Foundation Director of Finance – Warwick Schools Foundation

The Warwick Schools Foundation (The Foundation) is seeking to appoint an exceptional Director of Finance to provide strategic leadership and operational delivery of the finance function.

The Foundation proudly educates girls and boys aged 3 – 18 years and is one of the largest independent school charities in the country, with some 2,900 pupils and over 1,200 staff. The Foundation’s historic schools are Warwick Preparatory School, King’s High School, Warwick Junior School and Warwick School, which are located on the Foundation’s beautiful 55-acre site in Warwick. In 2021, The Kingsley School, Royal Leamington Spa joined the family of schools. Focused entirely on ensuring pupils have the most exceptional of educational opportunities, the Foundation is ambitious and forward thinking with the aim for its schools, individually and collectively, to be recognised as the most vibrant and exciting in the UK.

Reporting to the Foundation Bursar and a key member of the Professional Services Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Finance will work in close partnership with the Foundation Principal, the five Heads and Directors of Professional Services and will lead a large, highly skilled team responsible for all financial operations within and across the Schools, central charity and commercial operations. They will play a critical role in helping to deliver the Foundation’s strategic plan and capital development programme through excellent financial planning and efficient use of resources whilst seeking out and pursuing opportunities for effective treasury management and income generation.

The successful candidate will bring rigour and professionalism to the financial practices across the Foundation and will demonstrate proven ability in senior leadership and financial control within complex organisations, managing people and resources effectively, delivering results and inspiring and motivating others. They will need to demonstrate high energy, the ability to think and communicate with clarity, with the facility to execute efficiencies and improvement initiatives that will drive the Foundation’s financial success.

Prior experience in the education sector is not a prerequisite and applications are encouraged from professionally qualified candidates with commercial, charitable, private-sector and public-sector backgrounds.

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

Nina Lambert, Head of Bursar Search: ninalambert@rsacademics.com 

The closing date for applications is 10.00am on Monday 24^th June 2024.  

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

You should submit:   

• A completed application form
• A covering letter addressed to the Foundation Bursar, Mrs Victoria Espley. 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.    

The Warwick Schools Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 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.