Director of Finance and Operations
Aldwickbury School
Harpenden, Hertfordshire
- New
- Quick apply
- Salary:
- Competitive
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Apply by:
- 12 January 2025
Job overview
Aldwickbury School is a leading independent Pre-Prep and Prep School located on the outskirts of Harpenden, Hertfordshire, within a campus of 20 acres of beautiful greenbelt land. Recently awarded Independent Boys' School of the Year, Aldwickbury is celebrated for its outstanding educational provision, forward-thinking approach and strong pastoral values that underpin its success. The school seeks to build on this, as it embarks on the next chapter of its development. From September 2025, girls will be welcomed into the Pre-Prep (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) and will progress through the school year by year, being fully co-educational by 2031.
The Governors seek to appoint a dynamic, financially astute and commercially driven Director of Finance and Operations (DFO), responsible for the leadership, management and overall effectiveness of the finance, operations and business functions of the school. Acting as the School’s strategic and commercial adviser, this is an exciting opportunity to work in partnership with an ambitious Headmaster and a forward-thinking Governing Body.
The DFO will help shape the school’s strategy and, with responsibility for the finance, operational and professional services, candidates will need to demonstrate proven ability in senior leadership, financial control, strategic planning, and operational delivery within a successful organisation. The DFO is responsible for the whole range of support staff and will be a key member of the School’s Senior Leadership Team. It is crucial that the DFO is a collaborative senior leader and is happy working in a collegiate atmosphere.
Applications are encouraged from candidates with backgrounds in commercial, charitable, private-sector, and public-sector organisations. Although a formal accounting qualification is not required, the DFO must be a strategic thinker with strong financial and commercial acumen, coupled with first-rate analytical and business skills. An outstanding communicator with strong leadership qualities, the DFO will strive for excellence and operate at pace within the school’s ethos and culture.
How to Apply
Aldwickbury School is being assisted in the recruitment of this key appointment by the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association (ISBA), from whom an application pack can be obtained by sending an email to recruiting@theisba.org.uk
Alternatively, if you would like to discuss the position with ISBA prior to applying, please contact Lucy Wyatt on 07817 038009.
Closing date for applications is 12th January 2025.
Screening interviews conducted by the ISBA recruitment team will be held for long-listed candidates and short-listed candidates will attend first stage interviews and, if invited, final stage interviews at Aldwickbury School.
The ISBA reserves the right to close this position early in the event that they receive a high volume of suitable applicants.
About Aldwickbury School
Aldwickbury is a highly regarded and established preparatory school, having been founded in Harpenden in 1937, moving to the current site in 1948. The school occupies a fine Victorian house in pleasant country surrounds. The facilities and resources are very good and the premises are well equipped and are set in twenty acres of grounds. The school is run as a charitable company and is a member of I.A.P.S., the Boarding Schools Association and the International Boys’ School Coalition.
There are approximately 250 boys in Years 3 to 8, and another 125 boys in our Pre-Preparatory department. Boys from Year 5 may board and some 50 do so on a flexible basis. Boys leave Aldwickbury at 13+ via Common Entrance, entry tests or scholarship examinations for senior independent schools such as St Albans, Bedford, Haileybury, St Columba’s, Berkhamsted, H.A.B.S., Harrow, The Leys, M.T.S. and Oundle.
Aldwickbury looks to develop boys’ self-esteem and ensure that they reach their potential in all aspects of school life. The boys’ achievements in classwork, drama, art, music, sport and so on are celebrated whenever possible. The school is busy and purposeful; visitors often comment on the friendly open nature of the boys. The Staff Common Room is happy and dedicated; in service training is encouraged and provided for all members of staff.
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