Director of Finance and Operations – New Hall School

Salary: In the region of £100,000-£115,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.

New Hall School is a thriving co-educational boarding and day school for up to 1,500 students aged 1 to 19. Founded in 1642, it is the largest Catholic boarding and day school in the UK. Located just outside Chelmsford city centre and well connected to London, it is set in 70 acres of stunning parkland and heritage gardens, dominated by the former Tudor Palace of Beaulieu.

Pioneering since its foundation, New Hall has continued to innovate under the dynamic leadership of the Principal, Mrs Katherine Jeffrey – establishing the New Hall Multi Academy Trust (NHMAT) and becoming sponsor of nearby Messing Primary School in 2012; and acquiring an additional 70-acre site in 2023.

New Hall is now seeking to appoint a highly motivated Director of Finance & Operations. The successful candidate will be a qualified accountant with a proven track record of senior leadership and strategic financial capability in a complex environment. The DFO is a pivotal member of the Senior Leadership & Management Team and reports to the Principal.

The DFO will manage the School’s finances and be responsible for the effective and efficient use of its resources. The School has ambitious plans for the future and excellent financial leadership will be vital to achieving this. In addition, the DFO will have oversight of IT, catering, housekeeping, security, transport and commercial activities. They will possess impressive financial acumen, enjoy working collaboratively and have the experience and skills to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced working environment. Outstanding relationship-building and communication skills coupled with robust commercial judgement will be essential.

Prior experience in the education sector would be beneficial but is not a prerequisite and applications are encouraged from candidates with commercial, charitable, private-sector and public-sector backgrounds. While the successful candidate is not required to be Catholic, they will have a commitment to New Hall’s Catholic ethos and demonstrate empathy with independent education.

Interested candidates are invited to contact RSAcademics to arrange an informal and confidential discussion about the role: 

Susannah Thompson, Search Consultant: susannahthompson@rsacademics.com

The closing date for applications is 10.00am on Monday 25 November 2024. 

Applications should be made electronically to RSAcademics. To submit your application, please click on “Apply Now” on the right side of this webpage and upload your documents according to the instructions provided.

You should submit:

• A completed application form.
• A covering letter addressed to the Principal, Mrs Katherine Jeffrey. The letter should be a maximum of two pages and should explain your reasons for applying and outline your suitability for the role.

If you have any questions about uploading your documents please contact Laura Beacon, Project Coordinator (Appointments), at applications@rsacademics.com. Laura can also be reached by calling our Head Office on +44 (0)1858 383163.

New Hall School is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children; applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

The safeguarding responsibilities of this post are detailed in the candidate information brochure.

RSAcademics is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to promoting diversity and inclusion in schools.