Head of Finance – Business Partnering

Head of Finance - Business Partnering Salary: NJC Grade 15 - SCP 44 - 46 (£55,524 - £57,580) Contract: Permanent Start date: September 2026 Join Consilium Academies and Help Shape the Financial Future of Education At Consilium Academies, we are committed to Excellence and Equity with Integrity. As a growing Multi-Academy Trust serving communities across Salford, South Yorkshire and the North East, we are looking for an exceptional finance leader to join our central team as Head of Finance - Business Partnering. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded and strategically focused finance professional to play a key role in supporting our academies, influencing decision-making, and driving financial sustainability across the Trust. About the Role As Head of Finance - Business Partnering, you will lead our finance business partnering function, ensuring academy leaders and senior stakeholders receive high-quality financial insight, challenge, and support. You will oversee budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, procurement, benchmarking, and business partnering activities across the Trust. Working closely with the Chief Finance Officer and Head of Finance - Accounting, you will help shape financial strategy, support organisational growth, and ensure resources are aligned to educational priorities. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on financial management and offers the opportunity to make a real impact on the outcomes of thousands of young people. Key Responsibilities Lead and develop the Finance Business Partner team. Build strong relationships with Principals, school leaders and central teams. Deliver expert financial analysis, challenge and scenario planning. Lead the annual budget-setting process and monthly forecasting cycles. Support Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning across academies. Drive procurement planning and value-for-money initiatives. Lead financial benchmarking and performance analysis. Produce reports and present financial information to senior leaders and Trust committees. Support financial due diligence and onboarding of new schools. Ensure compliance with Trust financial policies, procurement regulations and Academy Trust requirements. Contribute to long-term financial planning and sustainability across the Trust. About You We are seeking an experienced finance professional who can combine technical expertise with strong relationship-building and leadership skills. You will have: Essential Significant experience in financial management, budgeting and forecasting. Experience leading and developing finance teams. A strong understanding of financial controls, reporting and analysis. Experience providing strategic financial advice to senior leaders. Experience working within the education sector, particularly academies. Experience of financial consolidation across multiple sites or business units. Knowledge of the