Head of Finance

The Gallery Trust
Location: Oxfordshire
Salary (£): Green Book G16
Closing Date: 9am Monday 28th April 2025
Start Date: September 2025
Phase: Special Education
Type of School: Multi Academy Trust

Role Managed by

Rebecca Beach
Executive Search Consultant

TES

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Job overview

We are delighted by your interest in the Head of Finance position at The Gallery Trust. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled and dynamic leader to join our high-performing finance team and contribute to our mission: improving outcomes and life prospects for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Oxfordshire.

About Us

As a successful and expanding multi-academy trust, The Gallery Trust has grown from a single special academy in 2013 to the largest special school MAT in Oxfordshire, now comprising seven schools across the county. Our growth continues, with a new free special school in development and several innovative initiatives underway, including Outreach services, short breaks provision, and our Training Hub.

About the Role

We believe that our schools deserve exceptional financial leadership to support their progress. This newly created role, with its broad remit across finance and operations, will be a crucial part of our central team, driving efficiency, sustainability, and strategic impact.

Several of the key responsibilities include:

  • Accountable for ensuring the provision of the consolidated financial reporting to enable TGT to achieve its aims and objectives through the effective and efficient management of its financial resources.
  • Work with the CEO and Executive on the design and development the strategic roadmap for the finance service across TGT, prepare a fully costed delivery plan and successfully implement the plan in a timely manner.
  • To promote best practice and ensure compliance with the financial processes and procedures set out in the policies of TGT and Academy Trust Handbook.
  • The Head of Finance will have a key role in the financial leadership and management of TGT, working with the Executive, and will have effective responsibility for the following:
  • To prepare financial statements including the submission of all statutory returns to the DfE within set deadlines.
  • To produce management accounts monthly in line with the requirements of the Academy Trust Handbook and reporting to the Executive, Finance and Audit Committee and the Board of Trustees.
  • To be responsible for financial compliance with the requirements of the Academy Trust Handbook and audit requirements.

About You

  • Professional accountancy qualification – ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent
  • Educated to degree level or substantial, equivalent level of work experience
  • A successful track record in management accountancy
  • Experience of managing a finance function, covering all aspects of financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, analysis, accounting, cash flow, payments, invoicing, reconciliations and reporting
  • Experience of managing and building high performing teams
  • Experience of implementing finance strategies
  • Experience of working with a range of stakeholders to promote best financial management
  • Understanding of relevant statutory and regulatory requirements and compliance processes