Overview

The Kite Academy Trust is seeking an exceptional Director of Finance to join our ambitious Trust at an exciting and pivotal stage in our journey. With a professional accountancy qualification, strong executive experience and a proven track record of significant impact across multiple schools or complex organisations, the Director of Finance will utilise their outstanding analytical abilities, sound judgement and entrepreneurial mindset to provide strategic leadership and management across all financial aspects of the Trust’s activities.

Contract: Permanent. Hours: Full-time, 36 hours, 52 weeks. Salary: £80,000 – £95,000.

Role Context

This is a strategically significant position. The post holder will work closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees to ensure the Trust operates effectively and efficiently toward its mission, vision and strategic goals, and remains compliant in all areas of financial operations. We are a Trust with an aligned mission, vision and values that sit at the heart of everything we do.

Responsibilities

• Has experience of strategic financial planning and management, including budget setting and income generation, in a multi-academy trust (MAT) or similarly complex organisation
• Has extensive experience in budget leadership and financial management
• Has financial leadership experience, including leadership of a business function and a team of employees
• Has proven ability to identify and leverage commercial opportunities to enhance income generation
• Has working knowledge of key business service policies, practices and relevant legislation
• Can demonstrate commercial awareness and strategic thinking
• Will prioritise the promotion of our Trust mission, vision, values and one team ethos

Requirements

• Professional accountancy qualification
• Strong executive experience and a proven track record of significant impact across multiple schools or complex organizations

Benefits

• A trust which is committed to continuously improving colleague wellbeing
• The opportunity to play a pivotal role in the Trust’s strategic design and direction
• An ever increasing range of employee benefits
• Genuine career and salary progression opportunities
• The opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking and highly driven Executive Team
• 24 days annual leave (Increasing to 28 after 5 years of service)
• Workplace pension through LGPS

Application process: To apply, please complete the application form provided alongside this recruitment pack. The form includes a supporting statement outlining your experience in relation to the job description and person specification. Completed applications should be submitted to nicola.macbeth@kite.academy.

Closing date: Monday 29th September 2025 at 12 pm. Interviews: Thursday 9th and Friday 10th October 2025. Start: From January 2026.

The Kite Academy Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants are subject to an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check and satisfactory employment references.

We have policies and procedures in place that contribute to safeguarding, including our Child Protection Policy, viewable in the Policies section of our website. We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism.

In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance, we may conduct an online search about shortlisted candidates as part of due diligence to identify matters related to safeguarding duties.