Director of Finance

maryroseacademy; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational trust in Portsmouth is seeking an experienced Finance Director to lead and supervise its finance function. The successful candidate will provide strategic financial leadership and play a key role in shaping sustainable services in the SEN sector. The role demands strong leadership skills, experience in budget management, and a commitment to relational practices. Salary ranges from £68,200 to £74,928, along with comprehensive benefits including a pension scheme and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Good staff induction and professional development

Local Government Pension Scheme

Life Insurance (3 times annual salary)

Wellbeing Inset Day

Free onsite parking

Increased annual leave after 5 years

Employee Referral Scheme

Employee Benefits Platform

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of financial complexities in high-needs provision.
• Experience in managing finance teams and strategy.
• Ability to model a customer-focused leadership approach.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial leadership across the academies.
• Supervise the Finance team and ensure effective communication.
• Shape sustainable SEN services.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Financial analysis

Communication

Education

Experience in education or SEN sector

Job description

Solent Academies Trust is seeking an experienced Finance Director with a strong understanding of the education and SEN sector to provide strategic financial leadership across our family of academies.

Personal attributes

Working closely with the Chief Financial Operations Officer, you will provide strong, credible leadership across the Trust’s Finance function. You will lead and supervise the Finance team, modelling a customer-focused approach where trusting relationships sit at the heart of everything we do.

This role requires a leader who is confident in budget management and understands the financial complexities of high-needs provision who is ready to play a key role in shaping sustainable, high-quality SEN services.

At Solent Academies Trust, we are proud to be a community built on connection, respect, and belonging.

Our Relational Culture Charter guides us to work together and support each other through:

• Effective Communication
• High Challenge & High Support to Empower
• Respect for All
• Solution-Focused Approaches

We believe that when relationships thrive, people thrive — and so do the children and young people we serve.

Salary & Benefits

Salary from 68200 to 74928 per year

By joining Solent Academies Trust, we offer you:

• Excellent staff induction with a commitment to high quality professional development aligned in relational leadership and HR excellence.
• A culture rooted in relational practice, belonging, and wellbeing
• A workplace where your values, voice, and contribution truly matter
• Local Government Pension Scheme with the option of a 50/50 contribution to build over time
• Life Insurance - 3 times annual salary (for members of the pension scheme)
• Wellbeing Inset Day to support the wellbeing of our staff
• Free onsite parking at most of our academies
• Increase of annual leave after 5 years of service from 27 to 31 days
• CPD opportunities to support Career development
• Employee Referral Scheme
• Employee Benefits Platform

Location

Solent Academies Trust
Northarbour Road
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO6 3TH

Please note we will only accept applications completed on our Solent Academies Trust form.

Closing date for applications is Friday 23 rd January 2026, 9am.

Interviews will be held Tuesday 3 rd February 2026.

Equal opportunities

Solent Academies Trust welcome applications regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or religion. Only applications submitted on the academy’s application form will be accepted Solent Academies are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.