Chief Financial Officer (Academy Trust)

RM Recruit have partnered with Aequalis Education Trust in the recruitment of their current Chief Financial Officer vacancy. The Trust uniquely positioned within Worcestershire as a blended Trust spanning EYFS to 25, mainstream and specialist provision. The Trust is seeking to appoint a highly skilled and values-driven Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the Trust’s financial strategy, governance and sustainability during an exciting period of growth. The Role The Chief Financial Officer is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), responsible for leading the Trust’s financial strategy, ensuring exemplary financial governance, and securing the long-term sustainability of Aequalis Education Trust. This is an amazing opportunity with a young, growth orientated Academy trust who require a Chief Financial Officer will play a pivotal role in supporting the Trust's strategic ambitions. As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, the CFO will lead the Trust's financial strategy, ensure compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook, and strengthen the financial resilience required for sustainable growth. The role is central to the Trust's ability to deliver high quality education, support its staff, and maintain the trust and confidence of families, communities, and regulators. Success Measures * Strong external audit and internal scrutiny outcomes, with actions addressed promptly, timely and accurate statutory returns. * High-quality, accurate and timely monthly management information. * Accurate forecasting and effective medium-term financial planning. * Robust and consistently applied Trust-wide financial controls. * Sustainable reserves, liquidity and effective cash management. * Successful financial due diligence and integration of new academies; demonstrable value-for-money and efficiency improvements. * Development of a high-performing, resilient and scalable finance function capable of supporting the Trust's future growth. About You * The successful applicant will hold a professional accountancy qualification from a body such as the ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent (essential). Proven acumen of senior financial leadership experience, ideally within education, charity or public sector environments, is essential. RM Recruit is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and will treat all applicants equally irrespective of sex, sexual orientation, marital/civil partnership status, age, disability, race, religion, pregnancy, ethnic or national origin