Head of Finance & Business Management

Salary: circa 50K per annum

JOB DESCRIPTION

Contract / Full time throughout the year, permanent.
Annual leave entitlement: 24 holiday days (under 5 years’ service), 29 holiday days (5 years’ service and over) plus statutory days.
Eligible to join the Avon Pension Fund.
There will also be a requirement to attend events such as training and meetings that take place outside the normal school day. A flexible approach is required to accommodate the demands of the post. Annual leave arrangements to be agreed with the Executive Headteacher to meet the needs of the business.
Reporting to / The Executive Headteacher.
Responsible for / Staff within the Business Management Teams. The following roles report directly to the Head of Finance & Business Management:
· ICT Systems Manager (The Castle School)
· Estates Manager (CSET)
· Finance Team (The Castle School)
· Sports Hall Manager (The Castle School)
· Lead staff responsible for HR provision (CSET)
Job Purpose / · To work with the CEO and the Directors in developing strategic plans to achieve the aims and objectives of the Castle School Education Trust (CSET) and Fortius Schools Trust (FST) in conjunction with their associated schools.
· To work with the Executive Headteacher to drive the development of new business opportunities in line with the vision for CSET including establishing and operating a trading company.
· To lead funding initiatives to enable school development.
· To provide leadership for the business services within CSET to ensure high quality, effective and efficient systems and services.
· To be responsible for ensuring that the business management function operates in accordance with statutory regulations and that high levels of customer service are provided.
Corporate / As a member of the CSET Leadership Team:
· Take a full and active part in the leadership, operation and development of the schools in the Trust
· Contribute to system leadership through purposeful collaboration with partner schools and other organisations.
· To contribute to the development and sharing of good practice with other schools and relevant bodies. This may include, where appropriate, undertaking duties and work in other schools and at other locations.
Strategic / Work with the Executive Headteacher and the Directors/Governors to develop strategic plans and manage the creation of appropriate business cases to support the strategic initiatives.
In consultation with the Executive Headteacher, establish priorities for expenditure and manage the creation of the financial and resources budgets that will deliver the School Development Plan.
Create an environment through which the school can fulfil its aims to operate high quality support services and enable offering services and support to other education providers.
Provide the leadership and management of the business function of the Trust and particularly the Castle School including:
· Ensuring that the business management functions operate in accordance with statutory regulations
· To contribute to the planning, development and future direction of the Trust through the provision of sound financial advice to the Executive Headteacher and Board of Directors
· Participate in the strategic business plan and development processes to ensure that The Trust is financially viable and can be run in an efficient and effective manner.
· Participate in strategic planning for the future expansion of the Trust and to develop cost models to inform the decision making process.
· Interpretation of new legislation and identification of the implications for the Trust Schools
· Ensure the effectiveness of the team to maximise the positive impact on teaching and learning, safeguarding of children and extended services provision.
· Ensuring effective procedures for the recruitment, appointment, induction, review and development of staff in the team.
· Develop and implement procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of the team and feed directly into improvement planning.
· Develop an on-going customer service focus.
· Develop and share good practice within relevant areas across the Trust schools and in partnerships with other schools and relevant bodies.
· Securing arrangements to source external advice where appropriate.
· To co-lead the development of income generation within the ethos of the school through developing capital bids, seeking grants and developing trading services as appropriate.
Finance / Provide the leadership and management of Finance including:
· To lead and implement financial processes and systems across the Trust.
· Undertaking the role of Principal Finance Officer as defined in the Academies Financial Handbook to ensure that finances are managed effectively and in compliance with all relevant financial regulations.
· To be responsible for the preparation and setting of annual and long-term budgets including revised estimates, volume standstill, savings and growth and the identification of future changes in funding levels and expenditure needs.
· To be responsible for the monitoring of the budget for the current financial year including reporting to school leadership and Directors/Governors.
· To establish appropriate arrangements for the financial planning and monitoring of any traded activities.
· To prepare business case assessments and advise on the suitability and viability of project and initiatives.
· Preparation of year end accounts.
· Liaison with external auditors and establishment of appropriate internal audit processes.
· Provide advice to budget holders, staff, Directors and Governors relating to the efficient management of resources.
· Secure appropriate arrangements for the effective administration of pension schemes for teaching and support staff.
· Ensure that procurement arrangements represent best value and meet relevant tendering procedures.
· Ensure proper accounting records are kept and control exercised over accounting arrangements.
· To attend and prepare reports for all Finance and Resources Committee meetings with regard to budget plans, annual forecasts, cashflow, investments, funding changes and actual spend.
· To attend and prepare reports for all Audit and Risk Committee meetings.
· To attend and prepare reports for the Trust’s Board of Directors meetings as required.
· To prepare the Annual Statutory Accounts and support the Executive Headteacher in compiling the Board of Directors’ Report.
· To ensure a comprehensive Fixed Asset register meets external audit and Business Continuity Plan requirements.
· Provide suitable reports to enable and demonstrate sound internal control over the effectiveness of spending and usage of resources (value for money).
· Prepare relevant Government returns.
· Work with SLT as required for commercial projects and procurement in partnership with other schools and external organisations.
Human Resources / To secure appropriate arrangements to enable Human Resources functions to run effectively and in accordance with statutory regulations and guidance including:
· Advise the Executive Headteacher, and others as appropriate on Human Resources issues.
· Work with the HR staff to ensure arrangements for an effective case work service relating to individual staff including attendance management, capability, grievance and disciplinary procedures.
· Ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to secure effective induction of new support, administration and maintenance staff.
· Secure arrangements to source external advice where appropriate.
General / To ensure that there are appropriate arrangements to manage and reduce risk including:
· Securing appropriate insurance for the School’s assets and activities.
· Development and maintenance of risk registers and business continuity plans.
Estate Management / To advise the Trust’s Board of Directors on the School Asset Management Plans for each school, including condition surveys of school premises, grounds and fittings.
To work with the Castle School Systems Manager to be responsible for development of the IT strategy in support of the education and operational needs of the school and for managing its implementation to provide a cost effective service.
To oversee the work of the Estates Manager to ensure that the estates function is managed effectively and in accordance with the operational needs of the school and any regulatory requirements including:
· To be responsible for the production of a strategic programme of maintenance and improvements to each of the school’s premises.
· The maintenance and development of the site and buildings to meet the needs of users and ensure that there is a safe environment.
· Production and maintenance of site maintenance and development plans.
· Maintaining high standards of security of the site and contents.
· Arrangements are in place for the maintenance, servicing, testing and inspection of site equipment, fixtures and school vehicles.
· Arrangements are in place to deal with emergency repairs or call outs.
· Purchasing arrangements represent best value and that contracts are secured in accordance with financial guidelines and regulations.
· Developing and promoting energy efficiency measures.
· The operation and development of catering, cleaning and grounds maintenance services either through outsourcing or in house operation.
· The work of the estates team and contractors meets the requirements of health and safety and other regulations.
· Manage systems for telecommunications.
· Maintaining licences as necessary.
· Secure arrangements to source external advice where appropriate.
Health & Safety / To ensure that appropriate arrangements are made to:
· Maintain and develop the Health and Safety Policy.
· Provide advice and guidance to other staff to assist them with the discharge of their responsibilities
· Develop and implement an internal audit process.
· Ensure effective procedures are is in place for reporting of accidents and near misses.
· Ensure adequate levels of qualified First Aid staff are available as necessary.
· Ensure H & S is being discharged correctly across all extended service provisions.
· Provide for the control and co-ordination of emergency evacuation procedures.
· To work closely with the designated Castle School Governor re Governors’ Health & Safety Committee
Community Use / To promote and develop the community use of the site including:
· Establishing, monitoring and developing procedures for community access without negatively impacting on the day to day operation of the School.
· Ensuring that community use of the site is in accordance with health and safety and other regulatory requirements including co-ordination of risk assessment procedures.
· Ensuring appropriate budget monitoring arrangements for the community programme.
Additional Duties / As a member of staff working in a school setting to have a duty to help keep young people safe and to protect them from sexual, physical and emotional harm and to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety and well-being of students.
As a member of staff in a school setting you will have the opportunity to participate in programmes for mentoring students and to participate in extra-curricular activities.
To carry out such other duties which may be required from time to time within the grading of the post.
Castle School Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to checking through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)