Bursar (Chief Finance and Operating Officer) – Bishop’s Stortford College

Bishop’s Stortford College is a leading co-educational day and boarding school with 1,250 pupils aged 3 to 18. The College consists of three schools, Senior, Prep and Pre-Prep all located on a beautiful 130 acre site on the western fringe of the historic market town of Bishop’s Stortford. 27 miles north of central London and 23 miles south of Cambridge, road, rail and air networks are all excellent. 

The College is seeking to appoint an ambitious, dynamic and commercially driven Bursar to this critical leadership position. The postholder will act as the College’s commercial adviser to improve its competitive position and build a successful and financially sustainable future whilst delivering operational capability and an ambitious Estates Master Plan.     

Reporting to the College Headmaster, the Bursar will lead the College Professional Services team and as a key member of the Executive, will play a vital role in the College’s strategic planning. With responsibility for Finance, HR, Facilities and Estates, IT and Commercial activities, candidates will be able to demonstrate proven ability in executive leadership, strategic planning and operational delivery within large complex environments. Whilst a formal accounting qualification is not required, they will be a strategic thinker with exceptional financial and commercial acumen. An outstanding communicator and collaborative senior leader, they will need to demonstrate energy, creativity and agile thinking, coupled with the ability to execute initiatives and projects that will drive the College’s success.

Prior experience in the education sector is not required and applications are encouraged from candidates with commercial, charitable, private-sector and public-sector backgrounds.  Candidates will demonstrate empathy with independent education and commitment to the College’s aims and objectives.

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

The closing date for applications is 10am on Monday 17th February 2025

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 College Headmaster, Mr John Maguire. 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.

Bishop’s Stortford College is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage/civil partnerships. 

Bishop’s Stortford College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff 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. 

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

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.

Bursar (Chief Operating Officer) – Bromsgrove School

Bromsgrove School is an ancient institution but a large and modern educational force. Founded in 1553, it is now one of the largest co-ed independent day and boarding schools in the country. There are over 2,000 pupils, including 600 boarders, across four schools: Bromsgrove Senior School, Bromsgrove Prep, Bromsgrove Pre-Prep and Nursery, and Winterfold School, a prep school and nursery which merged with Bromsgrove in 2016. Bromsgrove was in the vanguard of international expansion with franchises in Thailand and China to which it now plans to add further, as well as its own International Summer School and boarders from across the world.

International success and growth in pupil numbers has enabled significant development in recent years which means Bromsgrove now has the performance, facilities and size to compete with the best. The new Bursar will work with the Executive and Governors to ensure this progress and innovation continues.

With responsibility for the School’s finance, estates, operations, HR, IT, transport, compliance, catering and commercial activities, the Bursar will lead a team of 450 support staff. As a key member of the Executive, they will shape and lead the next phase of the School’s development to ensure its financial and commercial success. An outstanding communicator, they will need to demonstrate compassion and the ability to quickly win the respect and trust of a very large School community.  

Candidates will be able to demonstrate proven ability in executive leadership and financial control, balancing the needs and challenges of large complex organisations, managing resources, delivering results, thinking strategically, and inspiring and motivating high functioning teams.  A strong skill set including finance, strategic planning and execution, and operational delivery is required.

Prior experience in the education sector is not a prerequisite and applications are encouraged from candidates with commercial, charitable, private-sector and public-sector backgrounds. The successful candidate must, however, be sympathetic to Bromsgrove’s distinctive values and ethos and have an understanding of the provision of excellent co-ed boarding and day education.

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

Hannah Freestone-Smith: hannahfreestone-smith@rsacademics.com 

Nine Lambert: ninalambert@rsacademics.com 

The closing date for applications is 10.00am on Monday 24 February 2025.

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 Headmaster, Mr Michael Punt. 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.

Bromsgrove School 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).

Bromsgrove School is also committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

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.

Chief Operating Officer – Shiplake College

Shiplake College is a thriving independent co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 11 -18. The College occupies a beautiful 63-acre rural site overlooking the River Thames, located just outside Henley-on-Thames, in South Oxfordshire. Shiplake has expanded steadily in recent years, growing from 470 pupils in 2019 to 540 at present and has aspirations to grow further to 600. Co-educational in the Sixth Form since 1998, the College started taking girls in year 7 in September 2023 and will be fully co-educational by 2027. 

Building upon Shiplake’s recent successful growth, this is an exciting opportunity for a strategic visionary to work collaboratively with the Governors, Head and Senior Management Team (SMT) to plan and deliver the College’s strategic business plan. With responsibility for the finance, estates, IT, operations, compliance and commercial activities, candidates will be able to demonstrate proven ability in senior leadership and financial control, strategic planning and operational delivery within large complex organisations.  

The COO will lead a team of 90 staff and as a key member of the SMT, will deliver and manage change to ensure the School’s financial and commercial success. They will be a visible and empathetic leader with excellent interpersonal and people-management skills, capable of inspiring and motivating high functioning teams. A strong skill set including finance, strategic planning and execution, and operational delivery is required. The COO will demonstrate commercial acumen, coupled with first-rate analytical and business skills.    

Prior experience in the education sector is not a prerequisite and applications are encouraged from candidates with commercial, charitable, private-sector and public-sector backgrounds. The successful candidate will, however, demonstrate empathy with independent education and commitment to Shiplake College’s ethos and values.  

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

Hannah Freestone-Smith: hannahfreestone-smith@rsacademics.com 

Nina Lambert: ninalambert@rsacademics.com 

The closing date for applications is 10.00am on Monday 27th January 2025.

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 Headmaster, Mr Tyrone Howe. 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.

Shiplake College 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). Shiplake College is also committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

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.

Director of Finance and Operations – Finton House School

Finton House is an outstanding independent non-selective prep school for 340 boys and girls aged 4-11. Located near Wandsworth Common in South West London, the founding principles of the school are that there should be no academic selection for entry into Reception and the provision of an inclusive environment where all children, including those with special educational needs, have the same opportunities. The school motto of “Open Hearts and Guiding Hands” engenders a very special ethos. Finton is thriving with a full pupil roll and a healthy financial position.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in the continued success and development of this ambitious independent school.

Reporting to the Headmaster, the DFO is a critical member of the Senior Leadership Team and will help shape and deliver the school’s strategic vision. They will provide strong leadership to a diverse team of finance and operations staff and areas of responsibility include finance, buildings and facilities, IT, health and safety, catering, transport and commercial activities. The DFO role is wide ranging, stimulating, and rewarding.

The successful candidate will be an individual with proven leadership ability; a strategic thinker who possesses outstanding interpersonal and communication skills. Whilst a formal accounting qualification is not required, excellent financial acumen and robust commercial judgement will be essential, as will an ability to establish highly effective, collaborative working relationships with the Headmaster, Governors and colleagues at all levels. 

Prior experience in the education sector is not a prerequisite and applications are encouraged from a broad range of sectors. The successful candidate will, however, demonstrate empathy with independent education and commitment to Finton House’s ethos and values.

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

Susannah Thompson: susannahthompson@rsacademics.com  

The closing date for applications is 10.00am on Wednesday 29th January 2025.   

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 the following (both in PDF format):

  • a completed application form 
  • a covering letter addressed to the Headmaster, Mr Ben Freeman. 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 Laura Beacon, Project Coordinator at applications@rsacademics.com. Laura can also be reached by calling our Head Office on +44 (0)1858 383163.

Finton House 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 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.