Chief Financial Operations Officer

Join Cumbria Education Trust in this new role to support the Trust in the next phase of strategic development across financial and operations.

• Location: Hybrid (head offices in Brampton, with regular travel to schools across the trust)
• Salary: Competitive – negotiable dependent upon experience.

Applications close at 9 a.m. Monday 13th October.

Cumbria Education Trust (CET) is seeking an ambitious and strategic Chief Financial Operations Officer (CFOO) to join our executive team at an exciting moment in our organisation’s journey. We are proud to be the largest local multi-academy trust in Cumbria, and as we celebrate our 10th year, we will continue to grow and welcome additional schools into our family. We are looking for a leader with the vision, expertise, and values to ensure our resources and operations are aligned to deliver the very best for every pupil as we enter this exciting next stage of our development.

As we enter our next exciting phase of development, we are looking for a leader with the vision, expertise, and values to lead the evolution of our Trust Services to ensure our resources and operations are aligned to deliver the very best for every pupil.

CET is the largest trust in the region. Our growth brings both opportunity and responsibility: we are committed to efficient, sustainable operations, strong governance, and a culture where every child and school matters.

In our 10th year as we look ahead, our focus remains on pupils. Every decision, strategy, and investment is guided by one question: how will this help our young people be the best they can be?

With a committed leadership team, dedicated staff, and supportive communities, we are confident that CET will continue to thrive and make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people across Cumbria.

About the role

We have a new opportunity for an ambitious and strategically focused Chief Financial Operations Officer (CFOO) to join our executive team. We are seeking an experienced senior leader with the vision, expertise, and values to lead the evolution of our Trust Services to ensure our resources and operations are aligned to deliver the very best for every pupil.

Who we are looking for

You will be an experienced senior leader who can bring together financial acumen, operational expertise, and a commitment to our values. You will also have a proven background in finance as a qualified accountant with significant senior leadership experience, ideally gained in a complex, multi-site organisation.

You will bring a demonstrable track record of shaping and delivering strategy at scale, and the ability to oversee multi-disciplinary functions spanning finance, HR, estates, IT and operations. Strategic foresight will be essential, as well as a willingness to engage in the operational realities of a fast-growing Trust.

Alongside technical and strategic expertise, we are looking for a leader who is visible and approachable, who can engage with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation, and who shares our values and believes that every child deserves the very best.

Peridot Partners and Cumbria Education Trust 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.

For further information about the role and to register your interest, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners: https://www.peridotpartners.co.uk/jobs/chief-financial-operations-officer-cumbria-education-trust/