Three Bridges Recruitment is delighted to be partnering with a highly respected educational organisation serving communities across one of Scotland's most unique and diverse regions.
This is an exceptional opportunity to join the Executive Leadership Team as Chief Financial Officer, leading the financial sustainability of a complex, multi-site organisation operating across rural, coastal and island communities.
The organisation has recently undergone significant transformation and is now entering its next phase of development. As Chief Financial Officer, you will play a critical role in shaping financial strategy, strengthening governance and supporting long-term sustainability whilst helping to deliver positive outcomes for learners, employers and communities across the region.
This is a highly visible leadership role requiring regular engagement across multiple campuses and centres. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable operating at board and executive level whilst remaining close enough to the detail to support operational decision-making when required.
Why Work Here?
- Salary circa £80-85,000 plus excellent benefits
- Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
- 35-hour working week
- Outstanding pension scheme with 17.4% employer contribution
- 45 days annual leave
- Executive leadership role with significant influence over organisational strategy
- Opportunity to lead during a period of transformation and change
- Strong focus on work-life balance and employee wellbeing
- Public sector benefits, stability and long-term career opportunity
- Chance to make a meaningful impact across communities throughout the Highlands and Islands
Job
The role of Chief Financial Officer will give you the opportunity to:
- Lead the organisation's financial strategy, planning and long-term sustainability agenda
- Provide executive leadership for finance, audit, risk and infrastructure functions
- Oversee budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, controls and governance frameworks
- Partner with the Principal, Board and Executive Leadership Team on strategic decision-making
- Lead financial transformation, efficiency initiatives and continuous improvement programmes
- Ensure robust risk management, compliance and assurance processes
- Provide oversight of infrastructure services, including IT and facilities
- Support investment decisions, resource allocation and long-term financial planning
- Represent the organisation within wider sector and partnership forums
- Build collaborative relationships across a geographically dispersed organisation
- Lead, develop and inspire teams through a period of organisational evolution
- Help shape future finance structures, systems and ways of working
You
As Chief Financial Officer, you will likely possess the following:
- Fully qualified accountant (CCAB or equivalent) or demonstrable equivalent executive-level financial leadership experience
- Significant experience operating at CFO, Finance Director or equivalent senior leadership level
- Strong track record across finance, audit, risk and governance
- Experience leading organisations through financial challenge, transformation or change
- Ability to combine strategic thinking with a practical, hands-on approach
- Experience working within complex, multi-site or geographically dispersed organisations
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the credibility to influence at Board and Executive level
- Experience leading and developing high-performing finance teams
- Strong commercial and operational awareness
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
- Collaborative leadership style combined with resilience, adaptability and sound judgement
You may come from education, public sector, regulated industries, professional services or another complex environment. More important is your ability to lead financial strategy, influence stakeholders and operate effectively across a distributed organisation.
An understanding of rural, island or geographically dispersed operating environments would be advantageous but is not essential.
Location
This role is hybrid and requires a strong on-site presence across the organisation's operating region. Candidates should be based within, or willing to relocate to, the Highlands and Islands area and be comfortable travelling regularly between sites as part of the role.
At Three Bridges Recruitment, two of our values are "striving for brilliance" and "relatability".
We want every applicant to receive an excellent experience and ensure that this opportunity is the right fit for you.
Should this role be of interest, please apply with your most up-to-date CV or contact us for a confidential discussion.