Governance and Compliance Officer

Unfortunately we cannot accept CVs. Please see our website for details on how to apply

Contract details: Working hours negotiable. Flexibility required over working hours to attend Board meetings.

Salary: TBC based on experience and qualifications but expected to be in the region of £45k FTE

Closing date: 16th January 2026, Interviews week commencing 19th January 2026

Ascension Catholic Academy Trust (ACAT) is a relatively new Multi Academy Trust comprising two Catholic secondary schools and four Catholic primaries serving in excess of 3400 pupils and is an employer of nearly 400 staff.

We need an intelligent, dynamic and versatile person to join our Central Team within which you will be the glue that binds our small team together. You will play a vital role in ensuring the smooth and efficient running of ACAT, so we need someone who is not only highly capable and solution-focused, but also a team player prepared to do anything that is asked of them, knowing that it wouldn't be anything any of our team wouldn't be prepared to do too.

Key responsibilities will include providing advice and guidance to our Board of Directors and their Committees, project management, administrative support for the Central Team - currently comprising a CEO, CFO/COO, HR manager, Finance manager and Estates lead - and an interest/desire to develop their skills in any of these areas of working.

The ideal candidate will be a proactive team player with excellent organisational skills, someone who is keen to learn and undertake training, has an attention to detail and the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

If you are passionate about education, have a positive attitude and are ready to take on a new challenge, we want to hear from you. Join our team and make a real difference in the lives of our students and staff.

For more information and an initial conversation, please do call and speak to or, even better, make an appointment to come and visit us in person in Twickenham. This is a varied job description but is negotiable - it provides an honest framework which can be discussed.

We offer a supportive and attractive working culture, a flexible working arrangement in terms of hours of working as some evening work in person will be necessary, a competitive salary, and a willingness to ensure you are professionally developed. This is potentially a full time position that could be term time only - however, we are flexible and more interested in your calibre and potential.

* Whilst this is a fixed term contract initially, with a new Diocesan vision for its academy trusts recently announced, we are confident that whilst this position is initially a one year contract, the proposed developments will see a variety of exciting opportunities for the right candidate.

Job description

The successful candidate will be, inter alia, responsible for providing expert governance advice and guidance to the Board of Directors and Local Governing Bodies within ACAT. This role ensures robust governance arrangements are in place and statutory compliance is met across all academies.

They will also be responsible for ensuring ACAT meets all legal, statutory and regulatory compliance requirements. They will advise the Board of Directors and provide guidance to uphold the highest standards of compliance and probity.

Key Responsibilities

Governance

• Advise the Board of Directors and CEO on governance legislation, regulations, policies and best practices to ensure effective governance across ACAT

• Ensure compliance with statutory legislation including Companies Act, Charities Act, Academies Financial Handbook and Articles of Association

• Service Board and Committee meetings, preparing agendas, collating papers, attending meetings, drafting minutes and following up on actions

• Maintain statutory registers and records and ensure publication requirements are met for ACAT and each academy

• Manage the annual schedule of governing body business and elections/appointments

• Oversee governance arrangements at academy level, providing training and support to Local Governing Body clerks

• Advise on governance procedures such as disclosure of interests, whistleblowing, complaints and Freedom of Information requests

• Keep up to date with changes to governance, legal and financial regulations and guidance, advising ACAT accordingly

• File reports and returns to regulatory bodies such as Companies House, Charity Commission and Education & Skills Funding Agency

• Coordinate the annual skills audit, trust board effectiveness review and succession planning for the Board of Directors

• Manage the Director recruitment and removal process and induction programme, arranging elections as required

• Liaise with external regulators, auditors, the Department for Education and external advisors on governance matters

• Manage communication with Members to ensure accountability oversight of the ACAT's performance

• Develop and maintain robust governance policies and procedures across the Trust

• Manage risk registers and conflicts of interest, ensuring proper mitigation

• Provide governance training and guidance across ACAT as required

• Working with the Data Protection Officer to ensure that data requests are managed and actioned appropriately and that data protection requirements are managed appropriately across ACAT schools

Other Central Team Responsibilities

• Maintaining the Trust single central record and providing support for DBS checks

• Management and co-ordination of ACAT policies and procedures

• Minute taking at internal / external meetings and PA support for CEO

• Project Management support for new system implementations and other key projects

• Ad hoc project work and providing support for Finance, HR and Estates leads

• Oversight of ACAT communications

• Coordination of ACAT led events

Desirable requirements:

• Educated to A level or degree level or equivalent

• Previous project management, compliance and risk experience in a previous role, preferable within education.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build effective working relationships

• Strong organisational abilities with strong attention to detail

• An ability to interpret complex guidance and legislation

• An ability to exercise impartial judgement and advise Board appropriately

• Relevant qualification in governance, clerking or school administration - not essential

• Prior experience in a governance role, ideally within a Multi-Academy Trust - not essential

The successful candidate will ensure propriety and play a vital role in upholding the highest standards of governance and ensuring statutory compliance across all academies within ACAT.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: Up to £45,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Bereavement leave
• Canteen
• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Sick pay
• Work from home

Work Location: In person