Chief Financial Officer

Creative Education Trust invites you to apply for the role of Chief Financial Officer - a pivotal leadership position shaping our trust-wide financial strategy, governance and long‑term sustainability. This is a unique opportunity to lead our financial direction, champion equity and ensure the strong stewardship that enables ambition to thrive for every pupil, colleague and community we serve.

Job Title: Chief Financial Officer

Location: Home-based with significant trust-wide travel

Salary: Competitive, commensurate with experience

Start Date: September 2026

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full-time

Application Closing Date: Monday 20th April 2026

Interview Dates: w.c. 27th April (1st Round at The Wrenn School, Wellingborough and 2nd Round at The Milton Keynes Academy, Milton Keynes)

Role Overview:

Creative Education Trust is appointing a bold, strategic and forward‑looking Chief Financial Officer. As a core member of the Executive Team, the position carries significant influence, shaping decisions that underpin the success and resilience of every Creative Education Trust school.

The Chief Financial Officer will be responsible for developing and delivering a confident, future‑focused multi‑year financial strategy aligned to the Trust’s ambitions. The role oversees all financial planning, reporting and compliance, ensuring robust governance and full adherence to statutory and regulatory requirements. It leads the continuous improvement of financial systems and processes, driving digital transformation and embedding strong financial controls across all academies.

This role provides strategic insight and high‑quality analysis to inform Executive and Board decision‑making. It ensures resources are allocated effectively, risks are well‑managed, and the Trust can invest in growth, improvement and long‑term impact. The Chief Financial Officer will set high standards for financial discipline, transparency and accountability, building capability within the finance team and supporting leaders throughout the organisation.

About You:

Reporting directly to our CEO, Nicole McCartney, the successful postholder will bring substantial post‑qualification, multi‑site experience, deep financial expertise and the authority to lead complex operations with clarity, conviction and purpose. Your strategic judgement and principled stewardship will strengthen the Trust’s financial resilience and unlock the capacity to invest where it matters most. Through bold financial leadership, efficient use of resources and an unwavering commitment to excellence, you will empower Creative Education Trust to invest ambitiously in its people, its schools and the students at the centre of its mission. Your leadership will combine analytical precision with strong people management, enabling you to influence with confidence from Board level to in‑school teams, fostering collaboration, trust and a shared drive for continuous improvement across the organisation.

Our Ideal candidate will have:

Strategic financial leadership: Experience leading multi‑year planning, scenario modelling and investment decisions that secure the Trust’s long‑term sustainability and resilience.

Regulatory authority: Bringing deep, authoritative knowledge of the Academy Trust Handbook, Academies Accounts Direction, Companies Act and Charity Commission guidance, ensuring expert direction and full compliance across the trust.

Executive influence: The ability to communicate complex financial information with clarity and impact, shaping strategic decisions and inspiring confidence at Board, Executive and school level.

Leadership excellence: Develop high‑performing teams, modelling professionalism, ambition and a culture of continuous improvement and strong financial governance.

Technical mastery: Combining advanced financial management skills with systems thinking, strengthening controls, driving digital transformation and embedding efficient, data‑led processes across the Trust.

Insight‑driven decision‑making: Utilising data, modelling and financial analysis to guide priorities, monitor performance and enable informed, timely and effective decision‑making.

Championing sustainability and assurance: Ensuring resources are deployed wisely and transparently, advocating for accountability, long‑term value and opportunities that maximise ambition, equity and student impact.

Proactive risk and assurance leadership: Taking a forward‑thinking approach to risk management, procurement and due diligence, safeguarding the Trust’s integrity, resilience and long‑term success.

About the Finance Department:

The Finance Department is a collective of over 20 finance professionals and play a pivotal role in strengthening Creative Education Trust’s ability to deliver exceptional opportunities for young people. As a strategic partner to schools, central teams and the Executive Board, the department provides the insight, leadership and financial stewardship that ensure resources are used wisely and aligned with the Trust’s ambition for improvement and long‑term sustainability. The Team’s work enables confident decision‑making and ensures every financial choice supports the mission to improve life chances across all communities we serve.

Alongside its strategic leadership, the department maintains the robust financial operations that underpin the Trust’s resilience and effectiveness. From planning and reporting to the vital Accounts Payable and Receivable functions, the team ensures high‑quality, timely and transparent processes that uphold strong financial governance and support colleagues and partners with professionalism and reliability. Together, this purposeful approach empowers Creative Education Trust to operate with clarity, integrity and ambition - ensuring resources reach the classrooms and students where they make the greatest difference.

---

Source: UK Teaching Vacancies Service (teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.