Head of Finance | Glasgow
Recruiter: Rutherford Cross
Location: Glasgow
Salary: Competitive
Contract type: Permanent
Closing date: No set closing date
Interested in this role?
About the company
Hutchesons’ Grammar School aims to provide boys and girls with a broad Scottish education, with emphasis on academic excellence. Founded in 1641. Hutchesons’ is a famous Glasgow school which has always been at the forefront of teaching and learning in Scotland. Nowadays, it is a large and dynamic school of great vitality and diversity, where over 1200 pupils from Pre-School through to S6 follow a broad curriculum, blending the traditional and the modern. Experienced teachers and support staff are one of the Hutchesons’ greatest strengths, along with resources they all need to do their job to the highest possible standards.
About the role
The Head of Finance position is a full-time, permanent, senior support role, reporting directly to the Bursar. This role will suit a qualified Finance professional with the ability to support and challenge budget holders, whilst leading a small finance team. Experience in the education sector would be advantageous but is not essential.
The post-holder will lead and develop the Finance department. The team is responsible for all aspects of financial management within the school, including the provision of financial reporting and analysis and recommendations to the Bursar, other senior management and Finance Committee/Board of Governors. The Head of Finance will possess excellent analytical skills, a keen eye for detail and a pro-active and pragmatic approach to problem solving, along with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
Relationships and Staffing
- Lead, manage and develop the Finance Team of 4 direct line reports enabling them to carry out their duties effectively and deliver strategic support to School priorities, initiatives and projects
- Assist in the recruitment, training and appraisal of new team members as required
- Ensure all finance staff are fully trained in the use of the accounting and related software
- Build and maintain open, supportive relationships with colleagues across the School, to ensure a high quality and responsive service
Strategic Financial Management and Development
- Support the Bursar in the development of the financial strategy for the School, building and maintaining effective long-term financial models through detailed scenario planning and analysis
- Undertake regular benchmarking of all aspects of School finances, providing appropriate analysis and advice
- Contribute to the assessment and implementation of new systems and processes to increase the accessibility and accuracy of financial data, and to improve efficiency
- Continually evaluate the performance of the accounting software to ensure it is the best fit for the School
- Preparation of annual budget and forecast updates
- Preparation of annual accounts and audit liaison
- Understand, assess, and communicate to all relevant stakeholders, the financial impacts of school strategy, legislative changes and changes within the education sector
- Responsibility for review and development of the control environment
Operational Financial Management
- Contribute to the development of School financial policies and procedures, ensuring these are implemented
- Produce timely monthly management accounts, financial dashboards, and management information, including profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow forecast and analysis of variations to budget
- Support budget holders with information to enable them to manage and monitor their budgets in accordance with policies and procedures
- More generally, key advisor/partner to all school operations; teaching, HR, property, catering, IT and development and marketing
- Manage all aspects of cashflow including the operation and reconciliation of the School’s bank accounts and payment processes, identifying risks/opportunities and necessary actions. Also being the main banking focal point, ensuring appropriate financing in place and monitoring of covenants
- Monitoring and reconciliation of the investment portfolio
- Completion of VAT and tax returns
- Oversee the fee billing, credit control, accounts payable and payroll and pensions functions
Contract Management
- Lead on supplier and contract negotiations, ensuring value for money and adherence to school values
- Manage the School’s insurance arrangements, liaising with brokers and insurers as necessary
- Ensure the application of best value principles and the identification of cost savings where possible
- The above list is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope of the post
About the individual
- Qualified accountant (CA, ACCA, CIMA)
- Ability to develop robust processes and controls
- Implementing system and procedural changes
- Ability to manage and develop a small finance team
- Shows initiative, drive and commitment to ongoing improvement
- Ideally some experience in charity accounting (Charities SORP), though not essential
- Strong IT skills, specifically in Excel with evidence of using Excel formulae to transform data
- Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills, with the ability to influence non-finance managers
- Motivated, highly organised with initiative and excellent time management skills, with the ability to multi-task, prioritise and manage own workload
- High level of honesty and integrity
- Works effectively under pressure in a calm manner and meet deadlines whilst producing work that is accurate
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
- Professional, combined with a warm and approachable personality
- Works effectively under pressure in a calm manner and meet deadlines whilst producing work that is accurate
- Actively promotes and works to Hutchesons’ values
To find out more on remuneration, the role or to see a full Position Profile, please contact their retained advisor, Jonathan Donnelly at Rutherford Cross.