Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance and operations to ensure excellent educational outcomes and sustainable growth.
- Company: Lighthouse Education Trust, dedicated to shaping the future of education.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, mental health support, free healthcare services, and continuous professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education while growing a mission-driven organisation.
- Qualifications: Senior experience in finance and operations, strong leadership, and communication skills.
- Other info: Join a supportive team committed to safeguarding and promoting student welfare.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
What skills and experience we’re looking for
The Role
- Provide expert financial stewardship, ensuring strong budgeting, forecasting, reporting and value for money.
- Lead all operational functions, including finance, HR, estates, IT, compliance and risk.
- Establish and embed robust governance, policies and procedures aligned with statutory and regulatory requirements.
- Develop scalable systems and structures to support sustainable growth.
- Work closely with the CEO, Trustees and school leaders to enable excellent educational outcomes.
- Ensure the Trust is resilient, efficient, compliant and well-prepared for expansion.
The Ideal Candidate
- We are looking for a strategic, values-driven leader who has significant senior experience in finance and operations, ideally within education, the public sector or a complex organisation.
- Brings strong commercial acumen alongside a commitment to public service and education.
- Is confident building systems and structures in a growing organisation.
- Has excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder-management skills.
- Is motivated by the opportunity to shape and grow a mission-led Trust from an early stage.
What the school offers its staff
- This role comes with full training, induction and a range of benefits.
- Salary paid across 12 equal monthly instalments, and an increase each September (subject to Trustee approval and the finances of the school).
- Mental health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do – our staff say they feel supported by the Senior Leadership Team and our Mental Health First Aider Team.
- Access to a range of free health care services including, Employee Assistance Programme offering free counselling (general/menopause), physiotherapy, 24/7 GP service, stress coaching, nurse support services, financial wellbeing coaching, surgical assistance programme, free flu vaccinations, and eye tests for VDU users.
- Up to date autism specific training, including person centred approaches, positive behaviour support strategies and understanding communication from our Speech and Language Therapists and our training and Wellbeing Teams.
- Continuous Professional Development including access to coaching, mentoring and supervision, as well as e-learning and online training courses.
If you’re ready to play a key role in shaping the future of a growing Trust, we’d love to explore this opportunity with you.
Commitment to safeguarding
Lighthouse School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS certificate is required for successful applicants, and all newly appointed staff who have lived or travelled overseas for 12 months or more in the past 10 years will be required to undertake an overseas check as part of our pre-employment checks.
Chief Finance & Operations Officer - Lighthouse Education Trust in Gildersome employer: Teaching vacancies
Contact Detail:
Teaching vacancies Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Finance & Operations Officer - Lighthouse Education Trust in Gildersome
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the Trust's values and mission. Show us how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in finance and operations. Tailor your responses to highlight your strategic thinking and leadership skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job postings! Be proactive and reach out directly to the Trust. Express your interest in the CFOO position and ask if they’d be open to a chat about potential opportunities. It shows initiative and enthusiasm!
✨Tip Number 4
Utilise our website to apply! We’ve got all the resources you need to make your application stand out. Plus, it’s a great way to show us you’re serious about joining our mission-driven team.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Finance & Operations Officer - Lighthouse Education Trust in Gildersome
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in finance and operations, especially within education or complex organisations. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at Lighthouse Education Trust!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: In your application, don’t shy away from sharing examples of your leadership and stakeholder management experiences. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and lead teams effectively, so let us know how you’ve done this in the past.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Teaching vacancies
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Chief Finance & Operations Officer, you'll need to demonstrate your financial expertise. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed budgets and forecasts in previous roles. This shows you can provide the expert stewardship they’re looking for.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to talk about your leadership approach and how it aligns with the values of the Lighthouse Education Trust. Think of specific examples where you've led teams through change or developed systems that improved efficiency. This will highlight your ability to lead operational functions effectively.
✨Understand the Educational Landscape
Familiarise yourself with current trends and challenges in the education sector, especially within public organisations. Being able to discuss these topics will show your commitment to public service and education, which is crucial for this role.
✨Prepare Questions for Them
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare insightful questions about their governance policies, compliance measures, and how they envision growth. This not only shows your interest but also your strategic thinking, which is essential for a CFOO.
