JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:School Accountant

Responsible to:The Bursar

The role of the School Accountant is to manage the provision of the financial information to the School, this role requires a CCAB/CIMA qualified accountant.

The post holder will be personable, credible and confident and able to work cross functionally with non-finance senior management. The role will encompass all areas of accounting from financial accounting to forecasting and include specific project work.

The post holder will have a good knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook and computerised accounting/administration systems. Experience of working in a confidential environment is paramount to this role due to the many & varied financial matters dealt with.

MAIN DUTIES

  • Responsible for all Finance and Accounting functions for the School and its subsidiary Bredon School Enterprises Ltd
  • Manage the accounting of the School and its subsidiary companies, ensuring they are prepared in accordance with statutory obligations, current accounting standards and guidelines
  • Act as line manager to the Finance Assistant
  • Preparation and presentation of financial statements to Final Accounts and managing the associated audit
  • Working with the Bursar, preparation, presentation, monitoring and evaluation of all budgets
  • Working with the Bursar, preparation and presentation of anticipated future financial performance of the School including sensitivity analysis and risk planning
  • Preparation and presentation of termly I&E and written report with analysis of performance against budget and prior year
  • Preparation and presentation of cost analysis and final outcomes of individual major and minor projects
  • Preparation of monthly management accounts
  • Management of all accounting ledgers including billing, purchase, sales, nominal, and fixed assets
  • Monthly reconciliation of bank accounts and petty cash
  • Identifying and subsequently initiating efficiency savings
  • Control of cash flow and presentation of anticipated future cash flow
  • Preparation, presentation, monitoring and evaluation of financial aspects of the school’s trading subsidiary
  • Submitting all third party surveys and submissions and ensuring compliance with all current accounting standards as well as HMRC, and Companies House
  • Debt collection in conjunction with the Bursar
  • Working as directed by the Bursar

Generic Accountabilities

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified. The duties outlined above are not intended as a restrictive list and may be extended or altered to include other tasks that are commensurate with the grade as directed by the Headmaster, Bursar or Group FD.

Safeguarding Children

In accordance with the school’s commitment to adhere to the Department for Education’s Keeping Children Safe in Education and all other relevant guidance and legislation in respect of safeguarding children, the School Accountant will be required to demonstrate your commitment to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people in the school.

Confidentiality

During the course of employment the School Accountant will have access to information of a confidential nature. Under no circumstances may this information be divulged or passed on to any unauthorised person or organisation.

Data Protection

During the course of employment, the School Accountant will have access to data and personal information that must be processed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Data Protection Act 1984 and properly applied to pupil, staff and school business/information.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Person Specification

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

Essential / Desirable / Method of Assessment
Qualifications /  educated to degree level or equivalent.
 accountancy qualification CCAB/CIMA/AAT Level 4 /  relevant IT Qualifications / Production of the applicant’s certificates
Experience /  managing finances in a similar organisation, reporting to Senior Management / Contents of the Application Form. Interview Professional references
Skills /  strong IT skills
 excellent communicator
 good social skills
 accuracy and attention to detail
 good organiser
 decision making
 discretion
 confidentiality
 effective time management/prioritising  excellent telephone manner / Contents of the Application Form Interview Performance Professional references
Knowledge /  of independent schools
 educational knowledge/systems / Contents of the Application Form Interview Professional references
Personal competencies and qualities /  motivation to work with children and young people.
 ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people.
 ability to communicate with people of all ages.
 flexible approach
 team player
 resourceful
 self-reliant / Contents of the Application Form Interview Professional references

APPOINTMENT PARTICULARS

INTRODUCTION

Bredon School is an independent day and boarding school for both boys and girls and was founded in 1962. Since then the school has continued to develop and expand, and presently has 250 pupils, with approximately half boarding. The school has the benefit of being situated in rural surroundings some 5 miles north of Tewkesbury and 4 miles south of Upton-upon-Severn.

Bredon School is a vibrant and challenging co-educational boarding and day school which truly opens the minds and hearts of its pupils, teachers, parents and all other members of its community. We believe that full co-education provides an ideal environment for both boys and girls in which to learn and to develop into rounded and balanced adults. The school is small enough for each pupil to be known as an individual and a distinctive human being.

Most of the boarders remain at the school at the weekends. Those who are not full boarders are weekly-boarders. There is a strong family atmosphere, with a fundamental belief that the way the children spend their time outside the classroom is as important as the time spent within it. The school seeks to find and foster each child’s strengths, and all are equally valued as much as any other member of the community.

THE SCHOOL

The school offers an unusually broad range of vocational courses, so that every child can be engaged whatever their talent or ability, from Business Studies and Media Studies, to those teaching metalwork and cookery, or agricultural and horticultural skills on the Bredon School Farm.

In December 2014, Bredon School announced that it had became part of Cavendish Education Limited, a privately owned schools operator, giving the School access to much greater financial and educational resources.

Over recent years, a variety of improvement works have been completed, including the major new building for the Junior School, with a new Reception/Key Stage 1 classroom, a new Sixth Form Centre, a new sports classroom pavilion with changing facilities and a new climbing wall.

VISION FOR BREDON SCHOOL

Bredon is a small, family school that genuinely focuses on the individual; ensuring each pupil reaches his or her personal potential and destination by way of a rich and diverse journey, based on breadth or opportunity, support and continuously striving toward excellence. This vision will be achieved through the underpinning principals and values of respect, tolerance and hard work within a happy environment where all individuals have equal worth.

AIM

Bredon School meets the needs of each individual by providing a unique education both within the classroom and beyond.

We aim to:

  1. Recognise and develop potential through breadth of opportunity and the rewarding of achievement
  2. Develop self-esteem and confidence in a happy and supportive environment
  3. Ensure everyone acts with courtesy; consideration and respect towards others at all times
  4. Maintain strong partnership between home and school
  5. Provide the pupils with dedicated, professional, caring staff.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

Start Date:March 2016 or sooner

Remuneration:The salary will be subject to discussion and negotiation with the successful candidate but will be up to £35k per annum (negotiable), Grade F.

Hours of work:The School Accountant will be expected to work such hours as shall be necessary to discharge his/her duties efficiently and conscientiously, to devote the whole of his/her working time and attention to the affairs of the School, and shall not undertake any extraneous activities which might interfere with the efficient discharge of his/her duties. The basic hours of work will be 9:00am-5.00pm (including a half hour unpaid lunch) 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday, 52 weeks of the year. Flexibility about the working hours is required as the workload is not uniform throughout the year.

Holiday Entitlement: The School holiday year runs from 1st September to 31st August. The School Accountant is entitled to pro rata 20 days annual leave plus the usual Public Bank Holidays, rising by one day’s annual leave for each year of service to a maximum of 25 days plus Public Bank Holidays. However, Bank Holidays occurring during term time are considered to be normal working days. All leave must be taken in the School holidays by prior arrangement with the Headmaster.

Probation and Notice Periods: The first three months of employment will be a probationary period. During this period performance and conduct will be monitored. The School may extend the probationary period at its discretion.

Employment may be terminated, during the first month of service, by either party giving to the other no less than one week’s notice in writing, thereafter up until successful completion of the probationary period, employment may be terminated by either party giving to the other not less than one month’s notice in writing. On successful completion of the probationary period a term’s notice in writing expiring at the end of any School term, being 31 December, 31 March and 31 August. After satisfactory completion of the first year in the appointment the notice period will be extended to two terms, the same dates applying. The School Accountant’s employment will be terminated immediately in the event of dismissal for misconduct or other good and urgent causes.

Pension Scheme: Onsuccessful completion of three monthsthe School Accountant will be automatically enrolled into our workplace pension scheme. Both you and Bredon School will pay contributions into it every pay period, and the government will also contribute through tax relief. You will contribute 1% of your earnings, Bredon School will contribute 2% of your earnings.

Sick Pay:The School Accountant shall be entitled to three months at full salary pay, six weeks at half salary pay, with the remaining weeks, up to a maximum of 28 weeks to be paid at the Statutory Sick Pay rate.

Applications

Only applications submitted on the School Application Form with an accompanying letter will be considered; CV’s can be enclosed as an additional document. Applications to:

Tammy Leggetter

Personnel Department

Bredon School

Pull Court

Bushley

Tewkesbury

Gloucestershire

GL20 6AH, UK

Email:

Please visit our website on for further information about the school.

Closing date for the receipt of Applications forms: 12 noon, Wednesday 13th January 2016

1st Interviews to be held week commencing 18th January 2016

Bredon School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, along with their protection applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.

Bredon School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. We aim to be a fair employer and are committed to equal opportunities. Bredon School does not discriminate against employees on the basis of gender, ethnic origin, disability or age.