Academy Finance And Operations Manager Jobs in Westminster, Greater London
The Group Finance Director holds a key role in the executive team in the Foundation Office of the Charity. They are accountable for all matters relating to the UWGCF Charity finance, including the oversight of school income, endowment investments, loans, subsidiary companies, VAT, and the leadership of the Foundation finance team. To succeed in the job, the post holder needs to build effective working relationships with independent school bursars and finance teams and link effectively with the Business managers in the state funded academies.
The UWGCF is a complex organisation, and the post holder will need to demonstrate a high level of communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to build effective and supportive working relationships with other and be prepared to engage fully in the work of the Foundation. This may mean working outside of normal working hours but most importantly means communicating and work with colleagues as part of the team.
Initially they will report to the Chair of Trustees, although following a Governance Review and further work on Foundation Strategy, the Trustees may appoint a Foundation CEO. In the meantime the Foundation Office is led by a joint executive comprising three executives: Director of Governance and Operations, Director of HR, and Director of Finance.
For further information about this job please read the job pack attached.
Initial application by CV and covering letter, explaining why you have applied for the job. Shortlisted applicants will be required to complete an application form and to be subject to safeguarding due diligence, which includes a DBS check.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Join TreeHouse School as its new Head of Business and Operations to lead on continuous operational/business improvements at our Ofsted “Outstanding” school.
Location: Muswell Hill, London
Salary: Circa £65,000
Type: Permanent, full time (40 hours per week)
Start date for role: January 2025
About TreeHouse School:
TreeHouse School is a non-maintained special school for pupils aged 4- 19 with Autism and learning difficulties.
There are currently over 100 pupils on roll supported by approximately 160+ staff consisting of qualified teachers, teaching assistants, allied health professionals, positive behaviour support staff and operational staff.
It is a thriving and inclusive community devoted to the education and well-being of autistic children and young people across each of its three distinct curriculum pathways, which are tailored to meet the diverse needs of our pupils: pre-formal, semi-formal, and formal. Each pathway focuses on promoting well-being, independence, and social participation, with a strong emphasis on personalised learning and positive behaviour support.
About the role:
We are seeking a new Head of Business and Operations to play a crucial role in supporting the Head to review and drive continuous improvement.
The key responsibilities in the role will include:
- Finances: You will oversee and manage all finances and a multi million pound budget for the school.
- Human Resources: This will include leading on people strategy, workforce planning and performance management including evaluating the schools operational model.
- Systems and Processes: One of the immediate priorities for this role will be to evaluate systems and processes (for monitoring areas outlined in the job description) and seek ways to streamline these with innovative solutions.
This role does involve line management of two assistant operations managers as well as other office and facilities staff within the school.
You will work with the Headteacher to alleviate the administrative burdens from them but importantly support change management where identified / agreed.
Who we are looking for:
The ideal candidate will be proficient in HR, finance including budget management and operations management — including management of operational performance and reporting for governance and relationship management (internal and external stakeholders).
We are looking for a leader who is confident to tackle challenges head-on and drive continuous improvement.
Applications for this role close at 12am on Tuesday 8th of October 2024
Shortlisting date: Wednesday 9th of October 2024
Interview date: Thursday 17th and Wednesday 18th of October 2024
Ambitious about Autism is fully committed to equality of opportunity and diversity and we warmly welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates. We welcome applications regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, disability, or age. All applications will be considered solely on merit.
Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.
The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification. Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are seeking a Head of People and Operations to join our Senior Leadership Team. This is a multifaceted role, leading the people and culture agenda along with responsibility for the smooth running of our operations, including overall office management and managing our IT provider.
Reporting directly to our Chief Operating Officer (COO), the successful candidate will be both forward thinking and focussed on long term sustainable improvements as well as hands on, developing initiatives that will improve efficiencies and ways of working throughout FNF and will have proven experience in working in an operational role within a similar sized environment.
Principle Duties and Areas of Responsibility
People and Engagement
- Work closely with the Senior Leadership Team on the development and delivery of a people plan that drives engagement and performance. This includes proactively listening, learning and acting on feedback from our people engagement survey
- Lead on all aspects of HR, including recruitment, onboarding and performance management, staff benefits, leave allowances and mandatory learning.
- Responsible for managing our employee relations provider, ensuring that their service is fit for purpose and supporting all managers within the charity
- Work with our Occupational Health outsourced service to ensure that we are providing our people with an effective occupational health solution
- Create an approach to reward and recognition that celebrates success and encourages people to go above and beyond and making a difference for FNF, fully utilising our recognition platform
- Lead on the diversity, equity and inclusion agenda, ensuring that inclusion is considered throughout the employee lifecycle
- Work with our Marketing and Communications team to drive internal communications including our newsletter and team meetings
- Champion and embed the new values and behaviours across FNF, ensuring they are reflected in HR policies, practices and employee engagement initiatives to drive a positive and inclusive workplace culture
Policy and Governance
- Ensure that the people KPIs are monitored each month, looking at any themes and trends and associated actions
- Develop and maintain people policies and processes which are fair, transparent and comply with relevant legislation promoting FNF as an employer of choice.
- Maintain all employee records in line with regulation and organisational policy ensuring that all information is up to date and relevant
- Provide transparent and clear people and workforce information to the Board along with the relevant FNF committees
- Work collaboratively with our Finance team and Pension administrator to effectively manage the FNF salary exchange pension
Health and Safety
- Ensure that health and safety standards are met across FNF, this includes the communication of health and safety policies to ensure they are understood and adhered to
- Conduct regular risk assessments across all areas of FNF including office spaces, remote working environments and any other areas where the charity operates
- Establish and maintain an effective system for reporting, managing and investigating accidents, incidents and near misses
- Work with external partners to keep up to date with changes in legislation and to conduct the annual health and safety audit and ensure that any recommendations are implemented promptly
IT
- Act as the primary point of contact between FNF and the IT provider, ensuring clear and effective communication to ensure they deliver high quality services that meet our needs
- Review and manage the IT service contract ensuring that all terms and SLAs are monitored as well as considering value for money and service experience
- Manage the budget for the IT function at FNF
- Maintain an inventory of IT assets (hardware, software licenses etc) and ensure they are properly managed and documented. This includes the procurement and disposal of IT equipment as needed.
Office Management / Administration
- Partner with managed office provider to ensure that all services are delivered as per the contract, building a strong working relationship with the building and facilities team
- Ensure that the office environment is well maintained, welcoming and conducive to productive work
- Oversee the management of office supplies, ensuring that stock levels are maintained and ordered are placed
- Implement best practices in office management, including document management, filing systems and communication protocol
- To identify areas across the charity where processes, systems and collaborative working can be made more efficient, and support the team in implementing improvements
Person Specification
Experience, Knowledge, and Skills
- Relevant professional qualifications in business administration or a related field would be desirable
- Previous experience working in a similar varied role ideally within the non-profit sector
- Demonstrable experience in reviewing and improving processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness
- Previously managed HR activities such as recruitment, onboarding, performance management and engagement
- Experience in development and implementing policies and procedures, ensuring compliance and best practice
- Knowledge of managing relationships with vendors, including SLA’s and contract terms
- Highly organised with strong multitasking abilities, juggling different pieces of work and meeting deadlines
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, interacting with people internally and externally
- Excellent analytical skills with the ability to distil and communicate information in a way that is easy to understand
Competencies
- Proactive and committed to continuous improvement
- Adaptable and flexible to changing circumstances and handling unexpected challenges with resilience and flexibility
- Demonstrates a high level of integrity and professionalism
- Able to demonstrate strong leadership inspiring teams through collaboration and communication
- Develops and establishes strong relationships both internally and externally to enhance organisational partnerships and drive success
First interviews will be held: w/c 14th October 2024
Strictly no agencies please.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are seeking an operational and people focussed Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join our Executive Team. You will drive development of all financial and operational management, processes and reporting, overseeing the organisation’s day-to-day operations including the leadership of Finance, People, Governance, Fundraising, Marketing and Communications and Digital.
The successful candidate will have held broad finance and operations positions, with a track record of interacting at Board level and presenting clear financial and management information. Whilst you don’t have to be financially qualified, we do need someone with strong financial acumen and demonstrable ability to monitor, interpret and communicate financial information effectively. You will have experience in implementing new and/or successful improvements to existing systems and processes, with a track record of driving organisational change. The post holder will have a good understanding of regulation and best practice alongside the ability to develop efficient processes and controls in line with our governance framework. Ensuring that people are at the centre of the Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF) you will play a key role within the Executive team supporting the charity to achieve sustainable growth and delivery of efficient and effective services ensuring plans are developed and implemented, and targets are met.
You will have a passion for our purpose, commitment to our mission and alignment with our organisational values. Whilst being robust about process, you need to be able to flex to changing circumstances and be skilled at getting the best out of people as well as driving a culture of continuous improvement and learning. Crucially, you will be wholly committed to driving forward the core infrastructure for our work supporting nurses and midwives in leadership development to improve health and care outcomes.
This role provides a unique opportunity to inform, lead and shape the future of our impactful charitable mission and growth.
Principle Duties and Areas of Responsibility
Operational Leadership and Governance
- Overall accountability for the operations of the foundation
- Oversee and optimise internal processes and workflows to enhance efficiency and productivity
- Evaluate and improve overall performance by gathering, analysing and interpreting data and metrics
- Oversee robust risk management processes and protocols proactively identifying and mitigating potential risks
- Oversee the development of all necessary policies to ensure safe and healthy working environments
- Ensure FNF is compliant with all financial, tax, charity and legal requirements
Financial Management
- Oversee the development and monitoring of the financial strategy for the organisation, providing recommendations, information and guidance to the Trustees and Executive team to inform decision making
- Maintain and review polices and processes to ensure good financial controls are in place that meet both legal and tax requirements. This includes maintaining appropriate records and controls over restricted funds to ensure that these are used and reported appropriately
- Support the Finance Manager and Executive team in setting FNF’s annual budget, with robust analysis and justification of intended expenditure, financial forecasts, cashflow etc. securing active engagement and ownership from all internal budget holders
- Oversee the financial reports required to review progress against plans and forecasts throughout the year and ensuring these are disseminated and understood across the organisation
- Accountable for regular financial updates to Trustees including the Finance Investment Committee (FIC) and Board meetings along with the preparation of the financial aspects of the annual report and accounts
- Oversee the management and development of VAT reporting for FNF and trading subsidiary
- Oversee the financial aspect of FNF Global delivery to ensure compliance with HMRC
Systems and controls
- Lead in the development, implementation and monitoring of effective procurement systems and procedures, ensuring that FNF achieves best value and drives efficiencies through our external contracts
- Lead on the annual audit in accordance with current practice and the Charity Commissions Standard of Recommended Practice (SORP), liaising and managing the relationship with the auditors
- Oversee the operation of the payroll process and related HMRC contract ensuring that payments are made in an accurate and timely way
- Work with the Finance Committee to manage the investments for FNF, overseeing regular reviews of the investment policy and portfolio, liaising with external partners as necessary
Fundraising, Events, Marketing and Communications
- Provide leadership around income generation, making sure that this is located within the strategic framework and day to day thinking of the Foundation
- Provide leadership and direction for Marketing and Communications, ensuring that overall plans are in support of our strategic objectives
- Ensure all income generation activities from within this team are fully integrated across the Foundation, recognising the importance of inter departmental relationships
- Lead the team in the planning, communications, income generation and execution of the annual Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service and any similar high profile events.
Digital
- Provide strategic leadership in overseeing digital initiatives, guiding the development and execution of a comprehensive digital strategy
HR
- Provide expert professional judgement, advice, and guidance to the Executive and Senior Leadership teams in developing, monitoring, and implementing people strategies, policies and procedures, workforce and training that meet service needs.
- In partnership with the Head of Operations develop, communicate and implement the People and Culture Strategy.
- Support the ongoing development of a culture to enable the development of a workforce which is at the heart of the organisation, in which colleagues feel valued, safe, and respected.
- Build on our ability to work in agile and flexible ways, establishing innovative ways of working and providing outstanding learning and development opportunities for all colleagues.
- Create relevant and dynamic talent and succession plans, enabling us to develop and support our workforce as well as focus on the long-term skills and capabilities required within FNF
People Leadership
- Lead and develop the operations team, leading by example you will promote a positive and proactive culture, encouraging the team to work collaboratively across FNF
- Effectively manage the performance of the team, ensuring they are working on agreed objectives and outcomes
Person Specification
Experience, Knowledge, and Skills
- Proven experience as a senior leader in ideally a non-profit or public sector organisation
- Strong and extensive operations management experience, financial leadership and programme delivery
- Experience of working on projects to integrate systems and improve processes / ways of working would be highly desirable
- Demonstrated success in strategic planning, organisational development and stakeholder engagement
- Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate staff
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal abilities, capable of representing the charity effectively to external audience
- Experience of working with a Charity Board of Trustees
- Proven ability to develop a long term financial strategy and plans
- Experience of developing and implementing processes and policies as well as setting standards and targets aligned to organisation objectives
- A commitment to the charity's mission and values
- Excellent numerical and analytical skills with the ability to distil and communicate complex financial information in a way that is easy to understand
- Ability to think strategically, anticipating future trends and developing plans accordingly
- Encourage innovation and seek to understand best practice from both inside and outside the sector
- Strong financial acumen and demonstrable ability to monitor, interpret and communicate financial information effectively is essential
- ACCA/CIMA/ACA or an equivalent finance qualification is desirable
Competencies
- Able to demonstrate strong leadership inspiring teams to achieve strategic goals through collaboration and communication
- Develops and establishes strong relationships both internally and externally to enhance organisational partnerships and drive success
- Champions innovation fostering a culture of adaptability and forward thinking
- Comfortable with ambiguity, possesses the drive, energy and resilience to see through change
- Proactively oversees financial risk and governance, anticipating potential challenges and implementing pre-emptive measures to ensure resilience and assurance.
- Sound judgement to make informed decisions and balance competing demands, even in complex or ambiguous situations.
First Interviews will be held on: 21st October 2024
Strictly no agencies please.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.