Bursar

Bursar Role

This exciting leadership role offers a unique opportunity to guide Sherfield School through the next stage in its development and innovation while continuing with its commitment to be an outstanding, all-round academic, active, and creative school.

The Bursar is responsible for the efficient and effective leadership and management of the School’s governance, finance, IT, buildings, grounds and facilities, health and safety, risk management, catering, housekeeping, transport and commercial activities. The aim is to ensure the smooth running of the School to support the Head of School in delivering the best possible outcomes for pupils whilst driving continuous improvement of the financial and operational performance.

The Bursar will play a key part in shaping and implementing the School’s strategic development. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate proven ability in senior leadership and financial control within complex organisations, managing people and resources effectively, thinking strategically, delivering results and motivating others.

They will need to demonstrate high levels of energy and the ability to think and communicate with clarity, with the facility to execute efficiencies and business improvement initiatives that will drive the School’s financial success. A strong skill set in finance, strategic planning and execution and risk management is required.

Key Responsibilities

The responsibilities outlined below are not exhaustive but are indicative of the requirements of this significant and diverse role.

Strategy

• As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), contribute to the development and effective delivery of the Strategic and Development Plans and ensure the smooth running of all operational and business areas of the School.
• Develop and implement a long-term strategy for the commercial aspects of the School, identify and implement opportunities for new revenue streams.
• Support and promote the School’s ethos and culture.
• In conjunction with the Head of School and ELT develop the School’s short-, medium- and long-term financial, operational and commercial strategy.
• Work in close partnership with the Head of School and ELT to implement the strategic plan, particularly in respect of finance and support operations and the site masterplan.

Leadership & Management

• Lead and inspire staff school-wide, motivate and support them, facilitate and foster strong working relationships with and between the teaching and support staff.
• Ensure that the support operations are effectively staffed and resourced with appropriate skills, developing amongst them a culture of continuous improvement.
• Manage the performance of direct reports
• Support the training and professional development of direct reports and the wider support staff
• Ensure that all support staff understand and ascribe to the vision and aims of the School, that they work cohesively and are recognised for their contributions to the successful running of Sherfield School.
• Take decisions and have oversight of operations during school holidays.
• Act as a trusted partner to the Head of School and as an advisor to and advocate for the support staff and wider teaching staff.

Finance

• Advise the Head of School on all matters relating to financial strategy to ensure the long-term sustainability of the School and the impact of their decisions on the School’s financial position and commercial matters.
• Ensure the ongoing security of the School’s financial future and ensure affordability of fees whilst continuing to invest in improving the quality of education.
• Analyse school fees and costs, including benchmarking, and work with the Head of School to set fee levels and provide insight into the School’s pricing strategies.
• Ensure fair but robust debtor management, including meeting with parents when necessary.
• To oversee the work of the Finance Team, led by the Head of Finance, to ensure the creation of rolling cash-flow forecasts (multi-year and monthly/termly); annual budgets; monthly management and statutory financial accounts for the School (in accordance with the Companies Act); responsibility for the annual audit; payroll; pensions; the billing and the purchase ledger and the Asset Register; VAT and other tax matters.
• Ensure a robust and effective system of internal controls including fraud prevention.
• Compliance with Group reporting requirements, including metric reporting to EiM.
• Manage relationships with key external service providers, including the bank, auditors, legal advisers and insurers.
• Manage effective procurement arrangements, review and negotiate to ensure best value.
• Advise on remuneration and reward strategies.

Estates, Catering & Housekeeping

• Develop and maintain an effective forward looking master plan which supports the Strategic Plan.
• Ensure effective and high standards of management, maintenance, cleaning and security of the School’s buildings, grounds and facilities so they are always well presented and compliant with regulations, including health and safety, fire and the Independent Schools Standards.
• Negotiate and manage energy and utility contracts.
• Ensure the appropriate arrangements for the security of the site.
• Improve energy efficiency and seek to integrate sustainable solutions and practices across the facilities.
• Ensure that a rolling programme for building maintenance and School facilities is planned, costed, and implemented on time, on budget and to the agreed quality.
• Negotiate and manage the catering contract to ensure the high-quality provision of services and value for money.

Compliance. Health & Safety & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and all areas of the ISI compliance framework including Health and Safety (including Fire) regulations and Disability Law.
• Promote a positive Health and Safety culture throughout the School.
• Act as Health and Safety Officer in accordance with the Health and Safety Policy and Chair the Health and Safety Committee.
• Act as the School’s Data Protection Officer with overall responsibility for adherence of the School to data protection legislation including fulfilling any Subject Access Requests.
• Ensure the implementation of arrangements for the identification, assessment and management of risk including oversight of the risk assessment process and risk register.
• Ensure that the School has appropriate insurance cover for all key insurable risks.
• Take a key role in critical incident and business continuity planning to ensure that the School is well prepared for any emergency.
• Act as the main conduit for obtaining legal advice and work with colleagues to manage the implications.

IT

• Oversee the development, procurement, delivery and management of cost-effective IT infrastructure, data and services to support high-quality teaching and learning, communications and administration.

The Person

The successful candidate will bring the following qualifications, experience, skills and knowledge, leadership style and personal attributes.

Qualifications & Experience

• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Direct experience of effective financial management and operational delivery across a range of support services.
• A proven track record of outstanding senior leadership with evidence of successfully developing, managing, and facilitating change through effective management
• Experience of working within a regulatory and risk management framework.
• Demonstrable financial and commercial acumen, with the ability to produce long-term financial and business plans.
• Experience in project management and contract negotiations with the ability to manage multiple projects.
• Previous Bursar experience is desirable but not essential.

Skills & Attributes

• A strong understanding of the current and future economic, political and societal challenges facing the independent school sector, with an innovative approach to dealing with these challenges successfully.
• An understanding of the School’s responsibilities in relation to child protection and safeguarding and a clear commitment to delivering best practice in safeguarding.
• Strategic abilities and organisational skills with the capacity to guide whole-organisational development whilst managing direct financial and operational responsibilities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills with a proven ability to operate effectively in a diverse environment with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Highly efficient time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to influence change and steer new ways of working.
• Personal resilience and the ability to help others develop it.
• Highly competent in the use of IT including Microsoft Office and standard operating systems.

Leadership Style & Personal Attributes

• A person with high levels of professional and personal integrity, discretion and confidentiality.
• Resourceful and adaptive, eager to embrace personal and collective change,growth, and learning.
• The ability to work at pace, meet deadlines and lead others by example.
• A person who is proactive and enjoys inspiring and motivating staff at all levels to achieve the School’s objectives.
• Values and promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion across the School community.

How to Apply

The closing date for applications is Monday 9th December. Interviews will commence w/c Monday 16th December with final interviews due to be scheduled for w/c Monday 9th January 2025. Early applications are encouraged and we reserve the right to interview outstanding candidates before the closing date. In order to apply, please submit a comprehensive CV along with a covering letter which sets out your interest in the role and encapsulates the aspects of your experience relevant to the required criteria. Please include current salary details and the names and addresses of three referees. Referees will not be approached until the final stages and not without prior permission from candidates.