We are seeking a dynamic and highly experienced Chief Operations & Financial Officer to join our Executive Leadership team. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our organisation, driving both operational and financial excellence.
As Chief Operations & Financial Officer you will lead a broad portfolio encompassing financial strategy, operational efficiency, and risk management, ensuring that your business functions align (Finance, Estates IT, Marketing and Governance) to achieve sustainable growth and organisational success.
Before applying, please read the attached Recruitment Pack and Job Description, for more details about the role. We ask that you read this pack carefully, especially the “Planning your application” section from page 11. This will support your application ensuring you have the opportunity to tell us about your relevant skills, experience and qualifications that relate to the job description and person specification in addition to details of your references covering the last 5 years.
The main responsibility of the role will be:
Oversee the financial planning and analysis, budgeting, and forecasting processes to ensure sound financial performance.
Lead operational strategy and execution, optimising resources, and driving improvements across business units.
Ensure compliance with legal, financial, and regulatory frameworks, while identifying growth opportunities and efficiencies.
Work closely with the executive team to set organisational objectives and build a culture of high performance.
Manage risk and mitigation strategies, ensuring robust financial and operational controls are in place.
Ensure excellent oversight of projects; growth and departmental performance.
The ideal candidate will have/be:
Proven experience in a similar role in an education setting, or equivalent senior leadership role, with a strong background in finance, operations, or business administration.
A strategic mindset, with the ability to drive performance and lead complex projects from concept to completion.
Strong financial acumen, coupled with operational expertise across multiple business functions.
Exceptional leadership and people management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Inspiration Trust has twice been ranked as the country’s top family of comprehensive schools for pupil progress, and strongly believes in the importance of giving the widest educational opportunities to all young people, regardless of their background. The Trust provides strong networks with opportunities to work with a diverse range of schools and partners. The Trust is committed to offering excellent professional and learning opportunities to all our staff, with a busy programme of continuing professional development courses delivered by some of the country’s best educational thinkers and practitioners.
Inspiration Trust feels it is important to support every school by centralising certain support services. In turn this reduces workload on senior leaders, helping to establish further value for money on a variety of integrated services. This also ensures the Trust’s Academies have a local support structure and share best practice. As a Trust we will continue to review the services we offer and are committed to making them responsive to individual Academy’s needs.
The Trust’s dedicated Central Services Team is based at the Hewett Academy in Norwich. This team provides a strong range of school support services including:
Finance
Governance
Human Resources and Payroll
Operations, including Estate management, Health and Safety, ICT and Marketing
For information on what it is like to live and work in Norwich, click here.
When you join Inspiration Trust’s thriving network of talented teachers, leaders and support staff, you join an organisation that supports you to be the best you can be. The Trust offers a varied professional development programme for employees.
We are committed to offering excellent professional opportunities for our staff, through careful support and personalised CPD. We offer a structured and specific induction programme.
The Trust also offers:
Generous holiday entitlement
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with generous employer contributions
Employee Assistance Programme which provides a fully confidential service which includes 24/7 free telephone support and access to well-being information, advice and guidance
Discounted travel passes via the First Bus Commuter Travel Club
Cycle-to-work scheme
Retail Benefits offering discounts with many shops and suppliers
Corporate membership of the Norwich Theatre Royal
Salary sacrifice schemes, including car leasing (subject to T&C), healthcare plans, including Dental insurance and Gym membership
SpecSavers VDU Eyecare and Boots Flu vouchers
Free Parking (on most sites)
If you would like to know more about this exciting opportunity, then please contact Fiona Hamilton, PA to the CEO, fionahamilton@inspirationtrust.org
To apply for this role please click the Apply button to complete the online application form.
Closing date for applications: 12pm on Friday 15th November 2024
Interview date: Thursday 5th December 2024
Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. We are an equal opportunities employer.
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