Head of Finance

Head of Finance

Huntress is delighted to be supporting a well-established independent school trust in the appointment of a Head of Finance. This is a key leadership position, reporting directly to the Bursar and providing financial leadership across the Trust.

The successful candidate will take responsibility for the day-to-day leadership of the finance function, ensuring robust financial controls, accurate reporting and effective financial management, while providing clear insight to support strategic decision-making.

The Role

As Head of Finance, you will lead and develop the finance team and oversee a broad range of financial activities, including:

Leading the preparation of half-termly management accounts, financial reporting and variance analysis

Managing the annual budgeting process, rolling forecasts and longer-term financial planning

Providing financial analysis and modelling to support operational and strategic decisions

Overseeing cash flow, banking, treasury and financial controls

Managing fee billing, income collection, debt management and other income streams

Providing oversight of payroll and pension processes

Leading the year-end accounts process and acting as the main point of contact for external auditors

Leading the Finance Team

Supporting the Bursar, Senior Leadership Team and Governors with financial information and strategic projects

About You

You will be a professionally qualified accountant (ACA or ACCA,preferred) with significant financial management experience within a complex organisation.

You will have a strong track record across management accounts, budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and analysis, together with experience of leading audits, statutory reporting and managing a finance team.

The ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders is essential, alongside strong technical accounting knowledge, excellent analytical skills and a commercially minded approach.

Experience within the education or charitable environment would be advantageous, as would knowledge of charity accounting, education-sector VAT and experience supporting Governors, Trustees or Board Committees.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced finance leader to take a senior role within an established organisation, working closely with the Bursar and wider leadership team and playing a key part in the School's financial sustainability and future development.

Huntress Search Ltd acts as a Recruitment Agency in relation to all Permanent roles and as a Recruitment Business in relation to all Temporary roles.

We practice a diverse and inclusive recruitment process that ensures equal opportunity for all we work with, irrespective of race, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age or gender. As an organisation, we encourage applications from all backgrounds and will ensure measures are met when required, to allow a fair process throughout.

PLEASE NOTE: We can only consider applications from candidates who have the right to work in the UK