Secretary to The Governors

**Appointment of a Secretary to the Governors & Finance Assistant**

**Job Title**: Secretary to the Governors & Finance Assistant

**Salary**:Competitive

**Reporting to**:Dual reporting line: Secretary to the Governors - Bursar, Finance Assistant - Assistant Bursar

**Start**: ASAP

**HourHours **Full time, permanent

**Benefits: The post**

We are searching for a talented individual to organise all aspects of the Governors’ interaction with the School and who is capable of making a key contribution in the school’s Finance team (the Bursary). Applicants will have strong organisational skills and familiarity working with executives in a corporate or charity trusteeship capacity. They must also be numerate and willing to adapt to the varied demands of the Finance function. This is an exciting role for a professional keen to develop their skills within this thriving independent school.

**Colfe’s School**

Colfe’s is one of London’s oldest schools. It can be traced back to the 15th century but took its name from Reverend Abraham

Colfe, Vicar of Lewisham, who re-founded the school in 1652. In his will, he entrusted the care of the School to the

Leathersellers’ Livery Company, which governs the school to this day.

A former grammar school, Colfe’s is a fully co-educational day school with nearly 1300 pupils in all from ages 3 to 18. Colfe’s is a happy place with a deep feeling of community pride among its students, parents, staff and alumni. Academic standards are high: students perform well with many going on to top universities. Excellent pastoral care gives pupils the tools they need to learn and to live, supporting them at school and preparing them for life beyond.

You will find Colfe’s to be more inclusive than many independent schools and positioned firmly at the down-to-earth end of the spectrum. More than 10% of pupils in a typical Sixth Form year group come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and the School is committed to widening access still further.

**Principal tasks**
- Assisting the Bursar, in their capacity as Clerk to the Governors, in the administration of Governors’ committee meetings:

- Other Governors related duties: o Booking courses for the Governors and maintaining a log of their training; o Organising annual Governors training (including sending out invitations, chasing confirmations, booking venues and catering); o Providing information and any paperwork required to new Governors, ensuring all required information is returned in a timely manner; o Overseeing the logistics of new Governor induction; o Submitting data to Companies House for any director changes and updates; and
- Ensuring timely ordering of gifts for retiring Governors.
- Finance Assistant: o Assisting with the fee billing process on the SIMS system; o Preparation of bank reconciliations (training provided); o Support to the Operations director in monitoring utility related expenditure; o Liaison with the School’s Uniform suppliers (Stevensons) on uniform requirements and pricing; o Processing insurance claims; o Working with SENS team on the recharging for adaptations and receipt of EHCP funding from local authorities. o Providing support and cover to the Bursary team as necessary.
- Other duties: o Attending other meetings (disciplinary/grievance/capability) as requested by Head/Bursar, taking minutes of such meetings; o Administrative support for GDPR Subject Access Requests; and o Additional secretarial work may be available from time-to-time dependant on the needs of the Bursar or School.

**Qualities and key skills**
- Organisation: o Attention to detail and accuracy are paramount. o Persistence in managing and following through on multiple tasks. o Capable of prioritising work and meeting exacting deadlines, yet flexible. o An ability to work independently whilst appreciating the company of a small team.
- Interpersonal skills: o Ability to build rapport and communicate persuasively with people of different backgrounds.
- Discretion: o The ability to work discretely and maintain the confidentiality of matters discussed by the Governing Body and others.
- Communication o Excellent communication skills both oral and written. A warm and engaging telephone manner. o Ability to take professional minutes, focusing on key decisions and actions arising.
- IT and numeracy o Competence in standard office software (Word, Outlook and basic Excel)
- Creativity o The ability to adapt to new situations and address problems from new perspectives.
- Engagement o An understanding of and belief in the aims and ethos of independent education in general and Colfe’s School in particular. o Willingness to form relationships across the wider school and develop a comprehensive understanding of how the school operates.

**Benefits**

Membership of the support staff pension scheme. Use of the school canteen during term time. Free membership of Colfe’s

Leisure Centre. This position is not eligible for fee