Chief Finance Officer – Full-time/Part-time

The Viking Academy Trust has a rare opportunity for a CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER to join our successful trust.

“Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader… they set out to make a difference.  It’s never about the role – always about the goal!’

The role of the Viking Academy Trust Chief Finance Officer (CFO) is to provide high quality leadership and management of the Trust’s financial, IT and estate functions, in order that the Trust can run efficiently and effectively in delivering its educational vision, aims and objectives.

The CFO will work with the Board, the Heads of School and the Viking Executive Leadership Team, (of which they will be a member), to establish the vision for the future financial management of the Trust. The CFO will contribute to the Board’s strategic decision making, whilst ensuring that the Trust remains financially sustainable in the current and future educational context.

The CFO will ensure that sound and appropriate financial governance and risk management arrangements are in place across the Trust, that budgets are prepared and monitored and that annual accounts are delivered in accordance with the Academy Trust Handbook, the EFSA guidelines and with all statutory requirements.

The CFO will lead the promotion and delivery by the whole organisation of good financial management so that public money is safeguarded at all times and used appropriately, economically, efficiently and effectively.

The Viking Academy Trust runs its own successful in-house payroll service for our staff, the CFO will be responsible for administering this service alongside the HR Director.

The right candidate will need a passion for education and have commitment to our vision and will see finance as an enabler with the ability to think creatively and innovatively to solve problems.

The ideal candidate will be experienced in a senior financial role and hold an accounting qualification.  Previous school finance experience beneficial but not essential.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Executive Headteacher, Michaela Lewis, to arrange a meeting to discuss the role prior to submitting an application.

This role will be all year round with 27 days annual leave entitlement increasing to 30 days upon achieving five years’ service with the trust.  The working hours are negotiable for the right candidate, we could consider a part-time working pattern.

Please contact Michaela Lewis via EHT@vikingacademytrust.com for more information.

Applicants are advised to visit the Viking Academy Trust website to gain further understanding of the Multi-Academy Trust: www.vikingacademytrust.com

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our pupils You are advised that this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and therefore this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). 

Information about the trust

The Viking Academy Trust is a primary only, Multi-Academy Trust consisting of three inspirational schools: Upton Junior School, Chilton Primary School and Ramsgate Arts Primary School.

Our One Childhood One Chance philosophy resonates throughout everything we do at the Viking Academy Trust.

At Viking, we make sure that our ultimate focus and core purpose remains excellent teaching and learning for every child. Our teaching is progressive and adaptive and we strive for the best outcomes for all. We invest time and training into our staff so that they can invest their skills and expertise into our children.

For children to thrive, they need to feel that they belong. Our people and our environments are warm and welcoming. Every member of our staff invests in building strong relationships with children and getting to know children well means we can focus on equity of opportunity.

This means that we can prioritise social and emotional learning along with the academic as we know that children need to learn how to be resilient, to have healthy and safe relationships and to face the world with problem solving skills.

We nurture children to become responsible citizens, ready to face the modern world and to make the most of their every potential both academically and socially. At Viking schools, we have high standards and expectations and we know how to support children to reach them.