Finance Director in Bristol

Shape financial strategy and sustainability across our trust. We are seeking an experienced and visionary Finance Director to lead the financial strategy and operations of the Cabot Learning Federation. This is a pivotal executive leadership role where you will provide assurance to the Chief Operating Officer, CEO and Board of Trustees across all financial matters, including financial sustainability, risk, and control frameworks.

As a key member of the Executive Team, you will play a central role in shaping the long-term financial direction of a large and growing multi-academy trust. You will lead the development and delivery of the Trust-wide financial strategy, ensuring that resources are aligned with priorities and delivering maximum impact for pupils, staff, and communities.

Working closely with senior leaders, Principals, Trustees, and external stakeholders, you will oversee financial planning, statutory reporting, and compliance across the Trust. You will ensure robust systems of internal control, champion value for money, and drive a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

In this role, you will lead and develop a high-performing finance function across central and academy teams, ensuring strong financial management, effective business partnering, and high-quality support for decision-making at every level of the organisation.

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, all year round. A part-time position for 4 days per week may be considered and can be discussed at interview.

Location: You will work through a blended model that includes home working and working at Federation House, Kingswood, Bristol.

About You

To be successful, you will be a highly accomplished and strategic finance leader, combining strong technical expertise with the ability to influence at the executive and board level. You will have:

• A recognised accountancy qualification (CIMA, ACA or ACCA) with extensive senior-level experience
• Proven experience of leading financial strategy, planning and transformation across a complex organisation
• Strong understanding of financial governance, regulatory frameworks, and systems of internal control
• A track record of delivering value for money and driving organisational performance improvement
• Significant experience of leading, developing, and inspiring high-performing teams
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial data and translate it into strategic insight
• The confidence and credibility to influence, challenge, and advise executive leaders, Trustees, and stakeholders
• Experience of working with external partners, including auditors, regulators, and funding bodies
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly to diverse audiences

Why Join CLF?

As Finance Director, you will join our Executive Team at a critical stage in our growth, helping to shape the financial future of a large, complex and ambitious organisation. In return, we can offer you:

• Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression through a range of training, apprenticeships and in-role/wider-trust development opportunities
• Wellbeing support through an employee assistance programme
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs
• A range of generous family leave options, including above-industry-average occupational maternity pay
• Cycle-to-work scheme and on-site parking

For further information and to apply for this exciting role, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 28 June 2026. Shortlisting date: 1 July 2026. Interviews will be a two-stage process comprising an Assessment Morning on 6 July 2026 followed by a final interview on the afternoon of 8 July 2026.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out.

We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups, including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please let us know how we can assist.