Dear Applicant
Thank you for your interest in the position of Director of Finance and Operations at the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD).
This position represents an exciting opportunity to make a significant contribution to the future development of our 117-year-old charity. Over the past three years we have undertaken an extensive modernisation programme, including the complete renovation of our office building, the introduction of a new finance system, a new website, and significant improvements to our IT infrastructure.
The Society is loved and respected throughout the world but, like all charitable organisations, we face many challenges as we slowly emerge from the global pandemic. The successful candidate will play a key role in our recovery and future growth – contributing to the development of a new 5-year strategic plan, developing new income streams and leading on the procurement of a new CRM system.
This post sits within a Leadership Team of five Directors, each of whom is responsible for delivering growth, innovation and efficiency in their specialist area. We work collectively to build the Society’s international profile and to extend the range and diversity of people with which we engage. We aspire to be a leading force for dance education both in the UK and internationally and are strongly committed to removing barriers to access, whilst maintaining the quality for which we are renowned.
I hope the information provided will give you an insight into the work of the Society. If you feel you can help us realise our goals and build for the future, I would be delighted to hear from you.
With best wishes
The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing is one of the world’s leading dance examination boards with the widest range of dance genres available. We are a registered educational charity, supporting and training our members through a wide variety of courses, teaching syllabi and techniques.
Established in 1904, with a mission to educate the public in the art of dancing in all its forms; today the Society strives to advance excellence in dance teaching and education. We promote knowledge in each specialty and provide up-to-date techniques in the ever-changing world of dance. We work hard to maintain and improve teaching standards in schools, academies and performing arts settings across the world.
We are known for our quality of teaching, our diversity of dance forms, and a passion for raising standards. We put our members – teachers of dance – at the heart of everything we do. Supporting their career development and progression by providing a range of resources, events, training and continuous professional development, all designed to support their journey through dance.
The Society is a registered educational charity (250397), regulated examinations board and membership association. With 6,000 members in 59 countries worldwide, we conduct over 120,000 examinations and 20,000 hours Continuing Professional Development each year.
Our COVID-19 response
Recognising that communication and support for our members was crucial during this challenging time, we established a COVID-19 website portal, weekly news bulletins and a programme of free members meetings and faculty events.
In August we moved our summer school online, where we hosted a month long programme of CPD activities. In total 5,043 members from 28 countries attended online courses in 2020. Our faculty student events also moved online last autumn and in January we launched the digital Inspirational Spaces to Dance Challenge.
We conducted calculated assessments for ‘gateway’ qualifications last summer and then transitioned to remote exams from September, as need dictated. By the end of 2020, 6,500 learners had successfully completed an online examination. Whilst this has been a steep learning curve, the Society now has the ability to move seamlessly between online and direct delivery as the situation demands. And, an unexpected joy of this move to digital engagement has been the ability to come together as an international community like never before.
Strategy
The Society aspires to be a world leader in dance education, setting the benchmark for best practice through our extensive syllabi and teacher training. We are committed to becoming a dynamic, future-focused organisation that promotes the social, cultural, physical and educational benefits of dance for all.
We have a proud history that stands for the pursuit of excellence in the dance world. To build on past successes and the business plan of 2019–2021, the leadership team and trustees are in the process of developing our five-year strategic plan for the organisation; conducting a 360 degree review and planning processes. Our aim is to make sure that our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of our strategic development, creating an agile and future focused organisation that encourages membership and financial growth within a rapidly changing environment.
Finance
The balance sheet reflects a sound position – the Society owns the freehold of its Shoreditch, London property, plus an investment portfolio managed by CCLA and healthy cash balances.
These resources enable the Society to invest in new pathways to improve services to our members and the development of new initiatives in line with the ISTD’s charitable aims.
Recent deficits have been due to restructuring and investment, essential to the Society’s successful development, and in 2020 the impact of COVID-19 severely curtailing our activities.
You can view the latest report (2019) online at: https://www.istd.org/discover/our-governance/annual-reports/
Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer; also reports to the Board on financial, legal and charitable matters.
Responsible for: Governance and Legal Compliance, Finance, IT, HR, Building Services.
Line manages: Finance Manager, Finance Business Partner, HR Business Partner, Policy & Governance Manager, Facilities Manager.
Role purpose
Key duties and responsibilities
Departmental duties and responsibilities
Director duties and responsibilities
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Education and qualifications
Knowledge and experience
Competencies
These are an indication of some of the observable behaviours needed for successful performance of this role. Please note that ISTD is developing a new competency framework that will apply across all roles, so the competencies shown below will be reviewed as part of this process.
Technical
Leadership and management
Behavioural
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact Rob Hilyer on +44 (0) 7719 325 771 or Elyse Turner-Pearce on +44 (0) 7808 648 559.
The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 30th April 2021.
Applications should consist of:
Completed applications should be uploaded at www.andersonquigley.com/candidates using AQ1115 as the reference number.
The Society values diversity of thought and experience. We welcome applications from anyone regardless of their age, disability, ethnicity, heritage, sexuality, gender and socio-economic background. If you have any access needs or there are any barriers to access please let us know this in your application or if you would like to discuss any of this prior to applying please contact our supporting consultants at Anderson Quigley.The Society values diversity of thought and experience. We welcome applications from anyone regardless of their age, disability, ethnicity, heritage, sexuality, gender and socio-economic background. If you have any access needs or there are any barriers to access please let us know this in your application or if you would like to discuss any of this prior to applying please contact our supporting consultants at Anderson Quigley.
Timetable
Closing date: | noon on Friday 30th April |
Longlisting: | Friday 7th May |
Preliminary Interviews with AQ: | w/c 10th and 17th May |
Shortlisting: | Monday 24th May |
Final Panel Interviews: | Wednesday 2nd June |