Chief Financial Officer / Bursar and Clerk to the Board

New Model School operates two successful independent primary schools in London. The two schools (Maple Walk in London NW10 and Faraday in London E14) aim to provide an affordable but excellent and rounded education for approximately 300 boys and girls aged 4-11. Pupils typically leave the schools to continue their education at some of the leading independent senior schools or good local state schools.

New Model School now seeks a new CFO / Bursar and Clerk to the Board –likely to be a qualified accountant (or someone with similar financial experience and training) to join the senior leadership team, reporting into the CEO alongside the Heads of the two schools. 

Based in a small office in West London. with responsibility for finance, banking and treasury, estates and facilities, health & safety, ICT and data administration, disaster recovery, insurance, regulatory compliance and data protection.

The company has a not for profit ethos and has been well managed financially in recent years to make sure that costs are controlled and managed accordingly.

Job details

This CFO/Bursar and Clerk role is effectively a “Deputy CEO” , reporting into the CEO of the group as line manager, with additional Clerk to the Board duties.

The post-holder will be a senior leader in a close knit community with many different stakeholders, responsible most importantly for the financial health of the group including financial control, KPIs and management information, budgeting and forecasting, financial statements and liaison with auditors, banks and a broad range of colleagues.

The role holder will also play a key support role to and deputise for the CEO of the group, across the entire business of the schools and the company.

This role will include direct line management of the Sites / Estates Manager and the Assistant Accountant, as well as liaising with and managing the relationship with the external outsourced IT support company.

This role is permanent and full time, although there is potential flexibility for some home working once established in the role, subject to agreement with the CEO.

This role will require regular travel to the individual schools. This role will also, on occasions, require attendance at meetings which may be scheduled outside of normal working hours (eg an evening meeting with the Board of Directors and Advisors).

Skills required

•         Qualified accountant, management accountant or similar accepted training/qualification with business experience who appreciates the philanthropic vision of the company.

•         Strong planning and organisational skills, prepared to do day to day tasks as well as take on management responsibilities.

•         Ability to work efficiently and constructively within a small team

•         Experience of working in a similar role would be an advantage

•         Knowledge of Health and Safety requirements would be an advantage.

•         Experience of the education sector is helpful.

•         Have a good understanding of ICT systems/packages especially Xero and Excel.

•         Ability to use initiative to improve systems, interpret and analyse data

•         Willingness to undergo training as required.

How to apply

Candidates potentially interested in applying are encouraged in the first instance to send a copy of their CV including contact details to [email removed - click apply for more details], and they should also indicate their salary expectations at this stage.

Early applications are encouraged, and the company reserves applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

New Model Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

NOTE No applications will be considered unless there is a clear and concise covering note explaining why this role appeals and why you feel that you are a strong candidate for this opportunity. In particular candidates will need to convey and convince that they are sufficiently aware of the delights and the demands of working in a schools/education environment.

(Prior experience of working within education is desirable but not essential, and strong candidates will be considered if they can explain concisely why they are keen to move into a role in the education sector)