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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial strategy and transformation in a high-performing school environment.
- Company: Caroline Chisholm School, known for academic excellence and community impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, collaborative culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a forward-thinking team during an exciting phase of organisational growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the school's financial sustainability and future growth.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant with senior financial leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 100000 £ per year.
Caroline Chisholm School is partnering with Robertson Bell on a retained basis to appoint a Chief Finance Officer on a permanent basis. This is a pivotal leadership role within a high-performing and ambitious organisation, offering the opportunity to shape financial strategy, lead transformation, and support the school's evolution.
Caroline Chisholm School is a high-achieving, values-led all-through school with a strong reputation for academic excellence, staff engagement, and community impact. Already operating at a scale and complexity comparable to a multi-academy trust, the organisation is entering an exciting new phase of growth, with plans to expand into primary provision and formally develop as a MAT.
This is a unique opportunity to join a forward-thinking leadership team and play a central role in driving financial sustainability, operational transformation, and long-term strategic growth.
The role
- Partner with the Principal, Trustees and Senior Leadership Team to develop and deliver a long-term financial strategy, supporting the school's growth ambitions.
- Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting across a complex and evolving organisation, ensuring strong financial control and sustainability.
- Take ownership of a significant transformation agenda, including digital system implementation (Bromcom), contract optimisation, and operational redesign.
- Support with the operational re-design of financial systems providing strategic oversight of major projects such as introduction of Bromcom for financial processes, ensuring robust due diligence, and stakeholder management.
- Act as a key advisor to Trustees, auditors and external stakeholders including the DfE and Local Authority.
- Drive value for money through effective procurement, contract negotiation and cost optimisation initiatives.
- Lead and develop the finance function, fostering a high-performing, collaborative and forward-thinking team culture.
- Support wider organisational leadership, overseeing linked operational areas including IT and educational visits.
- Identify opportunities for income generation, funding and financial innovation to support future growth.
The organisation
Caroline Chisholm School is a school with a strong ethos centred on kindness, curiosity and integrity. With a highly engaged workforce and a 96% positive staff survey rating, the school offers a collaborative and ambitious working environment. The organisation has successfully navigated recent financial pressures, delivering significant savings while maintaining educational excellence. With a clear financial sustainability plan in place and strong governance support, the school is now well positioned for its next phase of growth. Alongside this, a major digital and operational transformation programme is underway, modernising systems and infrastructure to support long-term efficiency and scalability.
Essential criteria
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent)
- Proven experience in a senior financial leadership role within a complex organisation
- Strong track record of leading financial strategy, planning and reporting
- Experience managing multi-million-pound budgets and driving financial sustainability
- Demonstrable experience leading transformation projects (systems, operations or organisational change)
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at Board and executive level
- Commercial mindset, with the ability to identify efficiencies and funding opportunities
- A collaborative and adaptable leadership style, aligned to a values-driven environment
Apply now
If you are a strategic and forward-thinking finance leader looking to make a tangible impact within a high-performing and ambitious organisation, we would love to hear from you. This role requires primarily on-site working during term time, with some flexibility available. Applications close on the 24th May but will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Chief Finance Officer in London employer: Caroline Chisholm School
Contact Detail:
Caroline Chisholm School Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Finance Officer in London
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the education and finance sectors. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current or former employees of Caroline Chisholm School. You never know who might have the inside scoop or can put in a good word for you!
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your experience in leading financial strategy and transformation projects. Share specific examples of how you've driven change and improved financial sustainability in previous roles. This will show them you’re the right fit for their ambitious goals.
✨Prepare for the Interview
Do your homework on Caroline Chisholm School and its current financial landscape. Be ready to discuss how you can support their growth ambitions and lead their transformation agenda. Think about questions you can ask that demonstrate your interest in their mission and values.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining a forward-thinking team that values collaboration and innovation.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Finance Officer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Chief Finance Officer role. Highlight your financial leadership experience and any transformation projects you've led, as these are key to what we're looking for.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about joining Caroline Chisholm School and how your values align with ours. Be specific about how you can contribute to our financial strategy and growth.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your past roles, focus on quantifiable achievements. Did you manage a multi-million-pound budget? Did you lead a successful transformation project? Numbers speak volumes, so let us see the impact you've made!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This ensures your application gets to the right people quickly and allows us to keep track of all applicants efficiently. Plus, it shows you're keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Caroline Chisholm School
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Chief Finance Officer, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've managed multi-million-pound budgets in the past. Be prepared to share specific examples of how your financial strategies have driven sustainability and growth.
✨Showcase Transformation Experience
This role involves leading significant transformation projects. Come armed with examples of past projects where you've successfully implemented new systems or processes. Highlight your experience with digital transformations, like the introduction of Bromcom, and how you managed stakeholder engagement throughout.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Strong stakeholder management is crucial for this position. Prepare to discuss how you've influenced decisions at the Board level and built relationships with external stakeholders. Think about specific instances where your collaboration led to successful outcomes and be ready to share those stories.
✨Align with Values
Caroline Chisholm School values kindness, curiosity, and integrity. Reflect on how your leadership style aligns with these values. Be ready to discuss how you've fostered a collaborative team culture in previous roles and how you plan to support the school's ethos while driving financial success.