Chief Financial Officer

Bring your financial expertise and values-driven leadership style to help steer the Education Training Collective towards a future filled with growth, development and success as they continue to fuel ambition and drive success in a resurgent Teesside and beyond.

The Education Training Collective (Etc.) provides high-quality education and training across six sites, supporting 15,000 students annually. With a turnover of ~£34m and strong financial health, we have secured funding for significant capital projects. Ofsted rated us ‘Good’ in 2022, with ‘Outstanding’ ratings in key areas, reflecting our dedicated 800 staff and commitment to student success.

About the role.

Reporting to the Chief Executive & Group Principal, the Chief Financial Officer will be responsible for ensuring the financial sustainability of Etc. while contributing strategically to our continued growth. You will oversee financial planning, budgeting, and risk management, ensuring compliance and efficiency.

With an evolving education landscape, this role requires innovation in financial management, identifying opportunities to maximise funding streams and improve resource allocation. You will drive financial strategies that support our ambitions in renewable energy, health innovation, and professional services, enabling expansion and diversification.

Collaboration will be crucial as you work alongside senior leadership and stakeholders, including schools, local authorities, Teesside University, and employers. You will play a key role in securing investment for infrastructure improvements, ensuring financial resilience, and leading a high-performing finance team. Maintaining strong relationships will be essential to influencing decision-making and sustaining organisational growth.

This is a pivotal leadership position that requires balancing financial prudence with ambition, ensuring that students and communities continue to benefit from high-quality education and training opportunities.

Who we are looking for.

We seek a values-driven financial leader with experience at an equivalent scale and pace. You will possess a deep understanding of FE sector funding, financial reporting, and commercial acumen, ensuring strategic financial planning and budgetary control.

Key skills include:

• Demonstratable understanding and experience of working at a pace and at a scale comparable to that of our Group and our sector.
• Understanding and appreciation for the challenges of working with the sector’s complex funding mechanisms.
• Understanding of the correlation and balance between finances, resources and curriculum.
• Proven experience in budget setting, financial reporting and an understanding of the commercial world.
• Ability to build, sustain and influence relationships with a broad range of stakeholders on a local and national scale.
• Ability to mitigate risks while identifying and maximising opportunities.

As a credible and dynamic leader, you will guide the finance team, shape policy, and contribute to the broader strategic direction of the organisation. Your leadership will foster an inclusive and empowering culture, ensuring Etc. remains a provider of choice for students and staff alike.

Peridot Partners and Education Training Collective are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.

Please click ‘Apply on Website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the job description and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 24th March.