We have an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced finance professional to join as our new Finance Director. Based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we are looking for someone who is a strategic leader and can work within a fast paced environment. As FD, you will work in collaboration with the executive team to develop and execute the MAT's financial strategy and ensure long-term financial sustainability.

Our mission is simple: to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. We see Harris Federation as a system disrupter – whose purpose is to make life fairer for children in and around London. Our focus is to take on the most challenging schools and turn them into exceptional places of learning where everyone – staff and students – thrives.

Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.

We now have over 55 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.

We are a pioneering education charity, and one of the leading multi-academy trusts in the country. We have a track record of taking on some of the most challenging schools in London, turning them into places where every young person can access a high-quality education and have opportunities to succeed.

Our central team comprises a dedicated, driven group of departments working centrally to provide support across the Federation and all of our academies. Across a multitude of key departments, we maintain expertise all integral to supporting central and academies in areas such as HR, Data, Estates Management, Talent and many more.

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA) with significant post-qualification experience
• Are an experienced FD, ideally in Education or similar related industries such as healthcare, housing or charities
• Have proven experience at board level and with managing complex stakeholder relationships.
• Have experience of successfully delivering change and transformation in a fast-paced, complex, multi-location organisation
• Have a strategic, forward-looking mindset providing decisive leadership whilst being resourceful and ‘hands on'
• Are a champion for the inter-related goals of financial, environmental and organisational sustainability

For an informal discussion about the position, please contact Harry Bond, Head of Talent Acquisition, via email: harry.bond@harrisfederation.org.uk

Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.

When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application.

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• Annual performance and loyalty bonus
• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
• 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
• Private Medical Cover
• Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
• 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
• Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.