Are you an exceptional Head of Youth looking for a senior leadership role in a ground-breaking charity? Come lead our work with, by and for young people aged 11–25 at the Winch.
You will oversee the design and delivery of effective and innovative programmes, secure funding to advance young peoples opportunties and build strong partnerships that support our strategic goals. As part of the senior management team, you will play a key role in driving our mission to create communities where all children and young people can thrive. You will model our core values of Joy, Care and Courage.
We have recently secured funding from Propel for the Inspiring Inclusion initiative—a seven-year, multi-agency partnership focused on transforming the school system for Black and racially minoritised students at risk of exclusion, particularly those affected by adverse childhood experiences. As Head of Youth, you will act as programme lead and external ambassador for the partnership.
Please apply by sending in a comprehensive CV (maximum 3 pages) and a personal statement outlining how you meet the person specification. Your personal statement must be no longer than 2 pages of A4, with a minimum font size 12. We will not read applications that do not include a personal statement.
We will not consider an application that is written entirely by AI tools, like Chat GPT. Please see our Use of AI statement.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Group Head of Finance
Eltham College Family of Schools | South East London
Salary circa £75,000 + excellent benefits
A rare opportunity to join one of London’s leading independent school groups at a genuinely exciting point of transformation and growth.
The Eltham College Family of Schools — comprising Eltham College Senior School, Eltham College Junior School and Blackheath Prep — is a high-performing, values-led organisation with an outstanding reputation for academic excellence and a rich co-curricular offering. Named London Independent School of the Year 2024 by The Sunday Times, the group continues to thrive despite wider sector challenges.
This is a pivotal appointment.
The newly created Group Head of Finance role offers the chance to step into a business that is not only successful, but evolving — with significant change underway across systems, structure and ways of working. For a commercially minded and hands-on finance leader, this is an opportunity to truly get your teeth stuck into something meaningful.
The opportunity
Reporting to the Bursar and working closely with the Executive Team, you will act as the senior finance professional across the group, providing both strategic leadership and operational oversight.
Crucially, you will join at a time of real momentum:
- A new finance system is being implemented across the group, requiring leadership to embed, optimise and enhance reporting capability
- The finance function is undergoing restructure, offering the opportunity to shape team design, capability and future direction
- There is a clear mandate to modernise processes, strengthen controls and drive efficiencies
- Senior stakeholders are engaged and open to fresh thinking and improvement
This is not a role where you simply maintain — this is a role where you build.
You will lead financial planning, reporting and governance across all three schools, supporting key strategic decisions including investment, estates development and long-term financial sustainability. Alongside this, you will remain close to the detail, ensuring operational excellence across the finance function.
The environment
Set across a stunning 70-acre campus in south-east London, Eltham College combines heritage with ambition. The group benefits from strong financial foundations, high demand, and a clear vision for continued success.
It is a collaborative and values-driven environment, underpinned by a commitment to education, development and community. Staff benefit from excellent facilities, strong leadership, and a culture that genuinely invests in people.
The person
We are looking for a qualified accountant with strong technical grounding and proven experience operating in a senior finance role.
You will bring:
- Experience of leading finance within a complex, multi-entity or multi-site environment
- A track record of improving systems, processes and controls
- The ability to lead through change and bring teams with you
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the credibility to influence at senior level
- A proactive, hands-on approach with the ability to balance strategy and delivery
Experience within education or the independent school sector would be beneficial, but is not essential.
Why join?
This is an opportunity to join a thriving organisation that is not standing still — but actively investing in its future.
You will play a key role in shaping a modern, high-performing finance function, with the autonomy and support to make a real impact. For someone motivated by change, improvement and leadership, this role offers both challenge and reward in equal measure.