Job Title / Vice Principal – Finance and Resource
Department / Executive
Reporting to / Principal & Chief Executive
Salary / £65,000 - £75,000 per annum
Location/Hours / 37 hours per week/full year basis (Macclesfield, Cheshire)
Disclosure Barring Check Level / Enhanced Disclosure Barring Checks – Children & Adults
Pension Scheme / Local Government Pension Scheme
Introduction and Job Purpose
To provide financial information and advice which effectively supports decision making across the organization with accurate forecasting and effective financial and management controls which support managers without inhibiting growth.
To provide the teaching staff, managers and other staff of the College with an effective support structure that supports them in the day to work with clients and the learners.
To ensure that the College’s financial and other assets are managed and developed in a prudent and financially secure way, meeting all regulatory and grant funding requirements placed on the organisation.
To have line management responsibility for the following areas and staff:
- Finance
- Estates
- Management Information Systems and its related teams including IT
Key Accountabilities
1.Work closely with the Principal and other senior staff to formulate corporate goals and objectives by taking a lead role in the strategic management of the College and the achievement of corporate goals and objectives as set out in the College’s Strategic Planwithin the areas of management responsibility identified above.
2.To take the lead in the formulation of a short term, mid-term and long-term financial strategy, producing a robust framework and plan which ensures the financial viability and integrity of the College. This will require the post holder to implement appropriate systems to monitor the plan and remedy variances effectively in good time.
3. To deputise for the Principal and Chief Executive as when and required
4.To represent the College at a strategic level in a wide variety of contexts, especially those relating to funding and in dealings with regulatory and governmental agencies, third parties and as well as internally, Examples of this responsibility will include active participation at SMT/CMT meetings, acting as lead negotiator on funding negotiations with the LEP, local authorities, EFA, the SFA and others to ensure the College bids and receives the maximum income settlements available.
5.Leading and controlling the financial aspects of capital projects, working with managers across the College to ensure that builds/developments are delivered on time and on budget.
6.To ensure that the functions allocated to this post make a positive impact on the College’s core business and enables the College to extend its reach and influence in the education marketplace.
7.To manage the functions allocated with close attention to best value across all activities including property assets, developments and acquisitions/disposals,
to generate throughout the College a focus on income diversification and profit improvement by identifying and exploiting funding opportunities and cost reduction/efficiency improvements.
8.To work closely with staff across the College to produce an effective debt reduction strategy as the need arises.
9.To develop and implement in partnership with the Principal and Vice Principal Curriculum, curriculum business planning strategies and processes to ensure the College maximises funding potential and staff utilisation and meets both financial and quality targets.
10.To ensure a suitable system of budgeting and forecasting exists and maintained, with budgets devolved to the lowest level commensurate with organisational goals.
To support the development and production of a detailed business plan for each team within the college which supports the College’s Strategic Plan monitoring performance against plans and budgets and taking appropriate action to ensure that the agreed objectives are achieved within allocated resources
11.To continually reappraise College progress towards planned outcomes and modelling forward the impact of potential changes on the College’s plans and financial integrity implement actions that will mitigate the adverse impact of variance against budgets or targets
12.To manage allocated teams in a professional manner.
To ensure that the functions allocated to the team’s line managed by this role provide the College’s teaching staff and students with facilities and support services which properly support the College in its goal to become and remain an outstanding provider of education.
13.To ensure that the Corporation, its sub-committees, Governors and all College users are properly supported by the provision of timely, accurate, effective and meaningful information presented in a clear and coherent way to ensure that all College reporting systems are able to meet the needs of all users
14.To enhance and maintain the College’s risk management. Strategy and systems
15.To ensure that the College’s cash flow is maintained at viable levels to support the business effectively and develop and implement appropriate policies to ensure that cash in hand is able to support day to day requirements
16.To ensure that the College prepares accurate and compliant accounts as required and that the College meets any obligations placed on it by its funders
17.To maintain, review and periodically update the College’s framework for financial management (Financial Regulations and Financial Administration Procedures) so they provide an effective framework for the organisation.
18.To work with the internal and external auditors to ensure that all college practices comply with the highest standards in the sector and beyond and lead to unqualified audit reports at all times.
19.To ensure that the following functions allocated to this post consistently support the business of the College and its learners at all times.
20.To make sure Management Information Services and Exams functions provide accurate timely information and ensuring that Students are properly managed in relation to examinations
21.To ensure the Administration function provides effective support to the students, staff and managers of the College.
22.To ensure the IT function provides a high quality and reliable IT infrastructure which protects College data and supports learners, staff and managers properly.
23.The Estates, resources and Health and Safety functions provide the right facilities and services to enable the College to excel in the provision of learning.
24.To ensure that all College Health and Safety compliance is adhered to and is in place.
25. People Management.
- This role has a wide brief and a responsibility to act as a role model for all staff under their direct control, promote good conduct, encourage effective communication and generate a sense of commitment and purpose amongst staff wherever they reside in the organisation.
- To ensure the College’s Procurement Officer ensures that the College’s procurement and purchasing policies are fully implemented and complied with.
- To ensure that the Learner Experience Team support and provide a consistently high quality and effective service that supports students, staff and managers.
- As with all other College roles the mission statement ‘Empowerment through Learning’ must be demonstrated along with all of our 7 values.
General duties applicable to all staff employed at the College:
All employees have a general duty in law to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Staff must understand and be committed to the College’s Health and Safety Policy statement and the College’s safety priorities and be aware of his/her contribution to such priorities. All staff are also required to be aware of and comply with the health and safety legislation and other College requirements that are relevant to his/her post.
Duty / Description
A / College policies / To undertake all duties and responsibilities in accordance with College policies, including Equal Opportunities; Data Protection; Health & Safety; Safeguarding; Professional Practice and Quality and Financial regulations. To report any concerns to the appropriate person
B / Training & professional development / To take full responsibility for your personal professional development and training
C / Performance appraisal / To participate in the College Performance Appraisal Development Programme; agree an action plan; and undertake the required training in order to continually update skills and meet the requirements of the College and Departmental Strategic Plans
D / Flexibility / To undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required, commensurate with your role, at your place of work or other College campus or premises
E / Probationary period / Probationary period 40 weeks.
It is the practice of the College to periodically examine employees’ job descriptions and to update them to ensure they relate to the job as then being performed, or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed. This procedure is jointly conducted by each manager with HR and those working directly to him/her. You are expected to participate fully in such discussion and, in connection with them, to re-write your job description to bring it up-to-date if this is considered necessary or desirable, and to discuss it with your line manager. It is the College’s aim to reach agreement on reasonable changes, but if agreement is not possible the College reserves the right to insist on changes to your job description after consultation with you.
Signed Date
Post Holder
Signed Date Line Manager
Details:
Job Title / Vice Principal Finance and Resource
Department / Executive
Education and Qualifications / Desirable / Essential / Assessment Methods(AF/QA/I/T)
Qualified Accountant
ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA/ICAEW / E / AF/QA
Management Qualification/MBA/Aspiring Principal’s qualification / D / AF/QA
Evidence of CPD / E / AF/QA
Experience and Knowledge / Desirable / Essential / Assessment Methods
(AF/QA/I/T)
Good understanding and experience of the functions that are the responsibility of this post supported by substantial experience in some. / E / AF/I
Understanding of Child and Vulnerable Adult protection (Safeguarding Agenda) and the willingness to increase knowledge / D / AF/I
Significant track record of applying business planning skills including the application of improvement techniques such as `Dashboard’ implementation. / E / AF/I
Significant experience of Enterprise Resource Planning (E P) systems allied to a good understanding of management of land, assets and estates. / E / AF/I
A good knowledge of the funding that applies to FE allied to some experience of negotiating and/or managing capital projects. / D / AF/I
A record of achievement at a senior level, including negotiating, recommending and leading change todrive improvements in performance at organisational level. / E / AF/I
Substantial experience of leading successful multi-disciplinary teams with high standard of outputs. / E / AF/I
Successful track record in financial planning, negotiating with external parties, debt management and income diversification. / E / AF/I
Successful experience in leading and managing complex projects. / E / AF/I
A track record of successful financial management of property and assets / E / AF/I
Experience of working within the FE sector at a senior level and managing Good/Outstanding financial health for that organisation / D / AF/I
Experience of working and negotiating with internal and external auditors to improve and develop processes in a College/organisation / E / I
Characteristics / Desirable / Essential / Assessment Methods
(AF/QA/I/T)
Think analytically, plan strategically with a clear positive vision and be able to act and/or persuade others to deliver visionquickly. / E / AF/I/T
Innovate and respond flexibly and creatively to new challenges and opportunities / E / AF/I
Strong communicator both in verbal and written form with the ability to present complex information to a wide variety of stakeholders effectively. / E / AF/I/T
Able to develop effective working relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders. / E / AF/I
Ability to grasp and quickly understand new information and systems especially funding programmes. / E / I/T
Able to delegate effectively and manage other managers in a way that motivates and engages. / E / I/T
Ability to create and present reports both verbally and in written form to the Corporation, the Principal the executive team and a variety of stakeholders. / E / AF/QA/I/T
Other / Desirable / Essential / Assessment Methods
(AF/QA/I/T)
Capacity to work hard under sustained pressure and deliver desired outcomes within timescales and deadlines. / E / AF/I/T
Ability to work effectively as a team member. / E / AF/I
High level of personal integrity and confidentiality. / E / AF/I
Strong focus on attention to detail. / E / AF/I
Committed to the values and mission of the College / E / AF/I
Has the flexibility to travel across a wide geographical area / D / AF/I
Knowledge of equality and diversity, health and safety and safeguarding issues, or willingness to undergo training to be able to contribute effectively to College programmes / E / AF/I
AF = Application Form
QA = Qualification Audit
I = Interview
T= Task
College Mission - ‘Empowerment through learning’