Deputy CEO (Finance and Operations)

Community Academies Trust (CAT) is looking for an exceptional, values-led senior finance and operations leader to become our Deputy CEO (Finance and Operations), This is a critical executive role, acting as the Trust's Chief Finance Officer and Company Secretary, responsible for leading the Trust's financial and operational functions, supporting the CEO on key strategic matters, and helping to ensure our schools are supported with clarity, confidence and care. The Trust is in robust financial health with an annual turnover of £58 million and a staff count of over 1,100.

Working at the apex of the Trust as part of the executive leadership team, the Deputy CEO (Finance and Operations) will be a qualified accountant with strong technical expertise, substantial senior leadership experience and a proven track record of leading people, resources, systems and organisational change. Acting as a senior figurehead for CAT, they will provide strategic leadership for finance, HR, operations, estates, IT, data protection, health and safety, compliance and risk. They will strengthen systems, support long-term financial planning, ensure effective statutory reporting and governance assurance, and represent the Trust with confidence. The successful candidate will be an outstanding communicator who can explain complex matters clearly, build strong relationships across the Trust and beyond, and model CAT's values of excellence, integrity, collaboration, inclusion and aspiration. They will be ambitious, collaborative and committed to high-quality education, strong
governance and effective support for schools.