Prospect House – Head of Finance and Compliance

Cand i date I nformat i on Pack

Contents Page

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Welcome From the Headmatser

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About Prospect House

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Job Description

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Person Specifictaion

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Working with Dukes

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Applcation Process

Welcome From The Headmaster

We are recruiting for a Head of Finance and compliance a key leadership appointment for the school to provide effective management of the day-to- day operation of the financial systems and compliance at the school. Prospect House is a unique and happy place where children and staff alike want to be. When you walk through the door you feel a sense of belonging; I believe that this is what makes us stand out and so special. I believe that an outstanding educational experience encompasses not only the academic curriculum, but also includes wellbeing, developing confidence, self esteem and happiness. At Prospect House we value these elements equally. Years of teaching have taught me that every child is great at something. At Prospect House we endeavour to enable every child to discover and utilise their strengths, develop empathy so they can relate to others with compassion and understanding, and to foster a lifetime love of learning through enjoying and engaging with all aspects of school life. As the Headmaster of our school, I am tasked with the responsibility to develop and guide the next generation and it is my hope that I am able to help them become the best that they can be. A great school makes a difference to a child’s life and it is our responsibility to be great across all every of school life.

I cannot wait to welcome you to the school so you can see the magic, vibrancy, and collective joy of Prospect House first-hand.

Michael Hodge Headmaster

About Prospect House

A non-selective co-ed independent prep school with a village feel, overlooking Putney Heath in south-west London.

At Prospect House, we are all about happy childhoods. This is why we do what we do, and why our families choose us.

Our bespoke curriculum is designed and delivered to be intellectually exciting, academically engaging and imaginatively stimulating. Core subjects are complemented by a wide range of arts, languages and humanities, as well as a keen focus on sport and P.E.

Job Description

Prospect House – Head of Finance and Compl iance

Organisational Information

• Reporting to: The Headmatser

• Functional links to: Dukes Finance Director

Main purpose

• Provide effective management of the day-to-day operation of the financial systems at the school.

• Management of other Finance staff (as appropriate) at the school.

• Work within the framework provided by the school’s policies and procedures to fulfil the general aims and objectives of the school and to carry out the roles outlines in their respective job descriptions to the highest level. • The post-holder will be responsible for the financial health Prospect House and will manage the finance function producing financial reports and assisting the Head and Dukes Finance Director in making business decisions.

Responsibilities/ Accountabilities

• Production of monthly management accounts and reports for the school on a timely basis.

• Be responsible for the school’s finance function, management and year end reporting, and effective control of both accounts receivable and accounts payable, while supporting the Finance Director and other members of staff as required.

• Prepare the monthly management reports (MMRs), including the consolidated profit and loss account and the balance sheet, providing a detailed analytical commentary to demonstrate an appropriate business understanding.

• Control budgets, with production of periodic reports to budget holders during the financial year.

• Prepare and present the finance schedules and forecasts required for the monthly review and quarterly governance meetings with Dukes.

• Collate pupil and staff statistical data for monthly reporting to Dukes.

• Maintain the financial ledgers and accounting processes and ensure that appropriate financial controls are adhered to with reference to the Dukes’ finance manuals.

• Ensure that appropriate finance and support systems are implemented and maintained in line with Dukes’ finance manuals.

• Review the month-end general ledger reconciliation.

• Oversee the monthly payroll adjustments, the submission and processing of the monthly payroll, and liaise with the payroll agency.

• Administer the group pension scheme, including reporting to the pension regulator.

• Liaise with all budget holders to co-ordinate and produce the annual budget to Dukes’ budget timetable, and in line with the budget targets issued and overall school strategy.

• Develop and implement a Finance strategy that supports business objectives and oversee delivery of key deliverables.

• Design and implement effective Finance policies and procedures to help drive the development of Finance, leading on change and transformation throughout the school.

• Produce timely statutory and internal financial reports, together with the co-ordination of audit schedules and liaison with auditors as required.

• Control the school’s cash effectively through working capital management and accurate, timely forecasting.

• Manage all aspects of the accounts receivable process, including the raising of billing, managing direct debits/ school fee plans, and liaising with parents directly on outstanding debts due in accordance with credit control policy.

• Manage all aspects of the accounts payable process, including ensuring the authorisation of invoices prior to payment, the management of payment cycles and control of monthly payment runs.

• Represent the school at the quarterly bursars’ meeting to report on performance and share best practice.

• Manage the hardship fund bursary programme, liaising with parents and obtaining authorisation for hardship claims.

• Line manage Finance Assistants and develop their financial capabilities

• Undertake ad hoc projects as and when directed by the Finance Director

• Business Partner for the Head.

• Create and maintain sound financial systems and processes across the school. Liaise with other schools in the region to ensure consistency in approach.

• Be/become an expert user in Xero.

• Preparation of information for annual accounts and audit file.

• Develop a set of effective school KPI’s to measure operational efficiency.

• Be an effective lead for iSAMS implementation.

Job activities

•

Review/Supervise/Direct work done by others in Finance Team locally

• Prepare monthly management accounts for the school. This will include but will not be limited to: • Preparing and posting payroll journals • Reviewing income raised and commissions paid in month and creating the appropriate posting to recognise income and expenditure in the correct periods • Reviewing and adjusting general prepayments and accruals monthly • Calculating and posting depreciation and amortisation charges • Reviewing deposit balances • Producing monthly management accounts reports along with brief commentary for presentation to the Head and Finance Director.

• Prepare payroll information for submission to bureau, ensuring complete accuracy and timeliness

• Take on other tasks and duties as requested by both the Head and Finance Director. Such duties may include, for example,

•

Working with IT support business.

• Liaising with HR both within the College and at Group level. • Involvement with facilities management within the school.

Compliance Management

• Managing and ensuring compliance within the school • Ensuring appropriate risk assessments are being undertaken and acted upon as necessary; • Acting as correspondent with the Department for Education (DfE) and being responsible for the records and returns required; • Advising on, and taking the appropriate physical security measures across the school for the protection of both staff and pupils; • Maintaining contact with the statutory authorities and other organisations. • Ensuring that the school follows appropriate disciplinary and grievance procedures; • Monitoring and implementing the school’s policies and compliance.

Person Specification

Essential

Desirable

Qualifications & Training

• Recognised Accounting Qualification (ACA,ACCA, CIMA) with post- qualification experience • Management experience • Experience of working in a senior finance role • Proven people management skills • Strong team player with leadership and motivational skills • Prepared to “roll up sleeves” when necessary • Ability to build strong relationships quickly • Strong IT analysis skills • Receptive to change and capable of delivering change • Ability to write and present clear and concise reports to financial and non- financial recipients • Deep understanding of business principles and practices • Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills both written and oral • Ability to work as part of an operational leadership team to support colleagues in other departments with financial management and planning • Ability to make crucial decisions, sometimes in fast time, and is comfortable moving between high level strategy and operational delivery

• Degree or equivalent

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to think strategically to support both the Head and the Finance Director - and to be able to think outside the finance function

Essential

Desirable

• Significant exposure to preparing monthly management accounts to a timely deadline • Effective Project management • Demonstrate a solid track record in having adopted best in class practices. • Demonstrate ability to lead change management. • Evidence of Strategic Leadership. • Evidence of effective working capital management showing policies leading to reduction in DSO’s.

• Financial management in the education sector • Involvement in general office/facilities management • Payroll management • Management of outsourced services • Implementation of iSAMS or any other comparable Management Information System. • Experience working in a group environment.

Experience

Other factors

• Capacity to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Working With Dukes

Founded in 2015, Dukes Education is a collection of the UK’s finest nurseries, schools and colleges, as well as summer schools and consultancy services — all united in their passion for nurturing students and helping them thrive.

We are highly selective about which schools and organisations join us. Our family is small and close knit, which we carefully curate to ensure there is harmony amongst our teams.

Being part of the Dukes family means we can all come together to share experience and expertise, supporting each other to achieve the extraordinary.

There’s power in the collective, our results are outstanding, but there’s more to us than that. Our students benefit from constant sharing of best practice; developing culturally and socially, whilst enjoying a rounded education.

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Appl ication Process

To arrange a confidential conversation to discuss the opportunity in more depth, please contact

Hayley Mintern hayley.mintern@mrgpeople.co.uk

Melanie Pye melanie.pye@mrgpeople.co.uk

of The Management Recruitment Group on 020 3962 9900.

Applications should consist of a comprehensive CV and a covering letter.

Applications should be sent to hayley.mintern@mrgpeople.co.uk or melanie.pye@mrgpeople.co.uk

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