Trust Finance Director
Bullers Wood School, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 5LJ29 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
28 October 2026 at 9am
Date listed
29 September 2026
Job details
Job role
- Other support role
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £72,289-£76,029
Pay scale
- NJC PO11 (54-57)
What skills and experience we're looking for
Job Purpose:
The Finance Director will play a pivotal role in supporting the CFOO by providing operational leadership and financial management across the Trust. The postholder will lead day-to-day finance activity, with a particular focus on the secondary phase schools and shared services, while providing oversight of primary phase finance. Working within the strategic financial framework set by the CFOO, the Finance Director will oversee financial planning, compliance, reporting and risk management across all academies within the Trust ensuring robust financial controls are in place and that key financial risks and issues are escalated appropriately.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the CFOO in the development, implementation and delivery of the Trust's financial strategy, ensuring alignment with the Trust's educational priorities and long-term sustainability.
- Lead finance activity for the secondary phase schools and shared services team, including preparation of annual budgets, forecasts and financial plans, and direct line management of the secondary school finance managers.
- Provide oversight of primary phase finance through line management of the Head of Primary Finance, operating within the strategic financial framework and overall oversight of the CFOO.
- Ensure the timely preparation and submission of all statutory financial returns, including Budget Forecast Returns and other Department for Education (DfE) requirements
- Oversee financial reporting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with the Academies Trust Handbook and DfE requirements.
- Lead and manage the Trust’s finance team, providing guidance to finance managers and senior leaders while fostering high performance and continuous improvement.
- Ensure effective financial controls, policies, and procedures are in place and adhered to.
- Monitor financial performance and provide insightful analysis to support decisionmaking.
- Support capital projects, including financial planning and reporting for estates and infrastructure developments.
- Contribute to risk management processes, including financial risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
- Monthly GAG transfer statement preparation for all schools, along with raising BACs/account transfers/posting requirements for other schools. Distribution of DfE remittances and filing.
- Coordinate the operational delivery of statutory external audit requirements, acting as the main day-to-day contact for auditors and escalating key issues to the CFOO as required. Second in charge for internal audit
- Central Bank Account Coordination. Ensure that all schools move to agreed banking platform and manage all signatory information and banking controls .
- Ensure implementation of all Chart of Account changes, Policy and Procedures
- Lead communications to finance managers on changes to Access, Chart of Accounts, Financial Policy Changes and preparing draft Financial Policies and Procedures (FPP) annual updates.
- Collect information from respective schools for audit reporting, and other statutory reports.
- Pensions audit co-ordination.
- Provide support for finance training across our schools and shared services
- Deputise for CFOO when necessary (finance committee, audit committee)
- Lead the continuous development of the finance function, promoting high standards of performance, customer service, professional development and continuous improvement.
This is a not definitive list of responsibilities as the CFOO may need to delegate key responsibilities when support is needed.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
- Proven experience in a senior finance role, ideally within the education or public sector.
- Strong understanding of financial regulations relevant to educational trusts (e.g., Academies Trust Handbook).
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to manage complex financial information and present it clearly to nonfinancial stakeholders.
- High level of integrity and commitment to the Trust’s values and mission.
Desirable:
- Experience working within a multi-academy trust or similar organisation.
- Knowledge of financial systems used in education (e.g., Access, PS Financials, Sage).
- Experience in managing capital projects and funding streams.
Benefits
- Generous Local Government Pension Scheme employer’s contribution of 17.4%
- Generous annual leave entitlement of 28 days.
- A supportive Employee Assistance Programme
- Professional development opportunities.
- Flexible working arrangements.
- Collaborative and supportive working environment.
What the school offers its staff
Employee Assistance Programme
Local Government Pension Scheme
Further information about the job
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
This job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Bullers Wood School
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 1555 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- Bullers Wood School website
- Email address
- HR@lumero.org
- Phone number
- 02084672280
This post is available in September 2023 and offers an exciting opportunity to join an enthusiastic staff and very supportive department whose members are committed to making a real difference. The school was last fully inspected by Ofsted in May 2011 and we were awarded Outstanding. The report is available on our website. We are very proud of our achievements and prior to the pandemic had regularly been congratulated by the Minister of State for Schools on our achievements at GCSE level placing us in the top 100 non-selective state-funded schools in England. In addition, we were in the top 100 for students achieving the English Baccalaureate. We have also regularly been in the top 10% nationally (out of over 2,500 schools and colleges) for our A level performance assessed by ALPS.
We are looking for a passionate individual to help us to ensure that in every way Bullers Wood remains an excellent school and that every one of our students flourishes, achieves and exceeds expectations.
The successful candidate will join Bullers Wood at an exciting time as September 2018 saw the opening of a new secondary free school, Bullers Wood School for Boys, who have now moved into their brand-new permanent building. Our two schools led to the establishment of the Bullers Wood Multi Academy Trust, giving opportunities for enhanced professional and career development for colleagues working within the Trust. The successful candidate may be required to work at either school.
School location
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