Appointment of the Director of Finance and Operations

Radnor House Sevenoaks

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About us

Radnor House Sevenoaks is a fast growing independent co-educational day school educating up to 650 pupils aged 2-18. Located on a beautiful and historic site close to the town of Sevenoaks, Kent, the school was originally founded in 1924 as Combe Bank School before being acquired by Radnor House in 2015. Radnor House Sevenoaks is divided into two sections: Prep School (2-11) and Senior School (11- 18) although the emphasis is on providing a 2–18 continuum as pupils progress through each stage of their education. 

The school is a member of Round Square, IAPS and ISA. 

Vision and Values  

The vision is for Radnor House Sevenoaks to become a school which truly celebrates active and responsible young people equipped to thrive in the world of tomorrow. Fostering intellectual curiosity in every individual is at the heart of teaching and learning at Radnor House Sevenoaks. The school offers academic excellence and tailor-made, individual support in the classroom, in the sports arena and throughout an extensive co-curricular programme. This personal approach to the needs of each student is central to Radnor and at the heart of all strategic planning and decision making. Radnor House Sevenoaks challenges the idea of limits in all areas of student development and its pastoral care is second to none. The result of this provision is confident, articulate and caring pupils who will be perfectly placed for high levels of achievement whatever their chosen path. This vision is underpinned by four values:  

Excellence – Perseverance – Courage – Respect 

  • Excellence: To expect the very best of ourselves in everything we put our hand to. Excellence is a habit. 
  • Perseverance: To pursue the difficult meaningful goal with rigour and passion.
  • Courage: To always do the right thing, not the easy thing. To be proud of one’s decisions. 
  • Respect: To treat others as we would expect to be treated ourselves. 

The values of Radnor House Sevenoaks permeate every aspect of school life.  

They are celebrated in assemblies and delivered in lessons and the wider curriculum. These values will serve as the guiding principles for young people after they leave school. In addition, the values underpin the strategic human resource function and colleagues are encouraged to live the values throughout their working career in the form of an extensive professional development. 

Beyond the Curriculum 

Learning at Radnor House Sevenoaks is not restricted to the classroom and pupils benefit from an extensive range of co-curricular activities designed to engage, broaden and test students both mentally and physically. Curriculum enrichment activities at Radnor House Sevenoaks include coding, sport, debating, film studies, photography, and Performing Arts and pupils additionally often participate in external events such as Young Enterprise, The Duke of Edinburgh Award, Maths Challenge and Young Engineers. 

Our Staff Community  

We have a staff community of 150 highly dedicated staff that work together to achieve the best for our pupils.  

This is a key leadership role for the school managing the operational and support team who work to ensure we provide an active learning environment for all, not only our pupils but also for staff. We are vibrant and growing community who celebrate each individual and the role they play in the school community. 

The role

Director of Finance and Operations (AQ2525)

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Overview  

Everyone who works at Radnor House Sevenoaks, regardless of their role, plays a part in helping make the school the dynamic place that it is. Everyone works together, sharing ideas, responsibilities and ambitions for the school.   

This role, which is the most senior support staff position in the school, is an important strategic appointment. The Director of Finance and Operations will be closely involved in the school’s strategic planning and the delivery of its operational excellence. 

The Director of Finance and Operations reports directly to the Head and, as a member of the School Leadership Team (SLT), they are responsible for the major functions of Finance, HR, Estates, IT, Catering, Transport and external commercial programmes.  

Key areas of responsibility: 

  • Manage the financial performance of the school to achieve financial targets and agreed KPI’s. 
  • Manage all capital projects ensuring they are delivered on time, to budget and deliver quality. 
  • Ensure compliance with employment law and Keeping Children Safe in Education.
  • Oversee the procurement and management of IT services. 
  • Oversee data protection, compliance and risk management.
  • Work within the framework provided by the school’s policy statements to fulfil the general aims and objectives of Radnor House Sevenoaks.

Strategic Management 

  • The Director of Finance and Operations will play a major role in the school’s strategic direction, working with the Head to implement and evaluate the School Strategic Development Plan and ensure strong financial management.  

Operational Management 

  • To effectively manage the School’s finances ensuring that timely and accurate financial information including a financial forecast, cash flow projections, an annual budget, and monthly management accounts are provided to the Board of Directors.
  • To ensure that an annual programme of capital expenditure is developed and implemented that provides on-going improvement to the estate together with a rolling replacement programme, and to prepare financial appraisals of capital projects.  
  • To develop and implement systems for cost control and to work with budget-holders to assist them in effective management of allocated budgets. 
  • To ensure that the statutory accounts are properly prepared, audited and presented to the Board of Directors for approval each year. 
  • With the Estates Manager to provide oversight of all aspects of the site including maintenance, security, grounds and facilities to lead on developing and implementing the school’s environmental sustainability strategy. 
  • To work closely with the Head and Directors to ensure the overall site development plan is aligned to financial planning and the school’s aims and vision. 
  • To provide effective contract management, ensuring that the award of all operational contracts to external suppliers is handled appropriately and offers excellent value for money. 
  • To oversee the school’s risk management register, and policies and procedures for compliance with Health & Safety, Independent School Standard Regulations. 
  • With the HR Manager oversee safer recruitment, terms and conditions, employment, welfare and overall management of support staff. 
  • To oversee IT provision within the School and, in consultation with the Head, to support the school’s digital strategy, ensure GDPR compliance; the DFO is currently the school’s Privacy Officer and is responsible for compliance and best practice in this area. 

About You  

We are looking for an energetic and forward-thinking colleague with significant experience leading support functions within a School environment or a similar role. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to lead well-resourced and highly collaborative teams. 

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of leadership, with significant experience in implementing strategic change in an independent school or commercial organisation. 

Candidates will have a strong knowledge of financial management, ideally with a professional qualification, and experience of budgeting, forecasting and strategic business planning. 

You will demonstrate the following: 

  • Demonstrable excellence in project management. 
  • Clear understanding of, and a desire to achieve, excellence in all areas of a school’s support functions.  
  • Experience of building successful relationships. 
  • Inspiring and collaborative leadership and/or management.  
  • Ability to build and lead strong and committed teams.  
  • Ability to promote good working relationships across teams.  
  • A strong moral compass and personal ethos fitting with that of the School.  
  • High level of personal and professional integrity. 
  • Energetic, dynamic and unflappable; excellent time management and the ability to ‘get the job done’. 

Qualifications:  

A degree or equivalent or can demonstrate business acumen and experience from previous roles.  Further professional qualifications in a related field would be preferred (e.g. ACA, CMgr, CIPD). 

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Terms of appointment

The school offers a competitive salary range. 

Our professional team at Radnor House Sevenoaks is one of our greatest assets, and we want to ensure that everyone is supported to work in an effective, enjoyable and fulfilling way. Staff are welcome to use our range of outstanding facilities including the gym and onsite parking, we also offer a complimentary lunch.  

Other benefits include:  

  • Enhanced pension provision with Scottish Widows  
  • 85% fee remission (subject to satisfying the admissions criteria) 
  • Octopus Electric Vehicles Salary Sacrifices Scheme  
  • Paid professional memberships.  
  • Life Assurance  
  • Income Protection

This is a full-term time role, with 25 days holiday, plus bank holiday and Christmas closure. 

Radnor House Sevenoaks is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. 

How to apply

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to Radnor House Sevenoaks. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to public advertisements. 

Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact our advising consultant at Anderson Quigley: Hayley Mintern at hayley.mintern@andersonquigley.com, or +44 (0)7596 954 387 or Phil Gifford at phil.gifford@andersonquigley.com, or +44 (0)7743 936 121. 

The closing date for applications is noon on March 17, 2024. 

Applications should consist of: 

  • A CV. 
  • A covering letter setting out your interest in the role and details of how you match the criteria outlined in the person criteria. 

Please include details of two referees in either your application or cover letter. Note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent, and only should you be successful in the recruitment process. 

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