Chief Finance Officer

Salary details: £ - £

PLEASE DO NOT APPLY USING THE DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL WEBSITE, PLEASE SEE DETAILS BELOW.

We are looking to appoint a new Chief Finance Officer (CFO) to our seven school trust. The CFO will be a pivotal member of the Central Team and will have overall responsibility for the financial management of the Trust.  The CFO will work alongside other senior leaders in the strategic development of the Trust. 

Full Time. Part-time hours will also be considered.

Odyssey Collaborative Trust, is a group of five primary and two junior schools, all within the City of Derby.  We educate 2,111 pupils and employ 351 staff. We aim to be a Trust where, pupils thrive, our colleagues thrive and our community thrives.  You can find out more about the trust through the CEO’s welcome and the vision and culture sections of our website. 

The Trust has a turnover of around £17m.  We pool reserves, but not General Allocation Grant Income.  Schools have School Business Managers who work closely with the CFO. 

We are looking for someone who will:

• Provide financial expertise ensuring the Trust uses its resources effectively to deliver on our thrive vision
• Build strong collaborative relationships with colleagues across the Trust
• Be a proactive part of the Trust’s activities and be fully committed to supporting and improving all schools in the Trust
• Demonstrate excellent communication and inter-personal skills, with a high level of integrity and strong moral purpose that aligns closely with the ethos of the school and the Trust. 

We offer you:

• A key leadership role in a well-managed and financially sustainable Trust
• The opportunity to make a significant difference to the education of children across Derby
• The opportunity to work alongside a dedicated and committed Central Team that values its staff and fosters positive relationships across the Trust
• A competitive salary and a range of employee benefits 

Odyssey Collaborative Trust is fully committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We have rigorous recruitment procedures that are designed to stop unsuitable candidates for being appointed.  As the post is in regulated activity, the successful candidate will require enhanced DBS clearance and references will be taken before interview.  Odyssey Collaborative Trust is committed to equality of opportunity in employment and services.

We are keen to give candidates a chance to find out more about the role, please contact our CEO, Ian Dewes on 07708 475 638 or i.dewes@odysseyct.org.uk.

Starting date 1^st January 2026, or to be negotiated with the successful candidate.

To apply, please complete the attached Application form and return it to enquiries@odysseyct.org.uk.

Due to this post having access to children and/or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. Click here to see our policy on criminal background checks.

Please be aware that Derbyshire County Council is placing this advert on behalf of this organisation and you should refer directly to its website for details of the terms and conditions attached to this post. Any queries regarding this advert or the recruitment process should be made directly to the organisation.