Forward Education Trust (FET) is a forward-thinking and evolving MAT of 6 special schools in Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell, with a head office in Birmingham. As with any appointment within the Trust, your role will contribute to its continued growth and success—ensuring that children and young people receive the highest standards of education and care, empowering them to achieve their full potential as they progress through their education into independent adult lives.

This pivotal appointment will form part of the strategic leadership team, helping to shape the Trust’s overall strategy and financial direction while driving operational efficiency and effectiveness. As CFOO, you will provide robust financial governance and act as a strategic business partner to the headteachers. You’ll support and influence budgetary management and financial forecasting across the Trust. Additionally, you will lead several outsourced operational contracts—including Facilities Management, IT, Cleaning and Catering—overseeing procurement and the re-tendering of services to ensure value and quality.

The ideal candidate will be a qualified Finance Director, with a background in a Multi-Academy Trust or a similar educational setting. You’ll bring strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to build effective relationships quickly with headteachers and the executive leadership team. You should be able to demonstrate your strategic contributions in previous roles, as well as experience managing operational functions beyond finance—ideally through an outsourced model involving contract negotiation, procurement, and re-tendering. Experience in expanding a Multi-Academy Trust through acquisitions and developing integration plans would be a distinct advantage.

The Trust is on an exciting journey. Over the past 18 months, its highly regarded executive team has made significant progress—raising the standards of leadership and improving the quality of education and support for both staff and students. The Trust Board and CEO are highly supportive of Executive leaders within the Trust and will actively encourage and support personal and professional development for the newly appointed CFOO. Based in the Birmingham office three days per week, the role offers a competitive base salary, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, a Trust-funded Health Cash Plan and a unique opportunity to positively impact the lives of disadvantaged children across the region.

The Trust is on an exciting journey. Over the past 18 months, its highly regarded executive team has made significant progress—raising the standards of leadership and improving the quality of education and support for both staff and students. Based in the Birmingham office three days per week, the role offers a competitive base salary, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, a Trust-funded Health Cash Plan and a unique opportunity to positively impact the lives of children across the region.

How to Apply

Contact Tim Hall at Hays Senior Finance for a confidential discussion, to arrange a visit to one of our schools, to discuss making an application or to arrange an informal conversation with the Trust’s CEO, Simon Dilkes. Tim will provide candidates with a link to the Forward Education Trust Applicant’s website to complete a formal application. (Please note that Hays have been retained to support FET for this appointment and any direct applications will be forwarded to Tim Hall).

Safeguarding

FET value equality and diversity and are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be subject to safer recruitment practices, including satisfactory references and the successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.