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Folens Group is one of Ireland's leading educational publishing and learning companies, renowned for delivering high-quality, curriculum-aligned content to primary and post-primary schools nationwide. Having evolved from a traditional textbook publisher into a broad-based education business, the Group now provides an extensive range of digital learning tools, teacher resources, and literacy programmes that support schools and learners across Ireland.
Following the upcoming retirement of the current Group Chief Financial Officer, Folens Group is seeking to appoint a new Group CFO, on a part-time basis, to play a pivotal role in shaping the financial strategy of a dynamic and growing organisation in the Irish education sector.
Reporting directly to the Group Chair, the successful candidate will provide strategic financial leadership across the organisation, ensuring integrity, transparency, and insight in all financial reporting and planning. The Group CFO will lead budgeting, forecasting, and treasury management activities, optimising the capital structure to support sustainable growth and enhance shareholder value.
This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced finance leader to contribute strategically to a market leader within a sector undergoing exciting transformation and digital innovation.
Responsibilities
* Lead all group-level financial reporting, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and transparency for the Board, shareholders, and investors.
* Direct the Group's financial planning, including annual budgets, forecasts, and long-term strategic plans.
* Develop and execute treasury and funding strategies to optimise liquidity and financial performance.
* Oversee governance, Board reporting cycles, and implementation of strategic decisions.
* Provide leadership and oversight to subsidiary finance teams, ensuring alignment with group financial strategy.
* Manage relationships with banks, auditors, legal advisors, and other key stakeholders.
* Support corporate development activities, including acquisitions, investment evaluations, and financing initiatives.
* Lead group-level valuation and shareholder reporting initiatives.
* Contribute to strategic and operational decision-making as part of the senior management team.
* Develop and implement senior management incentive frameworks aligned with shareholder goals.
Experience
The ideal candidate will be a strategic, commercially focused finance leader who can operate confidently at Board level and drive financial performance across a multi-entity group.
You will bring:
* Leadership of a Group Finance Function – Proven experience managing finance across multiple entities, ensuring consistent reporting, governance, and alignment with group strategy.
* Strategic Financial Planning and Execution – Demonstrated success in developing and implementing long-term financial plans that support growth, acquisitions, and shareholder value creation.
* Treasury and Debt Financing Expertise – Track record in managing liquidity, capital structure, and securing debt financing for both operational and corporate development needs.
* Governance and Stakeholder Management – Experience engaging effectively with Boards, shareholders, family owners, investors, and advisors in a multi-entity or family-owned environment.
* M&A and Corporate Development – Proven involvement in assessing, structuring, negotiating, and integrating acquisitions or major investment projects.
* Leading in Complex, Changing Environments – Ability to navigate and lead financial strategy in dynamic business settings, particularly during growth or transformation.
* Professional qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) is essential.
What's on Offer
* A part-time Group CFO appointment with one of Ireland's most respected heritage brands.
* A pivotal strategic role influencing the Group's growth and investment agenda.
* Competitive remuneration and flexible part-time working arrangements.
To discover more about this opportunity, please apply now or contact us in confidence for an initial discussion.
Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
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