Head of Finance and Corporate Services in Lisburn

The Head of Finance and Corporate Services is a senior non-teaching leader responsible for the strategic leadership and operational effectiveness of the school’s financial affairs. The post-holder will ensure that the school’s resources are planned, controlled and used effectively to support the School Development Plan, long-term financial sustainability and the wider educational purposes of The Wallace High School.

The post-holder will lead the Finance Team, act as the school’s lead officer for insurance and data protection, oversee income generation opportunities and provide high-quality financial advice to the Principal and Board of Governors. They will also work closely with the Head of Premises on the financial planning, procurement and governance of capital, refurbishment and estate-related projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Financial Leadership and Governance
  • Advise the Principal and Board of Governors on financial strategy, financial risk, resource allocation and long-term sustainability.
  • Prepare and maintain a rolling three-year financial plan aligned to the School Development Plan and corporate priorities.
  • Provide clear, timely and accurate financial reporting to the Finance Committee and Board of Governors, including commentary on performance against budget, forecast position, risks and proposed mitigations.
  • Ensure robust financial governance, internal controls and compliance with relevant accounting, charity, company and education-sector requirements.
  • Advise on the financial implications of strategic decisions, including staffing structures, curriculum planning, fee levels, major expenditure, capital investment and income-generation proposals.
• Financial Management, Control and Reporting
  • Lead the preparation of annual estimates of income and expenditure and draft budgets in consultation with the Principal and relevant senior leaders.
  • Monitor income and expenditure, identify significant variances and recommend corrective action where required.
  • Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts and year-end accounts.
  • Manage internal and external audit processes, ensuring that required documentation, evidence and returns are completed to agreed standards and deadlines.
  • Oversee school bank accounts, cash handling, VAT returns and claims, Gift Aid, payroll processes, pensions administration, public and private funds and other financial systems.
  • Ensure the prompt collection of school fees and effective management of fee debtors to maximise school income while maintaining appropriate sensitivity and procedural fairness.
  • Advise on procurement, tendering, value for money and effective use of resources across the school.
• Income Generation, Fees, Grants, Sponsorship and Lettings
  • Lead the development of a strategic income-generation framework covering school fees, facilities lettings, grants, sponsorship, donations, Gift Aid and other appropriate revenue streams.
  • Line manage the person responsible for school facilities lettings, ensuring that lettings are financially viable, appropriately priced, properly contracted and aligned with safeguarding, insurance and site-management requirements.
  • Monitor utilisation, pricing, profitability and risk in relation to lettings and recommend improvements to strengthen income and operational effectiveness.
  • Identify and coordinate funding opportunities, including grants, capital funding, charitable giving and sponsorship, working with the Principal, Governors, alumni, Heads of Department, sports staff and community partners as appropriate.
  • Maintain an overview of donor and sponsor income, ensuring that funds are recorded, acknowledged, restricted where required and reported transparently.
  • Support the development of business cases for income-generation initiatives and evaluate their financial return, risk and alignment with school values.
• Capital Projects, Procurement and Estates Financial Planning
  • Work closely with the Head of Premises to support the financial planning and governance of maintenance, refurbishment, infrastructure and capital projects.
  • Prepare or oversee financial appraisals, costings, funding plans and affordability assessments for proposed projects.
  • Support procurement, tendering, contract monitoring and value-for-money review for significant expenditure and project work.
  • Monitor project expenditure against approved budgets and provide financial updates to the Principal and Governors.
  • Oversee the asset register and support planning for the security, maintenance, replacement and renewal of equipment and facilities.
• Corporate Services, Insurance and Data Protection
  • Act as the school’s lead officer for insurance, ensuring that appropriate cover is in place and that claims and renewals are managed effectively.
  • Act as the school’s Data Protection Officer or designated Data Protection lead, ensuring that the school works in line with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and relevant school policies.
  • Advise the Principal and Governors on financial, corporate and compliance matters within the scope of the post.
  • Ensure that financially related returns, plans and correspondence with the Education Authority, Department of Education and other relevant bodies are completed promptly and accurately.
  • Advise the Board of Governors on matters relating to charitable status, investments and restricted or designated funds, in consultation with appointed professional advisers as required.
• Leadership and Management
  • Line manage the Finance Team, including allocation of duties, performance review, professional development, leave, workload, standards and team effectiveness.
  • Line manage the person responsible for school facilities lettings and ensure that income-generating use of the school’s facilities is efficient, compliant and profitable.
  • Promote a culture of accuracy, accountability, confidentiality, service and professional integrity within the Finance Team.
  • Work constructively with the Head of Premises and Head of Administration to ensure that support services are coordinated and responsive to the needs of the school.
  • Participate in relevant senior leadership and Governor meetings as required by the Principal.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will possess experience in leading and managing teams whilst consistently upholding the highest standards of professionalism. They will possess a strong sense of integrity and confidentiality and have strong ICT and financial management skills. They will demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and be able to engage with multiple stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Qualifications
  • A recognised professional accountancy qualification, for example ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent.
• Experience
  • 3 years’ experience in a senior financial management role, including budget preparation, financial reporting, audit, payroll oversight and production or oversight of management accounts.
• Leadership
  • Experience of leading and managing staff, improving systems and providing clear advice to senior leaders or a governing body/board.
• Strategic development
  • Evidence of using financial information to support strategic planning, risk management, value for money and organisational decision-making.
• Skills and qualities
  • High levels of accuracy, integrity, confidentiality, judgement, resilience and communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-specialists.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Experience
  • Experience in an educational, charitable, public-sector, voluntary grammar or complex not-for-profit setting.
• Strategic development
  • Experience of income generation, grants, sponsorship, fundraising coordination, commercial lettings or capital project financial planning.

The post-holder will be expected to undertake appropriate professional development to remain current in financial management, governance, data protection, procurement and relevant education-sector requirements. Annual objectives will be agreed with the Principal and reviewed through the school’s agreed appraisal or review process. The job description may be reviewed in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid or exhaustive. Duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

Safeguarding and Pre-Employment Checks

The successful candidate will be subject to satisfactory references, AccessNI enhanced disclosure, identity checks, right to work checks, qualifications verification and any other vetting or safeguarding checks required by the school and relevant legislation or guidance.

Terms and Conditions

• Salary: The salary range for this role is £65,000 - £75,000, commensurate with candidate experience.
• Pension: The postholder will be enrolled in the NILGOSC pension scheme.
• Hours of work: This is a full-time permanent post starting as soon as possible, subject to the notice period of successful applicant. The hours of work are 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday. The postholder will be required to fully participate in the duties of the school including attending key meetings and events in the school calendar, a number of which are outside the normal working hours.
• Annual Leave: The postholder will be entitled to 36 days annual leave inclusive of statutory holidays, rising to 38 days after 5 years continuous service and 40 days after 10 years. Annual leave cannot be taken during term time.

To request an application form, please email. Completed forms must be returned to this address on or before the closing date of Monday 14th September at 12noon. Recruitment packs can be downloaded from the school website.