COVID-19: We continue to monitor government guidance about running face-to-face training events. The face-to-face sessions on this programme may run as online sessions. The safety of our trainers and delegates is very important to us.

The Level Seven Certificate in School Financial and Operational Leadership has been developed by ISBL and CIPFA for current and aspiring chief finance and operations officers.

It recognises the importance of school business business professionals, especially in Academies and Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) and aims to ensure that you meet the highest professional standards when it comes to overseeing (amongst other things) finance, corporate governance, risk management and strategic procurement.

This innovative programme is underpinned by the ISBL Professional Standards and is recognised by the Department for Education.

This is a Diploma – equivalent to a Level 7 post graduate certificate.

What will you study?

There are 9 modules and the areas that the programme covers include:

• financial management and reporting
• the education funding environment
• writing business cases and taking investment decisions
• governance, accountability and assurance
• procurement and contract management
• liaising with, and providing information to, internal and external auditors.

How long is the programme?

12 months

How is the programme delivered?

It is delivered using a blended approach, of face-to-face sessions, practical assessed assignments and remote tutor support. Each cohort is located in a UK city and there are six face-to-face sessions. Delegates have access to the CIPFA Learning Platform and use this to upload their assignments.

Two routes to accreditation

There are two route available on this programme and each cohort contains a mix of delegates taking these two routes.

• Full programme
• Practitioner programme