Chief Financial Officer (School and college trust leader) Dixons Academies Trust

Chief Financial Officer (School and college trust leader) - Dixons Academies Trust

Dixons Academies Trust is seeking a dynamic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to play a pivotal role in shaping the financial future of the trust.

• Location: Hybrid/working across our academies in Bradford, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester
• Salary: £115,000 (dependent on skills and experience)

The ideal candidate will be a strategic leader, able to balance oversight of operational excellence with high-level strategic insight, ensuring long-term financial health and growth.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of the school and college trust leadership team in one of the most successful trusts in England. Dixons is renowned for its innovation and dedication to transforming education for young people in the North and helping them overcome educational and social disadvantages.

Who we are

Dixons Academies Trust exists to challenge educational and social disadvantage in the North. Our mission is clear: by the age of 18, we want every student to have the choice of university or a high-quality apprenticeship.

We believe in working hard on the things that matter with humility, being good and kind and being motivated by mastery, autonomy and purpose. These values shape our work within communities as we establish joyful, rigorous, high-performing schools that value diversity, develop character, and build cultural capital.

We recognise that talent is our most valuable resource, and we are investing nearly 80% of our budget into it. Our approach to talent is not about innate ability but about unleashing and growing potential. We focus on academic rigour, ensuring all children have access to a powerful curriculum that maximises their life chances. Our trust is built on aligned autonomy, a balance between consistency and personal accountability, where leaders are empowered to drive change and innovate within their remit.

Dixons is a place where collaboration, respect and a focus on the future underpin everything we do. Our strategic goals for the next few years include building greater resilience across the trust, expanding our reach across the North, and further developing our Centre for Growth, which leads the sector in educational excellence.

About the role

As Chief Financial Officer, you will be responsible for overseeing the financial strategy and development of the trust. This role is essential to ensuring the trust's financial prosperity and sustainability, particularly as we continue to expand and innovate. Reporting directly to Luke Sparkes, you will collaborate closely with other school and college trust leaders and our Board to deliver on our strategic goals.

You will drive financial innovation, ensuring that our resources are maximised and our financial health remains strong in the face of expanding demand and changing funding environments.

This is a leadership position where you will influence decision-making beyond financial operations, actively participating in the long-term growth and development of Dixons Academies Trust.

This is a highly strategic role. The CFO will be at the heart of financial decision-making, guiding the trust through complex financial landscapes.

You will work alongside key stakeholders, ensuring that our financial resources are utilised effectively to drive educational outcomes while maintaining compliance and robust risk management.

At Dixons, we have developed our operating model so that operational delivery is taken care of through our sector-leading business services function. This enables our most senior leaders to focus on innovation and strategic development. As such, the role will have a deep focus on financial strategy and effective development of our trust financial plan while continuing to have oversight over financial delivery to ensure we can maintain and continue to develop our strong financial controls and effective budget management.

Who we are looking for

Experience in a similar environment is beneficial but not essential. Fundamentally, we are looking for the right person with the correct skills and experience - but just as important is the right cultural fit for Dixons.

We seek someone:

• Dynamic
• Strategic
• Passionate about transforming education

The successful candidate will have a proven track record in:

• Driving efficiencies
• Making key financial decisions in large organisations

We need a leader who is comfortable with high levels of autonomy and accountability and who can navigate complex stakeholder relationships with ease.

As the CFO, you will have the responsibility of maintaining financial compliance while guiding the trust's financial strategy to ensure long-term sustainability and growth.

You must balance strategic vision with the ability to ensure effective oversight of operational excellence. This role requires someone who can:

• Command respect from peers and stakeholders, particularly in board-level discussions, and who can drive change and innovation in an ever-evolving environment.
• Embody Dixons' collaborative and non-hierarchical culture.
• Demonstrate gravitas and the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of people.
• Drive the trust's next phase of development through their commercial vision.

In return, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of education in the North and work in an environment that values flexibility, creativity, and excellence.

Peridot Partners and Dixons Academies Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.

For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:

If you would like to know more about this role please contact Eddie Caviezel Cox.