Trustee (Finance, Audit, and Risk)

Job description / Role

Job overview

About the GDST Academy Trust
Throughout its history, the GDST has been at the forefront of education for girls and a strong voice in promoting opportunities for young women. There are around 19,000 pupils educated in its 26 schools, making the GDST the largest single educator of girls in the UK. GDST schools represent the very best in teaching and pastoral care. They foster academic excellence but also build character, helping girls to be confident, resilient and fearless. Whatever her disposition and direction in life, the GDST strives to create environments where each girl can learn without limits and thrive in her own way.

The GDST Academy Trust is sponsored by the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST). The Academy Trust is specifically responsible for the group's two state-funded academies u2014 The Belvedere Academy and Birkenhead High School Academy (BHSA) u2014 which are located in Liverpool and the Wirral, respectively.

The Belvedere Academy has been described by The Good Schools Guide as u2018the school everyone wants their daughter to go to in Liverpool.u2019 It welcomes an all-ability intake in Year 7 from across Liverpool and currently has 1,180 pupils enrolled between the ages of 11 to 19.

BHSA is also a vibrant, non-selective learning community offering girls aged 3 to 19 years an outstanding education. There has been a school on its site for well over 100 years and it continues to embrace core traditional values while keeping a very firm eye on the ever-changing future. There are currently 1,200 girls enrolled at the school.

Role specification
The new Trustee will sit on the Academy Trust Board (ATB) which is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the academies and for those statutory duties which may not be delegated to sub-committees. Each academy has a Local Governing Body (LGB) and a Senior Leadership Team. The Chair of each LGB sits on the ATB.

The main role of the ATB is to:

The successful candidate will further the work and aims of the GDST Academy Trust and act as an ambassador for the organisation.

Person specification
The GDST Academy Trust is seeking a Trustee (Finance, Audit & Risk) to act as the strategic custodian of financial matters for the Academy Trust Board and chair its Finance, Audit & Risk Assurance Committee.

Candidates will bring senior, strategic-level experience in financial management, auditing, or risk management. They may be financially qualified but could equally be qualified by experience (having held a CFO or FD role, for example). The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in, and perhaps direct experience of, the education sector. Applications are particularly welcome from candidates based in the Northwest.

In addition to their substantial domain expertise in finance, audit and risk, the successful candidate will possess sound judgement, an understanding of broader business management, strong communication skills, an empathy with the mission and values of the GDST Academy Trust and be an advocate for girls' only education. Experience as a non-executive is desirable and all candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the governance role, as well as a firm commitment to Nolanu2019s seven principles: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

Diversity
The GDST Academy Trust welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process.

The GDST Academy Trust's commitment to diversity, inclusion and real change is powerfully articulated via its Undivided charter.

Terms of appointment
There are three Academy Trust Board (ATB) meetings per year, one of which is held in London with the remaining two held at the Academies in Merseyside. The appointee will also be required to chair the Finance, Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, which meets a further four times annually. Generally, two Committee meetings take place in London, and the two are held online. The appointment is for a four-year term, which can be renewed once at the discretion of the Board. This role is unremunerated, but reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Process
If you would like to apply, please submit your CV together with a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role. Both should be included in a single document.

The closing date for applications is 12 October 2025. First stage interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 20 October 2025.

If you have a personal or professional connection with anyone currently working within our organisation, please make this clear in your application.