What skills and experience we're looking for
Reporting directly to the Headteacher our current Chief Financial Officer heads up a finance team including two finance officers, a finance assistant and a finance apprentice. Full details of the responsibilities of the role and skills required are detailed in the Job Description and Person Specification.
PURPOSE OF JOB:
• To undertake all responsibilities as Chief Financial Officer as determined by the ESFA
• To ensure clear and relevant financial reports to Governors and Headteacher, including monthly advice on budgetary issues.
• To manage and monitor all financial procedures, systems and accounts.
• To manage the administration of the School’s payroll and ensure accurate payment of all salaries.
• To line manage the work on our support staff middle leaders including site, digital, catering and HR.
• Educational Visits Co-ordinator.
KNOWLEDGE
• Detailed and up to date knowledge of accountancy and professional codes of practice evidenced by meeting CPD requirements (essential)
• Advanced knowledge of statutory requirements and funding strategies (essential)
• Substantial knowledge and experience of managing procurement and contracts (desirable)
• Proven awareness and respect for the highly sensitive status of information and it’s confidentiality (essential)
• Understanding of employer pension responsibilities (desirable)
• Up to date knowledge of Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts (desirable)
• Knowledge of HR policy, practice and legislation (desirable)
• Demonstrable commercial acumen (essential)
• An understanding / experience of working with external auditors and agencies (essential)
SKILLS AND QUALITIES
• Proficient in the use of MS Office applications and Financial Information Systems (essential)
• Strong judgement and the ability to look at risk analysis through a commercial as well as financial lens (essential)
• Excellent analytical skills and sound judgement (essential)
• Ability to direct a multi-disciplinary team effectively and demonstrate excellent leadership skills (essential)
• Ability to interpret complex financial information, advice and statutes and to devise policy / practice autonomously considering these (essential)
• Ability to manage own workload without direction, having the ability to prioritise to meet tight deadlines (essential)
• Highly effective communications skills and ability to influence and negotiate effectively at local and strategic levels (essential)
• Ability to present complex information to a varied audience (essential)
• High ethical standards, strong moral purpose and influencing skills and the ability to engage effectively with all staff across the school and governing body (essential)
• Excellent written and presentation skills (essential)
• Confident in representing both the full governing body and headteacher at external meetings and in the wider community, using initiative and discretion as required (essential)
• A pro-active and self motivated mindset along with the ability to be reflective and self critical (essential)
• A personal commitment to ongoing learning and continuous professional development (essential)
• A belief that everyone can benefit from, and has entitlement to high quality education opportunities (essential)
What the school offers its staff
The King’s School was founded in 1541 by King Henry VIII to provide education for the Cathedral choristers. The close association with the School and Cathedral Chapter are very much in evidence today. Since 2000, the school has benefitted from over 12m of capital investment with new buildings constructed to house Humanities, Languages and a Sixth Form alongside refurbishment of the Victorian buildings and significant enhancement of the Science facilities. In 2011, the King’s School became an Academy and a Junior Department was re-opened in order to bring the age range to 7-18. The school now has over 1250 students and is heavily over-subscribed in each entry point. A successful CIF bid enabled the School to replace the Victorian roof and the Wolfson bid funded the development of a new careers suite within our historic library. In recent years, the school has continued to invest in the physical site, including an extension to the sports hall, the opening of a new fitness suite and ‘Henry’s’, a much needed additional catering facility. In the last twelve months, the school has invested heavily in the IT infra-structure to ensure we have facilities that are secure and provide the most modern options for all staff.
Commitment to safeguarding
The King’s (The Cathedral) School fully recognises the responsibility it has under section 175 of the Education Act 2002 (as amended), the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (as amended) and Education and Training (Welfare of Children) Act, 2021 to have arrangements in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.