Chief Financial Officer

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Location: London (hybrid working)

Salary: £85,000 – £110,000

About the organisation

EFI Group is a pioneering education charity delivering outstanding vocational and higher education in fashion, retail, beauty, and apprenticeships. We are not a traditional college. We operate at the intersection of industry and education, shaping the workforce of tomorrow through innovative, industry-led programmes that drive real career outcomes.

Role purpose

As Chief Financial Officer (CFO), you will provide strategic and operational leadership across finance, estates, HR, and risk management, ensuring that the organisation operates efficiently and sustainably. You will be a key business partner to the CEO and SLT, contributing to organisation-wide strategy and decision-making beyond your functional areas. Your role will involve ensuring financial resilience, strengthening income diversification, optimising resource allocation, and embedding strong financial stewardship while maintaining a people-first culture that aligns with our mission and values.

Key responsibilities

• Strategic leadership: Provide financial and operational leadership, ensuring the organisation’s sustainability, efficiency, and alignment with our strategic plan. Lead the development of financial strategies, forecasting, and resource planning that support long-term growth and impact. Drive income diversification, leveraging our charitable status for fundraising, donations, and other income-generating opportunities. Act as a key strategic advisor to the CEO and SLT, contributing meaningfully across all major strategies (not just finance).
• Financial management & compliance: Oversee all aspects of financial management, planning, budgeting, and reporting, ensuring clarity, transparency, and alignment with strategic goals. Manage financial risk, reserves, and investment strategies, balancing prudence with ambition. Ensure full compliance with statutory, regulatory, and audit requirements, including engagement with external auditors, internal auditors, and the Board of Governors. Develop and maintain strong financial policies, controls, and governance structures.
• Operational & people leadership: Oversee HR, estates, and risk management, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and a positive impact on people, spaces, and operations. Lead and develop high-performing teams within your remit, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Ensure that HR policies and practices support a positive, inclusive, and high-performing workforce. Work closely with Estates to ensure that our physical infrastructure meets the needs of students and staff efficiently and sustainably.
• Stakeholder engagement & business partnering: Serve as the primary liaison for financial governance, risk, and compliance with the Board of Governors, auditors, and regulatory bodies. Build strong relationships across the organisation, ensuring that financial strategies enable, rather than constrain, innovation and impact. Represent the organisation externally as needed, engaging with funding bodies, donors, and other stakeholders to strengthen financial resilience.
• Estates & infrastructure: Lead on the strategic development of estates and facilities, ensuring they support the evolving needs of students and staff. Oversee capital projects, space planning, and campus optimisation to enhance the student and staff experience.
• Risk & governance: Oversee risk management, compliance, and internal controls, ensuring the charity operates ethically, responsibly, and efficiently. Work closely with the Board of Governors and Audit Committee, ensuring transparency and accountability.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience & skills (Essential): Professional finance qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIPFA CIMA). Significant senior and strategic finance leadership experience at scale and complexity. Proven track record in financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, and risk management. Strong experience in income diversification, including fundraising, partnerships, and alternative revenue streams. Ability to balance high-level strategic thinking with hands-on operational leadership, adapting as needed. Strong track record of leading and developing teams, fostering a people-first, high-performance culture. Highly articulate and influential communicator, able to engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders. Experience managing audit and compliance requirements, ensuring financial and regulatory integrity. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a pragmatic approach to decision-making.

Experience & Attributes (Desirable): Experience working in a multi-site or growing organisation undergoing change and expansion. Experience leading HR, estates, or risk management functions as part of a broader operational remit. Understanding of the regulatory landscape in education and/or charities. Familiarity with impact-driven finance models, such as social investment or mission-based funding.