Great Heights Academy Trust – Riverside Mills

Chief Finance Officer

Permanent, full-time role

Salary Grade – L24-29

Reporting to – Chief Executive Officer

Location – Riverside Mills, with travel to academy sites

Expected Start Date – ASAP

Great Heights Academy Trust is seeking an experienced and strategic Chief Finance Officer to join our Multi-Academy Trust Leadership Team.

Great Heights is entering an exciting new phase of growth and influence. With nine schools and a diverse portfolio including a nationally recognised English Hub, Research School, SCITT and Medical Needs provision, alongside a strong footprint across regional and national school improvement, we are a Trust that is both established and evolving. We have built a secure and sustainable foundation and are now focused on scaling our impact, strengthening our infrastructure and delivering even greater outcomes for the communities we serve.

About the Role

As CFO, you will provide strategic leadership and oversight of all financial and commercial operations across the Trust. You will play a key role in shaping Trust strategy, ensuring long-term financial sustainability and enabling school improvement through robust financial planning, analysis and governance. Working closely with the CEO, Trustees and senior leaders, you will offer high-quality professional advice and insight to support informed decision-making.

You will lead the Trust’s finance team, oversee budgeting and forecasting, manage compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and ensure the delivery of accurate, timely financial reporting. You will also take a lead role in asset management, procurement, value for money, risk management and external audit, ensuring that strong systems, controls and processes are embedded across the Trust.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for a confident, credible finance leader with strong strategic capability, excellent communication skills and a collaborative leadership style. You will act as an ambassador for the Trust, championing our vision, culture and ethos both internally and externally, and contributing positively to our wider school improvement offer.

In return, we offer the opportunity to be part of a supportive, ambitious Trust leadership team, where your expertise will have a direct and meaningful impact on the education of children and young people.

If you are currently operating at CFO level and are ready for your next challenge, this role offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact in a Trust with clear ambition and a strong platform for growth.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the financial direction of an organisation that is not only improving outcomes within its own schools, but also influencing practice across the wider education system.

If you would like an informal conversation to find out more about the role of CFO and our Trust, please email mat@ghat.org.uk or call 01422 761019.

Closing Date: Tuesday 2 June 2026, 9am

Interviews: w/c 8 June

Great Heights Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Shortlisted candidates will be subject to related online content checks, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check as well as satisfactory references.

Great Heights Academy Trust strives to be an employer of choice. We are an inclusive and diverse multi academy trust and ultimately, our aim is to employ a workforce that reflects the communities it serves. We are committed to achieving a balanced workforce at all levels, whilst ensuring that no individual is disadvantaged or treated less favourably. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, faiths and ethnicities and will ensure a fair recruitment process without discrimination, in compliance with the Equality Act 2010.