Chief Financial Officer | Synergy Education Trust

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Chief Financial Officer Synergy Education Trust

An exceptional opportunity for an accomplished finance leader to join a growing and ambitious multi-academy trust as Chief Financial Officer, helping shape the future of education across Blackpool and Lancashire.

• Location: Blackpool

As our Trust continues to evolve, we remain committed to building an organisation that is financially resilient, operationally effective and well placed to meet both the opportunities and challenges of the years ahead.

Synergy Education Trust is seeking to appoint an outstanding Chief Financial Officer to join our executive team at a significant point in our journey.

Working alongside the Chief Executive Officer, Trustees and school leaders, the Chief Financial Officer will provide strategic leadership across finance, operations and organisational planning. This is a role that extends well beyond financial management. It is an opportunity to influence organisational strategy, support sustainable growth and ensure that our resources are used to deliver the greatest possible impact for the children and communities we serve.

We are looking for an accomplished leader with the professional credibility, commercial acumen and strategic judgement to help us build on our strong foundations and support our ambitions for the future.

Who we are

Collaboration sits at the heart of everything we do at Synergy Education Trust. We were established on the principle that schools achieve more when they work together, share expertise, support one another and maintain a relentless focus on improving outcomes for children and young people.

Today, we are a growing family of schools serving communities through high-quality education. Whilst each school retains its own distinctive character and identity, we are united by a shared commitment to excellence, inclusion and opportunity.

Our collective ambition is simple: to provide the highest quality education and ensure that every child is given the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

About the role

The Chief Financial Officer will be a key member of our executive team and will play a central role in shaping the future direction of Synergy Education Trust.

Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Trustees, the successful candidate will provide leadership across financial strategy, resource planning, compliance, risk management and operational delivery. They will help ensure that our decision-making is informed by robust financial insight and that we continue to demonstrate the highest standards of accountability and stewardship.

This is a broad and influential leadership role. Alongside responsibility for financial performance, the Chief Financial Officer will contribute to organisational strategy, support growth and development, strengthen systems and processes and help ensure that our infrastructure and resources are aligned with our educational priorities.

You will have a direct impact on our ability to invest in our schools, support our staff and create exceptional opportunities for the pupils and communities we serve.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking an accomplished finance leader who is a fully qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA or CIPFA), with the experience, judgement and credibility required to operate effectively at executive and board level.

You will bring a strong track record of leadership within a complex organisation and a deep understanding of strategic financial planning, risk management and organisational performance.

Whilst experience within the education sector would be advantageous, we are equally interested in candidates who have built successful careers within other complex and highly regulated environments. Most importantly, we are looking for someone who can see beyond the numbers.

You will be a trusted adviser to senior leaders and Trustees, capable of translating financial information into practical insight, providing constructive challenge and supporting effective decision-making.

You will combine professional rigour with a collaborative approach and be motivated by the opportunity to contribute to an organisation driven by public service and social purpose.

This role requires an individual who is as comfortable discussing long‑term organisational strategy as they are ensuring the delivery of strong financial discipline. We are seeking a leader who will play a visible and influential role in helping Synergy Education Trust realise its ambitions over the coming years.

Welcome from the Chief Executive Officer

Thank you for your interest in joining Synergy Education Trust as our next Chief Financial Officer.

This is an important appointment for our Trust and one that comes at an exciting stage in our development. Since our formation, we have worked hard to establish strong foundations, build a culture of collaboration and ensure that our schools receive the support they need to deliver the best possible outcomes for the children and communities they serve.

We are ambitious about what the future holds. We believe strongly in the power of partnership and in creating an organisation that combines educational excellence with strong governance, effective leadership and sound financial stewardship. Achieving that ambition requires exceptional people, and the Chief Financial Officer will be one of the most important appointments within our executive team.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute far beyond finance. We are seeking a strategic leader who will help shape decision‑making across the Trust, provide expert advice to our Board of Trustees and work closely with colleagues to ensure that our resources are aligned with our priorities and ambitions. As we continue to develop as an organisation, the successful candidate will play a significant role in helping us build capacity, strengthen resilience and support sustainable growth.

Whilst the responsibilities are substantial, so too is the opportunity to make a meaningful difference. You will join a committed and talented team of colleagues who share a strong sense of purpose and a determination to provide exceptional opportunities for children and young people.

If you are inspired by the prospect of helping to lead a growing organisation with clear ambitions for the future, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Neil Oldham
Chief Executive Officer, Synergy Education Trust

About us

Synergy Education Trust was established with a clear belief that schools are stronger when they work together. Through collaboration, shared expertise and collective accountability, we seek to create the conditions in which children, staff and schools can flourish.

Our schools serve diverse communities across Blackpool and Lancashire and are united by a shared commitment to delivering high-quality education and improving life chances. Whilst each school brings its own strengths, identity and history, our Trust provides a framework through which those strengths can be shared for the benefit of all.

We have made strong progress since our formation, establishing a culture that values partnership, professionalism and continuous improvement. Looking ahead, we remain focused on ensuring that

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