Location; Central Trust Office, Wickham Market Primary School

Salary: £78,144 - £89,325 

Hours: Full Time, 52 weeks per year 

Contract: Permanent 

Reports to: Deputy Chief Executive Officer 

The East Anglian Schools’ Trust (EAST) has an exciting opportunity to join our forward-thinking and growing Trust as we seek to appoint to the post of CFO. We are looking to appoint an inspirational professional to lead the financial business across EAST. With excellent, comprehensive schools across all phases, and a reflective culture that places our four cornerstones of learning, inclusivity, opportunity and community at our foundations, we are extremely proud of our progressive Trust.

The CFO will have overall strategic responsibility for financial management, providing technical leadership and support in all accounting matters across the whole Trust.

The successful applicant will be a dynamic individual who understands what constitutes effective and high quality leadership. They will be approachable and enthusiastic with a strong understanding of how effective financial and business leadership is essential for a multi-academy trust. The ability to work with other leaders to ensure that expertise is valued and utilised across EAST will be essential. We will be keen to explore with how driven applicants are to improve educational outcomes and life chances for young people through this crucial role. Our future CFO will have a proven record of strategic leadership and people management, along with the ability to drive improvements.

This role presents many opportunities for an ambitious, experienced professional to lead and shape a wide range of services across our schools, as well as to contributing to the development of the wider organisation and our growth.

We welcome applicants from a wide range of sectors and professional backgrounds, including but not limited to education, public services, not-for-profit organisations, and commercial or corporate environments. It is essential that applicants have a resonance with our vision alongside relevant expertise and experience. The ability to be diligent, have a ‘can-do’ mind-set and shape systems to drive quality for our Trust/Schools is essential. Working collaboratively and translating vision and strategy into operational requirements are fundamental to the role.

This is a role that is based at our central office in Wickham Market Primary School, Suffolk, but will require the post holder to move between schools as needed. EAST is committed to the care and professional development of all individuals who work in our schools and Trust. A compassionate approach to all individuals is expected of our Trust’s employees.

 Should you wish to discuss the post further, we would welcome an informal conversation. Please do not hesitate to contact our Trust HR Manager, Melissa Rodwell on mrodwell@eastmat.org  or 01728 554 305 who will arrange this with Angelo Goduti (CEO) or Cheryl Singleton (Deputy CEO).

 Applications should be submitted via the MyNewTerm portal and must include the application form along with a supporting statement of no more than two sides of A4, outlining your experience, expertise, and how you would approach this leadership role.

Deadline for applications: Thursday 16 April 2026 (9am)

 Please visit our website for further details about EAST: https://www.eastmat.org/

EAST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share and adhere to this commitment.  DBS checks required for all posts.