Finance Director

Full or Part time 4 days per week Finance Director required for an independent co-educational school

ACA/ACCA/CIMA Qualified Accountant

Client Details

Full or Part time 4 days per week Finance Director required for an independent co-educational school offering a high quality and broad-based education to over a thousand pupils from Nursery to Sixth Form. Located in the beautiful Sussex countryside in 230 acres. This position is an exciting opportunity for an experienced finance professional to contribute to the further development of a thriving independent school and play an important role in its continued growth and success in providing high quality independent education.

As a broad objective, the Finance Director is expected to contribute to the achievement of the College's operational effectiveness and strategic objectives by providing expertise in financial planning, operational efficiency and revenue generation.

Description

Lead and manage the finance team to ensure that they fulfil their roles capably and are well motivated, trained and developed.

Work closely with the Financial Controller to ensure that the College maintains sounds financial procedures and complies with regulatory and accounting standards.

Represent the finance function in internal management meetings, reporting to governors, auditors, bank and other external finance relationships.

Oversee the preparation of financial accounts for the College and its subsidiaries to ensure that these are presented accurately and on time.

Prepare and present financial reports to the Finance & General Purposes Committee, including budgets, cashflow projections, management and financial accounts

Liaise with the auditors and lead on the production of the Statutory Annual Report and Accounts for the Trust and subsidiaries.

Undertake timely and accurate financial appraisals of projects as they are formulated and carry out reviews of procurement and delivery of services.

Implement the College's fee strategy and ensure the efficient collection of fees and additional monies.

Ensure that the College makes the best possible use of its financial resources through effective budget planning and consideration of educational and financial implications.

Ensure effective monitoring of staff expenditure in liaison with the Director of People and non-staff costs in liaison with budget holders.

Ensure the effective administration of salaries and wages payments, including PAYE, pensions, NI contributions and benefits in kind.

Ensure effective monitoring and payment of invoices.

Monitor external contracts and services provided by suppliers and work with resource managers to ensure that these are operating effectively and provide the best value.

Oversee the implementation of the Bursary policy to ensure that bursary funds are appropriately dispersed and accounted.

Monitor and report on bursary funds according to targets set by the Head of College and approved by governors.

Manage external companies providing verification of financial need.

Liaise with the colleagues including the Registrar, Alumni & Development Director and Head of Partnerships to ensure the effective disbursement of bursary funds

Profile

Qualified Accountant - ACA, CIMA, ACCA

The successful candidate will have a track record of successful finance team management in medium-sized or large organisation. Experience working within the charitable sector could be advantageous but is not essential.

Excellent aptitude in financial processes and analysis. Advanced Excel skills. Strong written and oral communication skills.

Positive appreciation of the purposes of independent education and a commitment to resourcing an all-round and high-quality education.

Ability to build respectful and trusting professional relationships with colleagues, particularly with senior managers and finance governors.

Ability to adapt to the working culture of the school, and to contribute valuable commercial expertise within the environment of a charity-sector school.

Ability to focus on continuous improvement of the department and team. Self-motivated individual who sets high standards for themselves and others but is also sensitive to individual circumstances and needs

Job Offer

As a senior role, the Finance Director is expected to have working hours commensurate with the responsibilities. Within this, flexible hours can be negotiated on appointment. For example, the role could suit someone looking to fit working hours mostly in term-time, or alternatively 4-days per week across the year.

The salary is between £75-£80k FTE depending on experience and agreed working hours. Other benefits include pension contribution, fee remission for staff children and ancillary benefits such as school lunch and gym membership.