The Role
At Every Child Every Day Academy Trust, our mission is etched into our name. We are looking for a strategic and accomplished Director of Finance (CFO) who understands that behind every spreadsheet, audit, and procurement contract is a student who deserves the very best resources we can provide.
As we move toward standardised processes, you will lead our financial operations through an era of meaningful transformation and be the architect of a robust, aligned financial infrastructure that ensures every school benefits from the same high-quality systems, providing clarity for our staff and—most importantly—maximising resources for our students.
Your success in this role will be defined by your ability to navigate the unique complexities of the education sector while applying rigorous commercial discipline. You will:
- Standardise & Align: Evolution of our school-based financial functions into a network of high-performing departments, ensuring consistency of practice, reporting, and excellence across the Trust.
- Drive Value: Harness the collective scale of our schools through procurement and income generation.
- Executive Partnership: Act as a “critical friend" to the CEO and Board, providing the financial data and narrative needed to make brave, student-centered decisions.
- Collaborative Leadership: Work as a strategic partner to Headteachers and school finance teams, providing the technical framework that empowers them to manage their budgets with confidence and precision.
We require a qualified accountant with a proven track record of financial leadership, ideally within the education sector or a complex, multi-site public sector environment.
We are looking for someone who:
- Possess deep knowledge of the Academies Financial Handbook and has the experience to manage complex audits and multi-million pound budgets with total precision.
- Has proven experience in developing and executing an innovative income generation strategy, alongside a track record of achieving tangible efficiencies through smart, collective procurement.
- Has the ability to sit with a Headteacher and discuss integrated curriculum financial planning just as comfortably as you present a 5-year sustainability model to the Board of Trustees
- Excels at bridging the gap between central operational goals and the unique identities of individual schools, using influence and collaboration rather than just mandate.
- Has steered teams through periods of change, demonstrating the resilience and empathy required to bring people along on a journey.
Why Every Child Every Day?
This is a rare opportunity to join a Trust that views finance as a vehicle for social mobility. We offer a culture that values professional autonomy, strategic ambition, and the shared goal of improving outcomes for children every single day.
You will be joining an executive team that is collaborative, grounded, and focused on the future.
Every Child Every Day Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and social media check.