Trustee Treasurer

The Southover Partnership
The Southover Partnership (“Southover” or the “School”) is an independent special needs day school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder and other complex needs. It is situated on three sites in the London boroughs of Brent, Barnet and Enfield. All pupils have education, health and care plans (EHCP) and are placed by a wide range of local authorities. Typically, the pupils placed at the School have significantly disrupted educational histories. 
The work at Southover is underpinned by the principles of attachment theory. The School follows a small school model because we believe it delivers the best outcomes for our students. This means each school community gets to deeply know and understand its members and gives students the opportunity to be more directly involved in their own education. It allows the different school sites to serve as pupils’ primary attachment, and therefore build up a trusting relationship with others and eventually society. The aim is to deliver a truly personalised and holistic education experience for all our pupils.

Specific responsibilities

1.Provide oversight and support to the School Business Manager, together with the Chair and the Executive Headteacher.

2.Chair the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.
3.Review and report on Southover’s financial performance to ensure the safeguarding of organisational assets and its short- and long-term viability.
4.Oversee the financial implications of strategic plans, annual budgets, risk management and financial management reports, explaining technical aspects in plain language.
5.Propose and implement an ongoing review of Southover’s financial and risk policies.
6.Ensure there is an effective external and internal audit function.
7.Act as sounding board and finance professional to the non-finance board members, while reminding each trustee of their own responsibilities in this area.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities

• Demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to the charity/school, its strategic objectives and cause.

• Exhibit strong inter-personal and relationship building abilities.

• Demonstrate empathy, tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively.

• Strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of the charity/school.

• Ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment.

• Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events, functions, meetings etc as appropriate out of office hours. 

Experience 

Essential

• Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation

• Successful track record of achievement through their career

• Experience of working with or as part of a Board of Trustees

• Extensive experience of managing financial statements (P&L, balance sheet and cash flow) as FD or CFO of an organisation with revenue >£4m

• Significant experience of chairing meetings and events

• Experience of handling sensitive and confidential issues

Desirable

• Experience as a school governor

• Experience of charity governance

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Knowledge of accounting, budgeting, internal financial controls and systems, fraud prevention

• A professional accountancy qualification

• Knowledge and understanding of corporate and charity governance.

• Good understanding of the Charity Commission’s guidance in respect of Charity finances

• An approachable personality with the desire to meet with people from a range of different communities and disciplines. 

Desirable 

• Knowledge and understanding of the education sector.

• Understanding of the regulatory frameworks and governance of schools (and what it means to be both a school and a charity)

• Knowledge and experience of charity finance

• A good understanding of the key issues facing Southover and/or any SEN provider. 

Terms of Office 

The Chair will serve a three-year term, eligible for re appointment at the end of one term of office for one additional term only i.e. a maximum of 6 years.