Director of Finance

Solent Academies Trust | Portsmouth | £70,450-£77,401

At Solent Academies Trust, we believe strong relationships help people thrive. We are a values-driven organisation supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs, and we are seeking an exceptional Director of Finance to join our senior leadership team at an exciting point in our growth.

A senior finance role with real purpose. Working closely with the Chief Finance and Operating Officer, you will lead and develop our finance function, providing robust financial insight and supporting a sustainable financial strategy across the Trust. We are looking for a qualified accountant (or equivalent) with strong, recent technical and accrual-based accounting experience, who combines financial expertise with excellent relationship-management skills and the confidence to operate at senior level. You will be someone who:

• Builds credibility and trust with a wide range of stakeholders
• Is resilient and comfortable operating in a highly scrutinised environment, with the confidence to challenge constructively and stand behind your professional judgement
• Communicates complex financial matters clearly and effectively
• Brings professional rigour, empathy and a collaborative approach
• Is dynamic, ambitious and motivated by the opportunity to make a genuine difference

A degree in Accounting or relevant professional experience will also be considered. You don't have to come from education. Education-sector experience is not essential. We welcome applications from qualified accountants from other sectors who can bring transferable expertise, fresh thinking and a genuine desire to make a difference. What matters is what you can bring to the role and your appetite to understand our environment and contribute to the Trust's ambitions.

An opportunity to grow: The Trust is developing and changing, creating genuine scope for the successful candidate to grow with the organisation, take on greater responsibility and shape its future. You will join an ambitious and compassionate organisation that values its people, invests in professional development and puts wellbeing and relationships at the heart of its culture.

We encourage you to connect with our recruitment partners, Propelo, for an informal, confidential conversation about the role on 01273 222 877 or solent@propelo.co.uk.

We are looking for a qualified accountant (or equivalent) with strong, recent technical and accrual-based accounting experience, who combines financial expertise with excellent relationship-management skills and the confidence to operate at senior level. You will be someone who:

• Builds credibility and trust with a wide range of stakeholders
• Is resilient and comfortable operating in a highly scrutinised environment, with the confidence to challenge constructively and stand behind your professional judgement
• Communicates complex financial matters clearly and effectively
• Brings professional rigour, empathy and a collaborative approach
• Is dynamic, ambitious and motivated by the opportunity to make a genuine difference

A degree in Accounting or relevant professional experience will also be considered. You don't have to come from education. Education-sector experience is not essential. We welcome applications from qualified accountants from other sectors who can bring transferable expertise, fresh thinking and a genuine desire to make a difference. What matters is what you can bring to the role and your appetite to understand our environment and contribute to the Trust's ambitions.

The Trust is developing and changing, creating genuine scope for the successful candidate to grow with the organisation, take on greater responsibility and shape its future. You will join an ambitious and compassionate organisation that values its people, invests in professional development and puts wellbeing and relationships at the heart of its culture.

Key dates

• Closing date: Monday 28th September, 10am
• Interviews: Thursday 8th October
• Start date: January 2027
• We encourage early applications and reserve the right to withdraw the advert and appoint before the published closing date, should we identify a suitable candidate.

The successful candidate will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Solent Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We may also conduct an online search about any shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence to identify any matters that might relate directly to our legal duty to meet safeguarding duties, in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK prior to commencement of employment.