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REDRUTH SCHOOL
Job Description
Job Title:
Director of Finance and Estate
Salary:
Grade N (£44,208 - £53,104)
In addition there is the opportunity for a performance management
related bonus of up to 10% for the successful candidate
Contract terms:
Full-time, permanent
52 weeks per year, 37 hours per week (negotiable)
Responsible to:
Headteacher
Direct Supervisory Responsibility for:
Finance, Estates and IT
Important functional relationships:
Internal: SLT; all staff, students, governors and trust members
External: Suppliers and contractors, parents, DfE
Main Purpose of Job
To be responsible for the strategic leadership of the school’s finance and estate, ensuring that Redruth
School makes the most effective use of its resources (both human and non human) to achieve the best
possible educational offer for the Redruth community, and that Redruth continues to develop towards an
outstanding school.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
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To maximise income generation within the Redruth ethos and lead income generation, including
lettings, sponsorship and investments
To advise the Headteacher on investment and financial policy, preparing appraisals for future
projects and for the development of a long term financial strategy for the future development of the
school
To actively seek appropriate grant opportunities and write bids deemed appropriate to the school’s
future plans
To be a member of the Senior Leadership Team
To work with the Headteacher, members of the Senior Leadership Team, Governors and all staff to
secure the highest educational outcomes through ensuring that the school’s finance and estate is run
successfully and effectively in line with the allocated budget
To contribute to the construction of and to support the delivery of the School Development Plan and
evaluate the impact of decisions taken in respect of finance and estate on learner outcomes
To ensure that all accounting and financial standards are met and that the school complies with all its
statutory functions in respect of all finance and estate related issues
To oversee the business interests of the school
To oversee the school’s Health and Safety Policy and strategy
To work with school bursars/business managers in partner primary schools in securing best value in
terms of procurement
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Finance related duties
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To be responsible for the construction and maintenance of the school’s revenue and capital budget.
To develop the school’s Finance and Estate Plan which secures a successful long-term strategy for the
future development of Redruth School
To provide financial advice, information and reports to the Headteacher and Governors on the full
range and impact of finance and estate decisions
To liaise and negotiate with providers of goods and services and third party contractors in
consultation with the Headteacher, including negotiations relating to terms of service level
agreements and other purchases, and review them, in accordance with best value frameworks
To have a strategic overview of the development and finance of the ICT infrastructure and new
technologies and, with the Director of ICT, ensure that the infrastructure is run effectively and
smoothly, both for administrative and curricular purposes
Proactively work with the assistant Business manager to ensure best value and diligence for all
budget holders, advising the Headteacher and governors on action taken to work within budget in all
areas
To oversee the preparation of accounts and budgets by the Assistant Business manager for all
faculties and senior leadership responsibilities
To maintain accounts and take corrective action as necessary, closing accounts at the end of the year
in accordance with legislation, and preparing annual statements of accounts
To prepare estimates of income and expenditure for the Headteacher/ SLT and Governors and
produce regular reports regarding the school’s financial status to the Headteacher, the leadership
team and Governors.
To prepare financial returns for the DfE and other local and central government agencies as required
To attend Governor meetings to provide and explain financial reports
To strategically manage appropriate procedures and systems for the raising of invoices, to include
monitoring of debtors and pursuing outstanding debts
To strategically manage and plan procedures for the receipt and deposit of money collected from
external sources
To be the first point of contact for the school’s bank and monitor all bank accounts, ensuring
appropriate use of each account and regular reconciliation of bank statements
To strategically manage appropriate security arrangements and authorisation for the processing of all
purchase orders, payments and petty cash transactions
To regularly review accounting systems, procedures and working practices to ensure compliance with
financial regulations and audit requirements
To be responsible for the production and updating of financial procedures in accordance with
financial regulations and audit requirements
To ensure that the school’s finances are subjected to external checks and balances through regular
audits
To oversee the payroll services on behalf of the school, through line management of the Assistant
Business manager, including the management of pension schemes and other associated services
Securing best value on all possible services and contracts affecting the maintenance and running of
the school
Estate Management related duties
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Through line management of the Assistant Business Manager, to be responsible for the strategic
management of the maintenance of the school site and the buildings, the overview of preparation of
maintenance schedules and the efficient operation of all facilities on the property.
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To be responsible for the strategic management of safety, cleanliness and upkeep of the premises,
including the school’s energy systems
To manage all aspects of any building projects and maintenance work undertaken on the premises,
including involvement in the drafting of outline specifications for new buildings and acting as the
point of contact with regard to liaison with building contractors, architects departments, council
planning departments and other related agencies
To be responsible for ensuring the necessary buildings, contents and employers’ liability insurance
arrangements are in place
To strategically manage the generation of additional income through the letting of the premises to
outside organisations and college staff, and for the development of all facilities for out-of-hours use
To be responsible for all aspects of Health and Safety and risk management, including ensuring all
necessary risk assessments are completed and the necessary checks are in place to meet all audit
requirements
To monitor the use of copyright material including ICT software, to maintain the copyright records
and all programme and hardware licences, through liaison with the Head of ICT; to monitor and
ensure the inventory of equipment so as to ensure all resources are accounted for and their
whereabouts within the school are traceable
Personnel related duties
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Working with the Personnel Officer, advise the Headteacher and Governors with regard to the
assessment of salaries to meet the needs of the school curriculum offer as well as performance
related pay increases.
To act as line manager to the Finance Officer and Assistant Business Manager
To ensure regular appraisals of the finance team are undertaken in line with the school policy
General Responsibilities
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To remain aware of and adhere to the school’s child protection policy and procedures and to raise
any concerns relating to such procedures which may be noted during the course of duty
To be aware and to adhere to applicable rules, regulations, legislation and procedures eg Equality
Policy, Discipline and Grievance Policies, Code of Conduct, Health and Safety, and Data Protection,
amongst others
To maintain confidentiality of information acquired in the course of undertaking duties on behalf of
Redruth School
To be responsible for your own continuing self-development, undertaking training as appropriate
To undertake other duties appropriate to the grading of the post as required.
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REDRUTH SCHOOL
Person Specification
Job Title:
Director of Finance and Estates
ATTRIBUTES
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
Qualifications
Degree
A relevant professional qualification with
evidence of sustained continuous
professional development
Certified accountant
School Business Manager qualification
Knowledge
Relevant financial regulations
Knowledge of government and other
legislation relevant to public organisations
In depth knowledge of public accountancy
regulations especially those relating to
schools
Personnel procedures and employment
legislation
Asset Management and procurement rules
Skills
Able to bring commercial ‘edge’ to
generating additional income and saving
costs
Influence and persuade senior leaders of
schools to adopt proper accountancy
practices
Excellent communication skills – ability to
demonstrate and articulate a clear vision for
the future of the school in the context of the
short and medium challenges
Ability to explain complexities of financial
regulations clearly and simply to staff and
governors
Excellent IT skills with a proficiency in
relevant software packages
Well -developed analytical, strategic,
planning and organisational skills
Ability to communicate effectively,
negotiate and network through highly
developed interpersonal, written, oral and
presentation skills
Ability to prioritise work and to meet and
manage work to tight deadlines
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Effective management and leadership of
staff achieving service quality and in
setting/achieving strategic objectives
Experience
Experience of working at senior leadership
level within an organisation
Evidence of management of projects to
fruition
Management and leadership of staff,
experience of supervising/ managing staff
and a thorough understanding of staffing
issues, building, leading and sustaining
complex working relationships
Experience of working in a school
environment or public sector
Experience of working in a commercial
environment also an advantage
Experience of financial and budgetary
management and of treasury management
Experience of fund raising activities
Others
Preparing statistical information in various
formats
Have the necessary skills and experience to
negotiate the best deals for schools
Provide innovative solutions to both short
and long term projects
Make strong recommendations to the
governing body over financial matters and
policies and procedures that will have an
impact on the school and its staff, students,
parents and anyone connected with the
school.
Key leadership characteristics/competencies that contribute to success at this level are:
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Community engagement – sensitive to group needs and dynamics, communicates and connects own
vision to that of others
Analytical and conceptual thinking – analyses variables, sees patterns, uses concepts, takes action to
persuade, calculates impact
Initiative and enterprise – thinks and acts ahead, willing to take risks, self- reliant, ambitious for the
development of the school
Team working – gets input from others, builds and sustains team spirit, sets boundaries, demands
performance, gives feedback and encouragement
Impact and influence – takes action to persuade and/or challenges others in the learners’ best
interest.
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