SMART (South East Cornwall Multi Academy Regional Trust) Schools Trust is a successful educational Trust with a mission to serve its local community and improve the life chances of its students. The Trust now seeks an experienced finance leader to join the team as Chief Financial Officer and provide strategic leadership of its financial and commercial operations.

Key Responsibilities

Acting as the leader for all finance-related work: this includes leading staff within the Trust employed with finance, operations, estates, ICT, HR and business management functions.
Providing sound financial advice to Trustees and senior management colleagues.
Ensuring that monthly management accounts and other ad-hoc reports are prepared, alongside management commentary comparing performance against budget and analysing variances.
Working with the CEO and leadership teams to develop and deliver the three-year financial plan and identify additional sources of external revenue and funding.
Preparing the annual budget in accordance with the requirements of the Trust and the DfE.
Establishing and maintaining the academies’ financial and accounting systems.
Implementing and operating rigorous and robust audits and controls.
Overseeing cash balances, cash flow, tax and VAT liabilities.
Ensuring that appropriate internal control processes are in place to eliminate the risk of financial losses and maintaining the shared risk register for the Trust.
Preparing financial appraisals and bids and generating new income streams and grant funding.
Managing and overseeing the Trust’s assets, ensuring that the full inventory is recorded in an asset register.
Keeping abreast of financial developments across academies, including direction from the DfE and charity sector.

Skills and Experience

Professional finance or finance-related qualification at a graduate level (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, MAAT or equivalent).
Experience managing significant financial resources and budgets.
A good appreciation of relevant regulatory frameworks and familiarity with financial processes and procedures.
Experience of effectively managing a team and the ability to communicate with colleagues and contractors at all levels of the organisation.
Strong persuasive, influencing and interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate.
Clear analytical skills and experience in the use of management information systems.
Excellent skills in strategic planning and the strategic management of financial resources.
Ability to demonstrate a commitment to your own continuous learning and to professional development across an organisation.
A keen, positive and enthusiastic team player who is approachable and amicable.

Salary: Grade O1 – O5 | £68,312 – £75,321 DOE (pay award pending).

Location: Liskeard with travel to other sites in South East Cornwall; the team regularly work in a hybrid and flexible way.

Required from: 5th January 2026.

Closing date: 9.00am on Tuesday, 16th September 2025.

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