School Finance Recruitment in London

EduExec Recruitment is a specialist agency that recruits finance staff for schools, academies and multi-academy trusts across London and the Home Counties, from Finance Officers to Chief Financial Officers. Every search is run personally by Luke Johnson, who started his career in finance recruitment and has recruited finance professionals for more than 20 years.

Plenty of capable accountants apply for school finance roles. The difficulty is finding someone who understands how schools are actually funded and how they work. Academy and maintained school finance operate differently, from the Academy Trust Handbook and ESFA returns to CFR and SFVS, and I test for that sector knowledge early, so you only meet candidates who have it or can clearly bridge the gap.

The roles I recruit

• Finance Officers in schools and academies
• Finance Managers
• Payroll and purchasing leads
• Heads of Finance in academies and MAT central teams
• Finance Directors and Chief Financial Officers in trusts

Moving into school finance from other sectors

School experience is always valued, even at the more junior end. The funding mechanisms, the culture and the politics, with both a small and a capital P, are a unique combination, and they can take some adjusting to. Statutory obligations and trust or local authority structures can also feel bureaucratic to someone used to commercial decision-making.

That said, candidates moving in from other sectors can add real value. Schools and trusts are under increasing commercial scrutiny, and people from commercial or public sector finance often bring more experience of reporting closely on budgets, spending and forecasts. The right candidate from outside education, with the right support, can be a very strong appointment. I'm honest with you about where any candidate would need that support.

Qualifications

As in any finance role, qualifications are highly regarded in education. AAT puts candidates in good stead for Finance Officer and management accounting roles. Progressing into ACCA, CIMA or ACA is usually the route into Finance Manager, Head of Finance and ultimately, CFO roles. It isn't impossible to hold a senior finance role without them, but for larger trusts the expectations are now firmer, as the FAQ below explains.

What I look for

• Funding knowledge. Academy and maintained school funding, and multi-year budget forecasting.
• Compliance. The Academy Trust Handbook, SFVS, audit and year-end.
• Systems. School finance systems such as PS Financials, and how finance links to the MIS.
• Communication. Reporting to heads, governors and trustees in plain language, and working well with non-finance colleagues.

How it works

The process is the same for every role: a proper briefing conversation, direct approach to candidates alongside a targeted advert, a screening interview with every candidate before you see them, a short and honest shortlist, and support through to start date. Fees are a percentage of the first year's salary, agreed before the search begins.

Frequently asked questions

What do school finance roles pay?

As with any salary survey, these ranges are indicative rather than exact. Location, the school's size and type, and the local context all affect what a role should pay, and I'm happy to give a more accurate range to any school considering an appointment. Typically, though, we see Finance Officers at £27,000 to £30,000, Finance Managers at £35,000 to £50,000, Heads of Finance at £50,000 to £65,000, and Finance Directors and CFOs from £70,000 to six figures.

Does a trust CFO need to be a qualified accountant?

For larger trusts, increasingly yes. Under the Academy Trust Handbook 2026, trusts with more than 3,000 pupils recruiting a CFO from 1 October 2026 should specify that candidates are qualified accountants, and the expectation tightens further from 2027. For smaller trusts it isn't a formal requirement, but a recognised accountancy qualification is still a strong advantage.

Do you recruit for MAT central finance teams?

Yes. I recruit for individual academies and for trust central teams, from Finance Officers up to Chief Financial Officers.

Is a School Business Manager a finance role?

Often partly. Many School Business Managers lead on finance alongside HR, premises and administration. If your role is broader than finance, see my School Business Manager recruitment page.

Talk to me about your vacancy

If you're recruiting a finance role, I'd be very happy to talk it through, formally or informally. Call me on 07359 924773 or email luke.johnson@eduexec-recruitment.com.