Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial strategy and operations for a growing educational trust.
- Company: Horizons Specialist Academy Trust, dedicated to supporting students with special educational needs.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and family-friendly policies.
- Other info: Join a supportive team committed to wellbeing and career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of education while ensuring financial sustainability and governance.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with senior leadership experience and strategic financial insight.
The predicted salary is between 76000 - 84000 £ per year.
Horizons Specialist Academy Trust consists of eight academies and one sixth form across Tees Valley, Durham and North Yorkshire, serving approximately 1,000 students with a broad range of special educational needs. Following the retirement of the current postholder, the Trust is seeking to appoint an exceptional and strategic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join the Executive Leadership Team. Based at Abbey Hill Academy, the CFO will play a pivotal role in shaping financial sustainability and supporting the Trust's long-term strategic direction at an exciting stage of growth, building on a strong and stable financial foundation.
Reporting to the Chief Executive and working closely with the Board of Trustees, the CFO will lead all aspects of financial strategy, planning and operations. This includes ensuring robust financial governance, delivering value for money, and enabling high-quality decision-making that supports improved outcomes for pupils. The CFO will also lead the central finance function and contribute to wider Trust strategy, working collaboratively with senior leaders across education and operations to align financial planning with organisational priorities.
Requirements
- Be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with significant senior leadership experience.
- Demonstrate a strong track record of strategic financial leadership within a complex organisation (education or public sector experience desirable but not essential).
- Have experience advising Boards and senior stakeholders, translating financial information into clear strategic insight.
- Ensure strong financial governance and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
- Be an inspirational, collaborative leader with the ability to develop high-performing teams and build effective relationships.
- Bring strong commercial acumen with a focus on efficiency, sustainability and continuous improvement.
What the school offers its staff
- An ambitious and forward-thinking Chief Executive Officer and Board of Trustees.
- A highly collaborative and supportive Executive Leadership Team.
- A committed and skilled Central Team across Finance, HR, Estates, IT and Operations.
- Well-established systems, processes and infrastructure.
- Extensive and varied professional learning opportunities.
- Access to a wide range of support for your physical and mental wellbeing.
- Family-Friendly Working policies to support work-life balance.
- Access to a generous Local Government or Teachers' Pension scheme.
- Recognition by Investors in People as a Gold organisation and Silver award for wellbeing.
Commitment to safeguarding
Horizons Specialist Academy Trust is committed to safe recruitment practices and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed, this may include online searches. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Application requirements
The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.
Chief Financial Officer in Darlington employer: Government jobs, apprenticeship
Contact Detail:
Government jobs, apprenticeship Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Financial Officer in Darlington
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector or finance world. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the Trust and its financial strategies. Show us you understand their mission and how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your strategic financial leadership can enhance the Trust’s sustainability and support its growth. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and shows us you’re serious about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Financial Officer in Darlington
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the CFO role. Highlight your strategic financial leadership experience and any relevant qualifications. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission at Horizons Specialist Academy Trust.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've led financial strategy in complex organisations and how you can contribute to our growth.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We’re looking for an inspirational leader, so don’t hold back! In your application, emphasise your ability to develop high-performing teams and build effective relationships. Let us know how you’ve collaborated with senior stakeholders in the past.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of all the amazing candidates like you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Government jobs, apprenticeship
✨Know Your Numbers
As a CFO, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used them to drive strategic decisions in previous roles. This shows you can translate complex financial data into actionable insights.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to talk about your leadership approach and how you've built high-performing teams. Think of specific examples where your collaborative style has led to improved outcomes, especially in a complex organisation like an academy trust.
✨Understand the Trust's Vision
Research Horizons Specialist Academy Trust thoroughly. Understand their mission, values, and current challenges. Be prepared to discuss how your financial strategies can align with their long-term goals and support their growth.
✨Prepare for Board Interactions
Since you'll be advising the Board of Trustees, practice articulating financial concepts clearly and concisely. Prepare to answer questions about how you would ensure strong financial governance and compliance, as well as how you would engage with senior stakeholders effectively.