Job title: Chief Finance and Operating Officer

Location: Trust-wide role, based at Bell Barn Road

Contract: Permanent

Hours of work: full-time (36.5 hours/week), all year-round

Salary: £74,308, – £82,049 per annum (Grade 7, SCP 61–64)

Recruitment Bonus negotiable for the right candidate.

Join James Brindley as we launch the Think Differently Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) as Chief Finance and Operating Officer and play a key role in shaping the future of our newly established Trust. We are at the start of a very exciting journey, with ambitious growth plans to expand significantly over the next 3–5 years. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, you will oversee core operations, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and alignment with our educational aims.

Key Responsibilities:

· Provide strategic leadership across finance, IT, HR, and facilities.

· Act as the Trust’s Chief Financial Officer, ensuring sound financial governance.

· Maintain compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

· Lead and inspire teams, including Finance, HR, Governance, IT, and Facilities Managers.

· Oversee budgets, risk management, and operational planning.

· Contribute to the Trust’s development plan, ensuring financial sustainability.

What We Are Looking For:

· Proven experience in senior leadership, financial management, and operational oversight.

· Strong understanding of compliance, governance, and resource management.

· Ability to lead diverse teams and drive organisational success.

· Exceptional communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Why Join Us?

This is an excellent time to join James Brindley as the Academy continues to implement a strategic vision developed by young people, staff, and other stakeholders. Join us to ‘Think Differently’ to inspire young people to overcome all barriers and achieve their dreams. 

You’ll be joining at a pivotal time, as James Brindley Academy forms the Think Differently MAT, helping shape the foundations of a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to delivering outstanding education. We offer a competitive salary, professional development opportunities, and the chance to work in a collaborative, supportive environment.

Ready to take on this exciting challenge? Apply now and help us achieve our ambitious vision.

James Brindley is a stand-alone Academy based in a wide variety of locations across the City of Birmingham. During a school year, we educate over 3,000 young people for periods ranging from a few days in hospital to several years in one of our teaching centres. Many of our young people have complex medical needs and many have been out of education for a significant period prior to joining us. We offer a full-time curriculum to young people from EYFS to KS5 and our aim is always to enable them to ‘close the gap’ and to exceed expected progress during the time they are with us.

Completed application forms are to be emailed to vacancies@jamesbrindley.org.uk

Please ensure the application form is signed if sending via email.

If your application is shortlisted, you will be contacted via email within 2 to 3 weeks of the closing date. Please ensure you check your junk/spam inboxes.

Online Search

As part of our recruitment checks, an online search will be undertaken on all shortlisted candidates.  This search does not form part of the shortlisting process and you will have the opportunity to discuss any issues of concern that may arise from this search at the interview.

Closing date and time: Monday 3^rd March 2025 (9am)

Interviews will be held on / location: week commencing 10^th March 2025

Anticipated start date:April 2025

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Chief Finance and Operating Officer