Chief Financial Officer, Elland
£80,000 - £100,000 + excellent pension and benefits
South Pennine Academies is a cross-phase Trust of 11 primary and secondary academies, alongside a school-based Initial Teacher Training provider, Huddersfield Horizon SCITT.
Their vision is clear: to achieve an excellent education for everyone. This is brought to life through the values of Integrity, Ambition and Inclusion. Success is about more than academic outcomes; it is also about belonging, aspiration and opportunity for all.
Financial leadership at South Pennine Academies is ultimately about supporting schools, colleagues and pupils across the communities the Trust serves.
The opportunity
South Pennine Academies is working exclusively with KUDU Search to appoint an exceptional Chief Financial Officer.
This is a role for a CFO who wants their impact to be felt across an organisation, not just reflected in its reports. It offers the opportunity to shape how financial thinking supports decision-making, influences behaviour and contributes to better outcomes for pupils.
The Trust is looking for someone who can bring clarity and perspective to conversations, helping colleagues understand not just the numbers, but what they enable.
Strong controls, governance, compliance and stewardship are fundamental. The opportunity is not to replace discipline with innovation, but to build on strong foundations and develop a finance function that is increasingly useful, collaborative, efficient and forward-looking.
Useful information and resources
The documents and links below provide further information about the role, the Trust, the application process and the relevant safeguarding and governance requirements.
CFO Advert
A narrative introduction to the opportunity and the type of person South Pennine Academies is looking for.
Recruitment Pack
A fuller overview of the Trust, the Job Description, Person Specification, recruitment process and associated information.
How to Apply
Details of the route towards making a formal application, including KUDU’s role in early engagement.
Message from Alison Black
A personal introduction to the Trust, its values, culture and expectations for this appointment.
South Pennine Academies
Visit the Trust’s website to learn more about its schools, values, communities and wider work.
Annual Accounts
Published financial statements and wider Trust information relevant to candidates considering the opportunity.
Safer Recruitment Policy
Policies and checks relevant to all candidates applying to work within the Trust.
Academy Trust Handbook
The financial governance framework for academy trusts in England.
Confidential discussion
Initial expressions of interest should be made through KUDU Search, the retained recruitment partner for this appointment.
How to applyFAQs
South Pennine Academies is appointing a Chief Financial Officer to lead financial strategy, control, governance and insight across the Trust.
This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for ensuring finance supports the Trust’s educational mission, strategic planning, resource allocation and long-term organisational resilience.
The role is based in Elland, West Yorkshire, working across the Trust’s central team and schools as required.
This is a visible leadership role. While flexibility and sensible working patterns are important, success will require close working relationships with the CEO, Trust leaders, school leaders and the wider finance team.
South Pennine Academies is a values-led multi-academy trust serving primary and secondary academies, alongside a school-based Initial Teacher Training provider, Huddersfield Horizon SCITT.
The Trust is anchored in its values of Integrity, Ambition and Inclusion, and is focused on delivering excellent education for the communities it serves.
The appointment is aimed at an experienced and qualified finance leader with the ability to operate strategically while maintaining strong financial control, compliance and governance.
Experience in a multi-academy trust, education, charity, public sector or complex multi-site organisation may be helpful, but the Trust is also interested in candidates who can bring strong financial leadership, sound judgement, emotional intelligence and the ability to work collaboratively across a values-led organisation.
Education or academy trust experience may be useful, but it is not the only route into the role.
The Trust is looking for someone who understands the importance of public accountability, strong governance, careful stewardship of resources and the wider purpose behind the numbers. Candidates from relevant complex, regulated, charitable, public sector or multi-site environments may also be credible.
The role offers a salary in the range of £80,000 to £100,000, together with an excellent pension and benefits package.
All initial expressions of interest should be made through KUDU Search, the retained recruitment partner for this appointment.
Initial contact with KUDU is exploratory and confidential. Candidates who are agreed for formal consideration will then be invited to complete the appropriate South Pennine Academies application process.
A CV, LinkedIn profile or background summary may be used by KUDU to support an initial confidential discussion.
However, these do not replace the Trust’s formal application process. Candidates agreed for formal consideration will need to complete the appropriate South Pennine Academies application process in line with the Trust’s Safer Recruitment Policy.
All candidates who enter the formal process will be considered in line with South Pennine Academies’ Safer Recruitment Policy.
This may include formal application review, safeguarding-related questioning, verification of identity and qualifications, references, online searches where appropriate, and all relevant pre-employment checks. Any appointment will be subject to satisfactory checks, including an Enhanced DBS check and any additional checks required for the role.
Please contact Don Aitken at KUDU Search.
Email: don@kudusearch.careers
Mobile: 07432 597 033
Office: 0113 403 3346
Direct approaches to South Pennine Academies regarding this vacancy will be redirected to KUDU Search.