Finance Director in St Albans

St Albans School is a leading independent day school with an outstanding reputation for academic excellence. Reporting to the Bursar, this role offers an exciting opportunity to join the School during a period of expansion. The successful candidate will lead the Finance and Accounting department of the St Albans School Group, which includes Beechwood Park School, the Woollam Trust and Abbey Gateway Enterprises, and will have scope for growth as the overall team’s remit evolves.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing accurate financial advice, guidance and analysis to support strategic decision‑making within the group;
• Overseeing the full budgeting and management accounts process;
• Preparing statutory accounts;
• Managing audit, taxation, VAT and regulatory compliance;
• Ensuring effective financial systems, policies, controls and operational accounting procedures are maintained;
• Managing fee and bursary processes;
• Supporting procurement and commercial income opportunities, including lettings activities across the group.

The ideal applicant will hold a recognised professional accountancy qualification and have significant post‑qualification experience in a senior management accounting role. They will possess knowledge of tax law, PAYE, VAT, benefit‑in‑kind regulations and charity status requirements. Strong analytical, organisational and communication skills, combined with leadership capability, commercial awareness, and a high level of integrity, are essential. Experience within the charity sector and/or an independent school environment would be advantageous.

Contract: Full time, 37.5 hours per week. The position will be based at the St Albans School site, with a regular presence required at the sites of associated entities.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening and safer recruitment checks appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. St Albans School is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and the creation of an inclusive environment for all employees. Employment selections are made according to suitability for the post, irrespective of background or protected characteristic.