Director of Finance & Estates Full Time

Title Director of Finance & Estates Hours 37 hours per week, 52 weeks of the year Salary Between £65,000 and £75,000 per annum Organisation Chelmsford College Closing Date 15/05/2026 Job Description Download Job Description Document Person Specification Download Person Specification Document Description

A senior leadership opportunity is being created to support the Chief Operating Officer to continually improve the financial strength and the physical environment of Chelmsford College. This role is central to ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable, operationally efficient, and equipped with high-quality facilities that enable outstanding teaching, learning, and student experience.

About The Role

The Director of Finance & Estates will lead two critical portfolios: the college’s financial strategy and its estates and facilities operations. As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will provide expert guidance to the COO, Principal/CEO, and Board, ensuring the college is well-positioned to meet current and future challenges.

You will oversee financial planning, budgeting, reporting, and compliance, while also driving value for money and supporting income growth. Alongside this, you will lead the development and delivery of an ambitious estates’ strategy, ensuring the college’s buildings, infrastructure, and learning environments are safe, modern, and fit for purpose.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the college’s financial strategy, ensuring long-term sustainability and compliance with DFE and audit requirements.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting to senior leaders and governors.
• Drive efficiency, value for money, and continuous improvement across finance and estates functions.
• Develop and implement the estates strategy, including capital projects, maintenance, sustainability, and space utilisation.
• Ensure full compliance with health & safety, statutory obligations, and regulatory frameworks.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams across finance, estates, and facilities.
• Act as a strategic partner to the COO and senior leadership team, contributing to organisational planning and transformation.

About You

• A strategic, commercially minded leader with significant experience in senior finance roles.
• Strong understanding of FE funding, regulatory frameworks, and sector challenges.
• Proven experience managing estates, capital projects, or complex facilities portfolios.
• Excellent communicator with the ability to influence at executive and board level

Why Join Us?

• This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a college that plays a vital role in its community. You will join a collaborative leadership team, influence major strategic decisions and lead work that directly enhances the experience of thousands of learners.
• If you’re motivated by purpose, driven by excellence, and ready to make a lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you.

The College is committed to equality and diversity and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share these commitments.

Starting salary will depend on qualifications, skills and experience. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

If you have any further questions, please e-mail employment@chelmsford.ac.uk

Applications will be considered upon receipt.

Apply

If you would like to apply for employment within the Chelmsford College Group, please complete the online application form.

Online Application for Employment

PLEASE NOTE You may wish to download the example forms, and explanatory notes, using the link below in order to prepare the information you will be asked to submit. The online application process has to be completed in one go and without undue delay. In particular, you are advised to prepare your Supporting Statement of up to 4000 characters in another application before you start.

Download Application Pack

If you require help making your application please contact the Human Resource Department on 01245 293018 or email employment@chelmsford.ac.uk.

Contact

Please use the below contact details if you would like to contact us directly about employment opportunities.

Human Resource Department

Chelmsford College

Moulsham Street Campus

Chelmsford

CM2 0JQ

Tel: 01245 293018

Tel: 01245 490486 (24 hour answer phone)

Fax: 01245 266908

Please click link to email the Human Resource Department.