The Latymer School

The Latymer School

Business Manager

Candidate Information

October 2016

Contents:Page:

Letter from the Headteacher3

The Business Manager role at The Latymer School4

Results 2015 - 164

The Latymer Senior Leadership Team5

Business Manager – Information about the Post and Job Description5

Person Specification8

How to Apply9

September 2016

Dear Candidate

I am delighted to write to you to thank you for your interest in the Business Manager post at our school.

The Latymer School is a high achieving, selective grammar school with a great tradition of success; we aim to provide a first class education for all our students. In 2015-16 our GCSE results were outstanding with 42% of grades A* and 82% A*/A. At A level 58.6% of grades were A*/A and at AS 78% of grades were grade A/B, but we are always a school who strives to improve. We are, therefore, looking for someone who wants to work with and support bright and ambitious students.

The role of School Business Manager is a key post at the school. The successful candidate will be a full member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team and will play a significant part in setting the strategic direction of the school. As you are no doubt aware, there are many financial challenges facing schools and your work will have a direct impact on our students.

If you require any further information prior to making an application please contact me at the school.

We look forward to welcoming you to our community and look forward to receiving your application for the post. Further information can be found on our website

Yours sincerely

Maureen Cobbett

Headteacher

The Business Manager Role at The Latymer School

Latymer offers a diverse and stimulating working environment with both exceptional educators and pupils and highly committed support staff. However, schools are facing their greatest financial challenges and the Business Manager will be required to work alongside and advise the Headteacher and Governors on achieving a balanced budget which also allows us to continue to deliver the standard of education our parents and pupils expect.

Results 2015 - 2016

The Latymer School – Academic Results 2015-16

The academic results achieved by our pupils are as follows:

A2 Results

Achieved / National
% A* / 20.1 / 8.1
% A* - A / 58.6 / 25.8
% A* - B / 87.8 / 52.9
% A* - C / 97.3 / 77.6

AS Results

Achieved / National
% A - A / 53.7 / 21.3
% A - B / 78.4 / 41.9
% A - C / 91.0 / 63.3

GCSE Results

Achieved / National
% A* / 42.0 / 6.5
% A* - A / 82.2 / 20.5
% A* - B / 96.1 / 41.9
% A* - C / 99.2 / 66.9

Examination Results in the Context of Wider Pupil Development

Latymer's strong academic record has been maintained and improved over many years and the role of the Business Manager will be to support and ensure that the delivery of a first class education can be maintained whilst securing the financial future of the school.

The Latymer School Senior Leadership Team

The team consists of the Headteacher, 3 Deputy Heads (Sixth Form,Curriculum,Teaching and Learning), and an Assistant Head (Care, Guidance and Support) and the Business Manager. Theteammeets twice a weekto, once todevelop the strategic direction of the school and the other meeting deals with operational issues.

Although each member of the team has specific areas of responsibility, theyarecollectively responsible for upholding the ethos of and delivering the aims oftheschool and its day to day management.

As the financial professional within the Leadership Team it will be your role to ensure that the school’s Improvement Plan can be implemented using the financial and operational resources available to us.

The Latymer School, in common with other State funded secondary schools, currently faces the pressure of a budget deficit. Consequently, we are looking to appoint an individual who can demonstrate the resilience and the ability to make challenging decisions working alongside the Headteacher and the Governing Body to ensure, in a measured and balanced way, that the quality and breadth of education being delivered is notcompromised.

Business Manager

Information about the post and Job Description

Start Date:1st December (or asap)

Salary:Starting salary dependent on experience, but likely to be between

55K and 60K

Hours:36 hours per week, 52 weeks per year

25 days leave (at times negotiated with the head teacher)

Post Title:Business Manager

Reports To:The Headteacher

Strategic Responsibility For:Finance; Human Resources; Facilities Management; Senior Leadership and Support; Administration; ICT

Our current bursar is moving to a similar post in the independent sector and his term of office ends on the last day of the Autumn Term, December 21st. Our hope is that the successor will be in post before that time to ensure an efficient hand over and induction.

Equality and Diversity:

We are committed to, and champion, equality and diversity in all aspects of employment with the school and the London Borough of Enfield. All employees are expected to understand and promote our Equality and Diversity Policy in the course of their work.

Purpose of the Post:

To work with other members of the Senior Leadership Team on the strategic development of the school
To provide financial information for the Headteacher and advise on financial strategy
To have leadership and management responsibility for staff in support roles including those in finance, facilities management, ICT, health and safety and HR
To liaise with the Office Manager to ensure that administrative support for the school community is fit for purpose
To establish, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of all financial systems, policies and procedures, reviewing and refining as necessary
To ensure that school strategies obtain the best value for money relating to infrastructure costs and support staff
To contribute to whole school development planning and lead on appropriate whole school improvement issues
To liaise with external agencies, including the London Borough of Enfield , as required

Key tasks and duties:

Leadership:

To contribute to the development of the whole school values and ethos, promoting improvements in all aspects of school performance
To contribute to the development of, and lead on aspects of, key school documents, policies and procedures
To attend Senior Leadership Team and appropriate Governors’ meetings
In the absence of the Headteacher take delegated responsibility for financial and other matters as relevant
To contribute to the safeguarding of all students

Financial Management:

To be responsible for and manage all financial functions within the school
To ensure all statutory returns are completed and legal obligations fulfilled in connection with the Local Authority, the Department for Education, and other external organizations
To advise, consult, inform and update the Headteacher and Governors on financial matters
To manage the school’s budget deficit and work collaboratively with the other senior managers to move the school towards a balanced financial position. (More detailed information regarding the budget deficit will be shared with short-listed candidates)
To develop and maintain a strategic financial plan that will indicate trends and requirements of the school and will forecast future years’ budgets
To liaise with internal and external financial auditors

Human Resources Management:

To liaise with the Headteacher regarding the recruitment, personnel and payroll services for all school staff
To ensure that all recruitment, appraisal, staff development, grievance, disciplinary and redundancy policies and procedures comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
To oversee the performance management, appraisal and development for all support staff
To seek and make use of specialist expertise in relation to HR issues
To evaluate the school’s strategic objectives and assist the Headteacher with future workforce planning

Administration and ICT Management:

To manage the whole school administrative function and lead all support staff
To design and maintain administrative systems that deliver outcomes based on the school’s aims and goals; and to manage systems and link processes that interact across the school to form complete systems
To establish and use effective methods to review and improve administrative systems
To prepare information for publications and returns for the DfE, Local Authority and other agencies and stakeholders within statutory guidelines
To work alongside the ICT Manager to consider new technologies and ways to improve existing ICT systems

Facility and Property Management:

To ensure a safe, secure and accessible site for students, staff and visitors
To ensure the buildings and site provide the best learning environment for the students
To represent the school at all meetings with external stakeholders
To monitor all service contracts and KPIs, ensuring penalties are enforced and repayments received
To seek and make use of specialist expertise in relation to contract management
To ensure appropriate risk assessments are carried out for proposed capital projects.

Health and Safety

To act as the school’s Health and Safety Coordinator and Fire Officer
To plan, instigate and maintain records of fire practices and alarm tests
To ensure the school’s written Health and Safety Policy Statement is clearly communicated and available to all people
To ensure the Health and Safety Policy, Corporate Health and Safety Advice and Procedures and appropriate risk assessments are implemented at all times, put into practice and subject to review and assessment at regular intervals or as situations change
To be the school’s liaison with Health and Safety auditors, Fire Safety auditors and the HSE and be a member of the school’s Health and Safety committee.

Person Specification for Business Manager

Qualifications:
CCAB finance professional: degree level in a finance-related course or extensive work experience in a financial, management and leadership role.
Knowledge and Experience:

Experience of working in and across departments / services in a large, complex organisation at a senior level preferably within a school

Experience of staff management and HR issues

Extensive knowledge of school and local government finances

Experience of managing budgetand related change within a complex organization

Experience of planning and reviewing the delivery of services and projects

Skill, competence etc

Experience of providing advice and guidance to customers within a regulated environment eg financial control, audit etc

Experience of partnership working at a senior level

Experience of development and/or implementation of ICT solutions

Knowledge of the management of contracts and tenders

Skills and Abilities:

High level of interpersonal skills

Ability to inspire, lead and motivate staff, including performance appraisal and career development

Ability to influence and negotiate effectively

Well-developed analysis, problem solving and evaluation skills

Ability to develop and sustain partnerships

Ability to prepare and manage budgets within agreed limits

Ability to effectively manage staff and resources exploiting appropriate project management techniques

Uses political judgement and sensitivity

Has a high degree of integrity

Shows a resilience and toughness under pressure

Demonstrates strong interpersonal and management styles

Shows a high drive for achievement

Demonstrates strong commitment to the promotion of equal opportunities

Shows high degree of awareness towards the needs of all stakeholders

How To Apply

Toapplyforthis position,please complete an application form and provide asupportingstatementaddressingthe qualifications and experience elements of the personspecification and outliningwhyyouareasuitablecandidateforthepost. These will be further explored together with the other elements of the specification during the recruitment process.

Youshouldprovidethenames,positions,organisationsandtelephonecontactnumbersofatleasttworeferees,oneofwhomshould beyourcurrent/recentemployer.Ifyoudonotwishtogiveyourpermissionforustoapproachyourrefereesatthisstagethenpleasestatethisclearly.

Applicationsshouldbee-mailedto:- all applications will be acknowledged.

Shouldyouhaveanyqueriesaboutanyaspectofthisappointment,pleaseemail

Closing date for application: 10am on Friday, 7thOctober 2016

Short listing Monday, 10th October 2016

Invitation to interview, issued before the end of the school day on Wednesday, 12th October 2016

Part 1 Interviews Monday, 17th October 2016

Part 2 Interviews Wednesday, 19th October (Shortlisted candidates from Monday)