Director of Finance and Operations – Royal Grammar School Guildford

Located in the historic town of Guildford, the Royal Grammar School (the RGS) is regarded as one of the leading boys’ schools in the country, educating some 1,320 students.

Under the ambitious leadership of Dr Jon Cox, the RGS combines 500 years of tradition and heritage with constant innovation to offer an education that is bold, creative and forward-looking. Over the last ten years, the RGS has extended its reputation for exceptional education overseas with the establishment of four first class schools with partners in Dubai, Oman, Qatar and China.

Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer (CS0) and a key member of the Executive Team, the Director of Finance and Operations will work collaboratively with the Governors, Headmaster and CSO to shape and deliver the school’s financial, operational and commercial strategy. This role will be integral to sustaining the ongoing success and commercial development of the RGS and ensuring operational excellence across finance, estates and facilities, IT and commercial activities.

The successful candidate will have outstanding commercial acumen, proven leadership capabilities, strong communication skills, and demonstrable experience of managing diverse resources and teams. Whilst a formal accounting qualification is not required, exceptional financial acumen and a track record of financial control will be essential.

Prior experience in the education sector is not a prerequisite and applications are encouraged from a broad range of sectors.

Interested candidates are invited to contact RSAcademics to arrange a confidential discussion about the role: 

Susannah Thompson: susannahthompson@rsacademics.com 

Nina Lambert: ninalambert@rsacademics.com  

The closing date for applications is 10.00am on Monday 7th October 2024. 

To submit your application, please complete an electronic application form, the link for which is available here. 

You will be prompted to upload a covering letter along with your electronic application form. This should be addressed to the Headmaster, Dr Jon Cox. 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 application documents, please contact Jonathan Barnes, Head of Operations (Leadership Appointments), at applications@rsacademics.com. Jonathan can also be reached by calling our Head Office on +44 (0)1858 383163.

RGS Guildford 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 

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 the role are indicated in the candidate information.  

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