Director of Finance in Birmingham

About School of Coding & AI

School of Coding & AI is one of the UK’s fastest growing education providers, delivering high quality, career focused programmes across Coding, AI, STEM, Health and Social Care, Business and related areas. We work across higher education, alternative provision and international markets, combining academic ambition with a clear focus on employability, progression and student outcomes. Our approach is simple, student first, always. As we continue to grow across the UK and internationally, we are strengthening the systems, leadership and financial infrastructure needed to support a more complex, multi‑entity education group.

About the role

The Director of Finance will be responsible for leading financial strategy, governance, reporting and performance across School of Coding & AI. This is a senior leadership role for someone who can combine strong technical finance expertise with commercial judgement, strategic planning and the ability to operate in a fast paced, growing organisation. You will work closely with the CEO, Principal, Board and senior leadership team to ensure the organisation has clear financial visibility, robust controls, effective forecasting and the right structures in place to support growth across the UK and international markets. The role will suit someone who is confident working across group finance, financial modelling, compliance, audit, tax, funding, budgeting, cash‑flow and commercial decision making.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Financial Strategy and Leadership
  • Lead the development and delivery of the organisation’s financial strategy in line with growth plans.
  • Act as a key financial advisor to the CEO, Principal, Board and senior leadership team.
  • Provide clear financial insight to support strategic decisions, investment planning and long‑term growth.
  • Lead financial planning, scenario modelling and commercial analysis across the group.
  • Support decisions relating to new entities, new programmes, international growth, partnerships and future investment opportunities.
  • Ensure finance is positioned as a proactive, commercially focused function that supports performance across the organisation.
• Financial Planning, Modelling and Commercial Insight
  • Build and maintain robust financial models covering profit and loss, cash‑flow, balance sheet, student numbers, funding, margins and growth scenarios.
  • Provide clear analysis of income, cost base, profitability, student lifecycle economics and commercial performance.
  • Develop scenario models linked to funding changes, student recruitment, international expansion and new programme launches.
  • Work closely with admissions, operations, academic leaders and commercial teams to improve forecasting, conversion insight and revenue visibility.
  • Produce clear, accurate and useful financial reporting for senior leaders and the Board.
  • Translate complex financial information into practical recommendations that support better decision making.
• Group Structure, Tax and International Finance
  • Support the development and management of appropriate financial structures across UK and international entities.
  • Work with external advisors on tax, VAT, intercompany arrangements, transfer pricing and cross‑border financial matters.
  • Ensure the organisation remains compliant with relevant UK and international tax requirements.
  • Provide financial input into investment structures, property related activity, SPVs and new entity development where required.
  • Identify and manage financial risks linked to international growth, entity structure and cross‑border operations.
  • Ensure financial processes remain scalable as the group becomes more complex.
• Financial Control, Governance and Compliance
  • Lead the development of strong financial controls, policies, processes and reporting standards.
  • Ensure the organisation is audit ready across all relevant funding streams, entities and operating areas.
  • Own relationships with auditors, tax advisors, banks, funding bodies and relevant external stakeholders.
  • Ensure compliance with financial reporting requirements, regulatory expectations and internal governance standards.
  • Support compliance linked to education funding, higher education regulation and other relevant frameworks.
  • Strengthen risk management, assurance and financial governance across the organisation.
• Budgeting, Forecasting and Financial Operations
  • Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process across the group.
  • Oversee cash‑flow, working capital, revenue recognition and financial performance reporting.
  • Monitor performance against budget and provide timely insight where action is needed.
  • Ensure financial systems, processes and controls can support continued growth.
  • Drive improvements in reporting accuracy, efficiency and consistency.
  • Identify opportunities to improve cost control, operational efficiency and value for money.
• Capital, Investment and Growth Support
  • Support the organisation’s approach to fundraising, debt structuring and investor readiness where required.
  • Prepare investment cases, financial models, board papers and valuation analysis.
  • Provide financial insight to support shareholder strategy, equity planning and long‑term value creation.
  • Work with senior leaders on business cases for new programmes, sites, partnerships and international opportunities.
  • Ensure growth plans are underpinned by realistic financial assumptions, clear risk analysis and strong governance.
• People Leadership
  • Lead, develop and strengthen the finance function as the organisation grows.
  • Build capability across management accounts, reporting, FP&A, controls and commercial finance.
  • Create clear expectations, accountability and consistency across the team.
  • Support a culture of accuracy, ownership, continuous improvement and professional standards.
  • Work collaboratively with leaders across the organisation to improve financial understanding and accountability.

What you’ll bring

You will be a credible, commercially minded finance leader who is comfortable working in a growing, fast moving organisation. You will be able to bring structure, clarity and financial discipline without slowing the pace of progress. You will be confident advising senior leaders, challenging constructively and translating complex financial information into clear, practical decisions. You will also be comfortable working close to the detail, ensuring that reporting, controls, forecasting and governance are accurate, reliable and fit for purpose. This role will suit someone who takes ownership, sets high standards and enjoys building strong finance foundations that support sustainable growth.

Essential

• Proven experience as a Finance Director, Director of Finance, CFO or senior finance leader in a complex organisation.
• Experience working within a multi‑entity, group or growing organisational structure.
• Strong financial modelling, forecasting and commercial analysis skills.
• Experience leading budgeting, reporting, cash‑flow management and financial planning.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, audit, governance and risk management.
• Experience working in education, higher education, training, funding, regulated sectors or similarly complex environments.
• Strong understanding of UK tax, VAT and financial compliance requirements.
• Experience working with external advisors, auditors, banks, lenders or investors.
• Confident advising Boards, CEOs or senior leadership teams on financial strategy and risk.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and challenge constructively.
• Ability to operate strategically while remaining close enough to the detail to ensure delivery.
• Professional finance qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent.

Desirable

• Experience working across UK and international structures, particularly UAE and/or India.
• Experience supporting international expansion, group restructuring or new entity creation.
• Experience with M&A, SPVs, property structures or investment related activity.
• Familiarity with OfS, SLC funding, Ofsted, QAA or other education related regulatory frameworks.
• Experience preparing organisations for private equity, institutional investment or debt funding.
• Experience implementing or improving finance systems, controls and reporting processes.

Why Join Us

• Play a senior leadership role in one of the UK’s fastest growing education providers.
• Lead finance across a growing, multi‑entity organisation with UK and international ambitions.
• Shape the financial systems, structures and controls that will support the next stage of growth.
• Work closely with the CEO, Board and senior leaders on strategic decisions with real organisational impact.
• Join a mission driven organisation focused on delivering meaningful outcomes for students.

Salary from £90,000 to £110,000 depending on experience

Performance incentives

Generous annual leave entitlement

Pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Strong CPD and development opportunities

Company and social events

Retail discounts through Bright Exchange

Free onsite parking