Director of Finance and Operations

This is an exciting opportunity for an outstanding Director of Finance and Operations (DFO) to join (from April 2025) the leadership of a renowned educational institution and have a genuine impact on its future. The successful applicant will be a strategic thinker and strong communicator with a proven record of successful strategic financial and operational management.

The Board of Governors of the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle (RGS) warmly welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and with varying experience. Applications are particularly encouraged from candidates with strong financial literacy (including VAT legislation) and experience in the preparation and implementation of budgets and financial information, as well as an understanding of employment issues and IT expertise. Candidates should have a good understanding of, or willingness to learn about, the educational priorities of a school in its entirety and the responsibilities of a registered charity.

The DFO will be accountable for the strategic financial management of the school and leadership of the internal operational services. They are responsible to the Head, working closely with both the Head and the Senior Deputy Head to set the overall direction of the school. They are also a member of the wider Senior Leadership Team, which includes the Head, Senior Deputy Head, Deputy Head (Academic), Deputy Head (Pastoral), Deputy Head (Co-Curricular), Director of External Relations, Director of Partnerships, Head of Sixth Form and Head of Junior School. The DFO will oversee the operational functions of the finance team, HR team, information and digital technology (IDT) team, facilities and estates department and catering. They will lead and support the professional managers responsible for these areas to ensure they deliver towards the strategic plan for their part of school life. The DFO will also work in close cooperation with the Board of Governors and Trustees of the RGS Educational Trust.

The RGS is a leading, co-educational independent day school for students aged 7 to 18 years. Located in Jesmond in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, the school benefits from excellent transport links, with students travelling to the RGS from all over the region. As an academically selective day school, the RGS is a thriving place, with over 1,300 students, including more than 250 in the Junior School, which shares the same site as the Senior School. The Sixth Form at the RGS is one of the largest in the independent sector, with more than 340 students.

The RGS is a special place, known and respected throughout the whole country as well as the North East, and in 2023, it was judged the UK’s Independent School of the Year, as well as consistently topping the North East region’s academic league tables. It is a place where aspirations are high, results are outstanding, and opportunities are endless. Students typically go on to study highly selective courses at the most sought-after universities but also leave the school realising that life outside the classroom has been equally beneficial. The social impact of the RGS is a key priority, which is delivered by keeping school fees as accessible as possible to maintain a broad social spectrum of pupils, the provision of transformational bursaries to bright young people from some of the most deprived parts of the region, and partnerships with state schools across the North East. The school is preparing to celebrate its Quincentenary in 2025, but despite being the oldest learning institution in the City, the RGS is ambitious about retaining its place as a leader of innovative teaching and learning in Newcastle.

Further information on the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, can be found at https://www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/.

A candidate brief is available from www.odgers.com/92446.

Closing date: 9.00am on Friday 8 November 2024.

The RGS is committed to the safeguarding of children and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and those working in school to share this commitment. The school applies the Government’s Keeping Children Safe in Education Safer Recruitment procedures to all candidates, including appropriate pre-interview checks on shortlisted candidates and pre-employment checks pending any offer. More information regarding the checks can be found in our Information for Applicants here and ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (September 2024).