, VAT or treasury management
  

You will be a proactive leader with a positive mindset, committed to continuous improvement and delivering high standards across all areas of financial management.

Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification prior to submitting an application.

Why work in CLF’s Central Finance Team?

As a Financial Controller, you’ll be a key leader within our Central Finance Team—a collaborative and high-performing function that underpins the financial sustainability and success of the Trust.

We offer:

• A strategic leadership role with Trust-wide impact
  
• The opportunity to shape financial strategy, systems, and processes across a large and diverse organisation
  
• Hybrid working from home and our Kingswood, Bristol office, with travel across the Trust as required
  
• Career development and progression opportunities within the Central Team and wider Trust
  
• A supportive, values-driven environment that promotes collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement
  

Why work at CLF?

We are a diverse and inclusive community of 36 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others.

We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

What we can offer you:

• Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
  
• Generous annual leave.
  
• A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression, through a range of training, apprenticeships and in-role/wider-trust development opportunities.
  
• Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
  
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
  
• A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
  
• Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking plus many more!
  

Recruitment timeline:

• Closing Date: 21 May 2026 @11.59pm
  
• Shortlisting: 22 May 2026
  
• Interviews: 27 May 2026
  

We welcome visits from potential candidates. If you would like to arrange a school visit prior to the closing date, please contact the academy/site directly to arrange a suitable appointment.

As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs – a full education and employment history must be provided through our application form.

Please note we are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist. 

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

The Cabot Learning Federation are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful applicant will, in accordance with statutory guidance, be subject to a comprehensive pre-employment checking process including references from current and previous employers, health, right to work in the UK and a child disqualification check. The checks will also include an enhanced DBS check and a further check against the appropriate barred list.

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 Cabot Learning Federation

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Cabot Learning Federation website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/cabot-learning-federation

Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) is a diverse West Country multi-academy trust which is home to 36 schools operating in five clusters in Bristol, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Somerset.

The CLF is unique due to its tight geographical concentration, the diversity of the communities it serves, and the variety of educational provisions it offers. We are one of the largest and most respected trusts in the South West and hold national as well as regional recognition due to the breadth and influence of strong practice in our trust.

Our collaborative culture, driven by a strong moral purpose, is key to our success. We believe strong collaboration can drive school improvement and embed excellence in our academies. Our team is united with the common goal of delivering outstanding educational experiences and promoting the life chances of the young people in our academies now and in the future.

Following a recent period of growth, we are proud to serve circa 18,000 pupils who all attend one of our 10 secondary academies, 17 primary academies, an all-through provision, a studio school, a discrete post-16 provision, three special schools and two alternative provisions spanning the age ranges.

The CLF is an equal opportunity employer and is proud to serve a diverse student population and their communities. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. To ensure our leadership team is fully representative of the people we serve, we are encouraging applications for this role from global majority communities.

We are proud to be part of a diverse region and celebrate the richness of cultures, faiths and backgrounds of our students. We aim to develop a curriculum that is responsive to our pupils’ needs and reflects their diverse interests and backgrounds.

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