Please note this role is based at HUB 26, Lawrence House, Riverside Drive, Cleckheaton, BD19 4DH

The Deputy Chief Finance Officer (DCFO) plays a pivotal role in supporting the Chief Finance & Operations Officer (CFOO) in the strategic and operational leadership of the Trust’s financial functions.  The DCFO is responsible for delivering a high-quality, customer-focused finance service across all schools within the Trust, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, Trust policies, and best practice standards.

The DCFO will oversee the day-to-day management of the finance team, ensuring robust financial controls, accurate reporting, and effective budget management. Acting as a key liaison between the finance team and the CFOO, the DCFO will drive continuous improvement, foster effective communication across central services, and support the Trust’s strategic objectives.

The DCFO will deputise for the CFOO, if required, to ensure the trust fulfils its statutory responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities & specifications

This section is designed to describe the role in more detail. It cannot cover every eventuality or activity. Other policy documents, such as the trust’s Financial Handbook and Scheme of Delegation also provide information about the roles duties and responsibilities.

Team Leadership:

Directly line manage Finance Managers, the Procurement Officer, and Senior Finance Officers.

Oversee the wider finance team, including Finance Assistants, Procurement Assistants, and Finance Apprentices (line managed by Finance Managers).

Financial Management & Compliance:

Ensure all financial operations comply with the Trust’s Financial Regulations, Scheme of Delegation, and relevant legislation.

Lead on the preparation and delivery of monthly management accounts for all academies within the Trust.

Oversee procurement processes, ensuring value for money and adherence to public sector procurement standards.

Budgeting & Reporting:

Collaborate with academy headteachers and central teams to ensure accurate, timely, and effective budget setting and monitoring, utilising IMP Planner and other central resources.

Ensure compliance with Trust policies such as completion of budget variation and staffing change requests.

Lead on the preparation of regular academy-level financial reports, including monthly management reports and assisting with the annual Budget Forecast Return (BFR) for the DfE.

Support the CFOO in the preparation of Trust-wide spending plans and budgets, providing senior leaders with the financial data needed to achieve strategic goals.

Financial Controls & Audit:

Maintain and enhance robust financial control systems and processes.

Support year-end financial procedures, liaising with external auditors to ensure compliance and integrity of financial statements.

Central Services & Collaboration:

Serve as a member of the Central Services Management Team, working closely with colleagues in ICT, Premises & Compliance, Payroll, Contracts, and Safer Recruitment.

Attend regular service line manager meetings and as required, senior executive leadership and finance committee meetings to report on financial matters.

Qualifications:

Significant experience in a senior finance role, ideally within the education or public sector.

Ideally hold a relevant accountancy qualification (AAT Level 4, ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA) or be working towards such qualification.

Skills & Experience:

Proven ability to lead and develop finance teams in a multi-site environment.

Strong technical knowledge of financial management, budgeting, and reporting.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels.

Experience of managing procurement and ensuring value for money.

High level of integrity, accuracy, and attention to detail.

Ethics and Professional Conduct:

All staff are expected to uphold consistently high standards of ethical and professional behaviour. In your role, you must demonstrate integrity, accountability, and leadership in line with the Seven Principles of Public Life:

Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, Leadership

As a representative of the trust, the post-holder must:

Build respectful, professional relationships and maintain appropriate boundaries.

Show tolerance and respect for others, embracing cultural diversity.

Uphold fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect.

Ensure personal beliefs do not influence or compromise professional responsibilities.

 In your role in the Trust, you are expected to:

• Act in the best interests of the trust and its community.
•          Model ethical behaviour and professionalism.
•          Accept accountability and operate within relevant statutory frameworks.
•          Commit to ongoing professional development and contribute positively to the wider education system.
•          Be attentive to potential discrepancies or concerns, and act with professional curiosity and healthy professional scepticism.
•          Be aware of and follow the trust’s whistleblowing and reporting procedures, ensuring that safeguarding, integrity, and transparency are upheld at all times.

Other Requirements:

• Commitment to the Trust’s values and objectives.
• Willingness to work flexibly and travel between Trust sites as required.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment.

Expertise in the role required (Level 1):

Essential 

• Extensive relevant experience in a senior finance role
• AAT (Advanced or Intermediate level) or equivalent. 
• Proven experience of delivery of wide range of Finance services.
• Proven ability to interpret and provide advice to managers on a diverse range of Finance issues (e.g. budgets, spending forecasts).
• Experience of successfully leading a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Substantial experience of budgeting and preparing financial accounts.
• Experience of assisting in preparing financial accounts for audit.

Desirable

• Relevant accountancy qualification (AAT Level 4, ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA) or working towards
• Educated to degree level or substantial, equivalent level of work experience
• Experience of working in an academy or school setting
• Experience of specifying, procuring and managing contracts/services

Other (Physical, mobility, local conditions)

• Has the ability to travel around the trust area (and, occasionally, other UK locations).
• Is willing to work flexibly within scope of overall hours, e.g. occasional evening meetings.
• Has a full current UK Driving Licence.
• Has access to a motor vehicle and is prepared to use it for business purposes