Bursar Candidate Information Pack
BOYS & GIRLS
AGES 0 -18
ADVENTUROUS LEARNERS
CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY, NURSERY & BOARDING SCHOOL
CONTENTS
Welcome
About Us
The Role
Person Specification
Application Process
Page 4 The Estate
Page 5 Buildings
Page 3 Welcome
WELCOME
The School will grow from the existing 800 pupils aged 3-8 to 1000 pupils, 450 pupils aged 3-11 and 550 pupils aged 11-18+ including 175 boarders.
The Ashford School International Centre (ASIC) has been open since September 2015. This section of the school has been designed to meet the needs of non-native English speaking pupils, from the outset becoming a world-class centre of excellence. ASIC is an 18th-century Grade II listed building which has undergone a multimillion-pound refurbishment, providing state of the art teaching classrooms alongside boarding rooms. Ashford School is planning to substantially invest in specialist facilities and grounds over the next five years. The school’s intention is to remodel the East Hill Campus to provide extensive, high quality facilities that meet the future needs of the school and match the current excellent quality of pupils’ experience. Close financial management and planning are fundamental to the success of the school. The school is expertly supported in this by United Learning, from which comes all capital development funds. The school’s “all-in” fee is attractive and the fees are highly competitive.
Michael Hall Head of Ashford School
ABOUT US Ashford school is a coeducational independent boarding and day school in East Hill, Ashford Kent. The school was founded in 1898, originally as a girls’ school. In 2005 it merged with Friars Prep School in Great Chart and became coeducational. There are now 480 students in the senior school (ages 11 to 18) and 360 in the prep school (ages 3 to 11). The school is located within walking distance from Ashford international railway station, which is just 37 minutes from London by high-speed train. Ashford School was recently ranked one of the UK’s top 20 coeducational, independent schools and was voted Independent School of the Year 2010. The School was a winner in the Good Schools Guide award in 2011. The school was also voted one of the country’s top five boarding schools at the Archant Good Schools Show. The School was endorsed as outstandingly successful in every category during the most recent inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in 2014.
“ A forward-looking school with a strong international contingent which is going from strength to strength, benefitting in part from the huge growth of Ashford town. The school has ‘changed beyond belief in the last eight years’ and appeals to a wide range of families with its strong pastoral care and adventurous learning programme. ” (Good Schools Guide)
At Ashford School, our educational philosophy is based on a very simple assumption: if a pupil is happy and secure, they are more likely to be successful. To achieve this, we believe that learning should be challenging, motivating and lead to a sense of fulfilment. This is why we strive to provide an environment that en- courages growth and adventure so that our students can develop into all they are capable of being.
“ Ashford School’s teaching fosters higher level thinking and application, enabling pupils to progress rapidly ”
BURSAR
Context of the Role Ashford School educates over 900 children and young people, employs 250+ adults and has a turnover of nearly £14m. Our sole purpose is to help our children to be successful learners and progress to university. We seek to achieve this through adventurous, well-focussed teaching in a stimulating and well-resourced environment where initiative and high quality outcomes are prized. Nearly £13m has been invested in the school in recent years and there is more to come. We are growing and have a target pupil number of 1200. To achieve this we must increase our market share and ensure the experience of our existing pupils and parents is outstanding. The success and direction of the school is the responsibility of the Governors, Head and senior staff. As part of the United Learning, we are provided with central services and advice in the areas of accounting, H&S, HR, ICT and people development. The daily operation of most of these functions is devolved to the school. The Bursar will be a key member of the senior team, reporting to the Head, Headmaster of the Prep School, Director of the Senior School and Director of Teaching and Learning and will be expected to play a significant part in its future development. Key factors in the future of the school in the next five years include: • Strong leadership focussed on outcomes • Further development of our buildings and facilities • Continued generation of substantial surpluses from our trading company and main school accounts • Financial discipline in a demanding national and international context • Clarity of purpose and unending drive for quality
Accountable to
Head of Ashford School
Responsible for
Strong leadership and the effective management of the school’s finances and Estates so the school can deliver its aims to be judged as excellent or outstanding in every area.
The Bursar will manage the finances, purchase ledger and local billing of the school.
BURSAR
Managing Finances and Resources • Prepare the annual estimates of income and expenditure for approval by the Head and United Learning (a group of schools which aims to provide excellent education to children and young people accross the country) • Monitor budgets against monthly management accounts • Prepare regular statements of accounts for budget holders and report on the financial state of the school to the Head acting to ensure spending is kept within agreed limits • Advise the Head and Governors on financial matters, preparing appraisals for particular projects and developing a long-term business plan for the future development of the school • Use financial management information, especially benchmarking tools, to analyse trends and identify opportunities for greater efficiency • Maximise income generation within the ethos of the school • To give strategic vision and leadership to all aspects of the financial operation and planning of the school. • To give strategic vision and leadership to all aspects of the management of the school’s estates, including their maintenance, development and efficient use. • To lead, operate, maintain and develop the financial procedures and systems of the school in co-operation with the Head and Governors, ensuring that legal and safety requirements with regard to people, property and function of the school are maintained. • To be responsible, and function as line manager, for all associate and non-teaching staff in the school. • Play a central role in the Senior Management Team. • Ensure that the school is fully prepared to meet Inspection, Financial and Health & Safety criteria. Premises: The Bursar will be responsible for the overall management and maintenance of the buildings, facilities, grounds, fabric and furnishings of the school, working with the Head of Ashford School. The specific responsibilities include: • Taking the lead on compiling and implementing planned maintenance and an Estates’ • Development Plan including energy conservation. • Through regular contact with the Estates Manager ensuring the proper maintenance and repair of the school is carried out, and progress monitored. • Ensuring the appropriate provision of catering and cleaning services, whether these are run in-house or through placing and monitoring of service contracts • Ensuring compliance with all Health and Safety matters, including measures in the event of emergencies and issues of hygiene and food safety. • Appraise projects for the development of the school. • To be responsible for the security, cleaning, laundry and other general site services within the premises. • To deal with all external agencies, delivering services to the school and to deal with all aspects of tendering. • With the Estates Manager, arrange for estimates for work and regularly monitor the work of on-site contractors.
Job Description Key Responsibilities
BURSAR
• To ensure that the best use is made of premises personnel and to be responsible for their allocation of hours and pay claims. • To monitor and oversee the quality of work by contractors, maintenance, grounds, catering and cleaning staff. • To ensure that all accommodation, equipment and facilities are fit for purpose. Financial: • Working with the Head, the Bursar will prepare an annual budget for the school to be submitted to the Board of Governors and will provide specific expertise in long-term financial management. • The Bursar will be responsible specifically for; Ensuring the school has appropriate financial systems and procedures; managing all aspects of the school’s financial systems (including salaries and wages, superannuation, National Insurance etc. as well as scrutinising all invoices for payment and school procurement strategy) in accordance with agreed policies and timetable; ensuing accurate financial records are maintained, preparing management accounts and cash flow and reporting on a regular basis to the Head and Board of Governors. • To ensure that the financial transactions in the school are carried out in an appropriate manner and that the financial regulations of the school are observed • Preparation, for approval by the Board of Governors, of an annual estimate of income and expenditure including recommendations on fee levels. • To ensure that payroll is run effectively with all PAYE and other returns to HMRC provided as necessary. • Manage the administration of the pension schemes provided for staff and ensure that all auto-enrolment and other legislative requirements are met. • To determine the financial impact of particular projects and the development of long term initiatives for the school. • To co-operate, initiate and manage audit procedures as necessary. • Attend Board of Governors and Sub-committee meetings, distributing agendas and papers in advance of such meetings and maintain minutes of the meetings. • To write bids for funding from charities and other sources as applicable. • Managing the tendering for all service contracts; monitoring all insurance policies, with a view to cost effectiveness. • Monitoring and control of capital expenditure on buildings and grounds, placing of contracts, appointment and monitoring of contractors. • Promoting the school activities and premises with the objective of maximizing letting income, within agreed policies. • Supporting staff responsible for designated budgets with procedures which enable them to monitor these budgets.
Job Description Key Responsibilities
BURSAR
Administration and IT The Bursar will be responsible for those aspects of administration of the school which do not relate to the teaching, supervision and pastoral care of students. Specific responsibilities include; • To co-ordinate planning for the effective provision of IT resources at the school including hardware/ software and the efficient running of the IT Support Team. • The manage the efficient and effective running of the general office as one of the school’s main points of public contact, as well as the centre of daily administration. • To ensure inventories of equipment and stock are maintained; all statutory and statistic returns are completed as appropriate; the efficient running of the IT administration system. • To ensure school transport requirements are met efficiently and effectively, with a view to both cost and safety. Line Management Responsibilities The Bursar will be responsible for managing premises and all other associate staff but in the case of Boarding, Library, Technology and Science technicians not their interface with pupils and the curriculum. • Managing the staffing operation of the College Office and Resources and all administrative, maintenance and ground staff. • Motivating and facilitating teamwork and good practice in order to achieve excellent standards of service delivery. Allocating responsibilities and duties and ensuring all are adequately and appropriately trained. • Managing non-teaching staff attendance and leave to ensure a continuous service throughout the year. • Overseeing support staff career development including the appraisal scheme and reviewing training requirements. • Monitoring the effectiveness of the support staff establishment to meet the needs of the school. • Advise the Head and other members of the Senior Management Team on HR matters as required. Administer all staff contracts and obtain such legal advice as may be required. • Undertake such duties and work hours as agreed with the Head and carry out duties as may be required from time to time as detailed by the Head and Governors.
Job Description Key Responsibilities
BURSAR
• Relevant professional qualification in finance • Demonstrable success in substantial financial management • Evidence of and ability to influence positively the work of individuals • Evidence of highly developed interpersonal skills and resilience • Good organisational and effective time-management skills
Person Specification
• Eagerness to identify and respond to new challenges • Demonstrable sound judgement and decision making • Ability to communicate confidently with pupils, parents and staff • Strong commitment to the values and ethos of the school • Excellent oral and written communication skills together with developed ICT skills • Calm, authoritative and determined leadership with the ability to improve underperformance • Broad and strategic vision • A love of detail; an eye for quality and sophistication • Initiative and the ability to plan and implement change • Resilience and energy • Ease with and interest in young people • The demeanour and personality to inspire respect from colleagues, to represent the school convincingly and to act as an appropriate role model. Salary Up to £68k, dependent on experience, skills and qualifications Contract This is a full time appointment. Normal office hours of work are 40 hours per week for the full year. However the Bursar will be expected to work such hours as are necessary to fulfill his/her responsibilities including occasional weekends without further remuneration Start Date TBC Holiday 30 days excluding Public Holidays Pension Scheme United Learning Pension Plan for Support Staff (normally 3% employer’s contribution) Accommodation Living accommodation is not provided with this position. Applicants are expected to live within 40min travel of the Ashford site where he/she will be based Fee discount One third discount for the first child and 50% for each subsequent child simultaneously attending the school Health Care Free membership of the United Learning scheme (currently BUPA) Meals When working, staff are entitled to a free lunch from Monday to Friday during term time and at other times when the Dining Room is open.
APPLICATION PROCESS For a confidential conversation please contact our advisor Lawrence Clark of The Management Recruitment Group on E: lawrence.clark@mrgpeople.co.uk T: 020 8892 0115. Applications should consist of a comprehensive CV (of not more than 4 pages) and a relevant projects list (not more than 2 pages, to include project type, value and contract type).
Applications should be sent to; lawrence.clark@mrgpeople.co.uk
Closing date for applications: Sunday 21st October 2018.
www.mrgpeople.co.uk
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