[260514] Director of Finance

Post: [260514] Director of Finance Location: Fully Remote Salary: Circa £100,000 per annum Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time Contract Hours: 37.5 Hours per week, Monday to Friday For more information about the role, please view our Applicant Pack -Director of Finance Applicant Pack About the Role We are seeking an exceptional and strategic leader to join Reach South Academy Trust as our Director of Finance and Chief Financial Officer. This is a pivotal Executive Leadership Team role at a defining point in the Trust’s growth, combining system-wide financial leadership with executive accountability for governance and assurance. This role offers the opportunity to shape the long-term sustainability, integrity and impact of a large and ambitious Trust. As CFO, you will lead the Trust’s financial strategy, ensuring that resources are deployed with maximum effectiveness to support high-quality education and improved outcomes for every pupil. Alongside your financial leadership responsibilities, you will act as Executive Lead for Governance, ensuring that the Trust operates within a robust, transparent, and compliant framework that provides strong assurance to the Board, regulators, and stakeholders. Working in close partnership with the CEO, Trustees, and Executive colleagues, you will play a central role in shaping organisational strategy and enabling sustainable growth across an increasingly complex and evolving educational landscape. This role sits at the heart of the Trust’s executive leadership, supporting a regional structure that enhances responsiveness while maintaining strong central oversight. The Director of Finance will be instrumental in embedding scalable systems, driving value for money, and ensuring that financial and governance excellence underpin everything we do. With the Trust continuing to expand, now serving over 8,000 pupils across 21 schools and growing, this role offers a rare opportunity to influence system-wide change at scale, shaping the financial future of an organisation committed to inclusion, social mobility, and excellence in education. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership Lead a sustainable, forward-looking financial strategy aligned to Trust priorities Contribute as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, shaping organisational direction and decision-making Provide authoritative financial and governance advice to the CEO, Board of Trustees, and senior stakeholders Finance and Value for Money Oversee all aspects of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and performance monitoring across the Trust Ensure robust financial controls, compliance and audit Lead long-term financial planning, capital strategy, and the optimisation of resources to maximise impact Governance and Assurance Hold executive responsibility for governance frameworks, statutory compliance, and Board assurance Ensure high-quality, timely, and transparent reporti