J O B D E S C R I P T I O N

D I R E C TO R O F F I N A N C E A N D O P E R AT I O N S

P E R M A N E N T R O L E

W I M B L E D O N H I G H S C H O O L

At Wimbledon High School we are proud to do

things differently. We are a high-performing

school for intellectually curious girls – girls

who go on to achieve great things, yet who

remain grounded and who are ready to throw

themselves into school life.

We have been offering an outstanding

education since 1880 on our central Wimbledon

site: inspiring lessons encourage edgy thinking

and cross-curricular links foster truly inter-

disciplinary learning that encourages problem

solving and puts creativity at its heart.

As the first school to hold a Failure Week, we

continue to champion judicious risk-taking.

This can only be done, of course within a warm

and caring community, where students feel

supported as they try something new, fail,

try again and fail better. There is always lots of

fun to be had along the way, but of course the

end results speak for themselves: consistently

excellent A Level and GCSE results taking girls

to a whole variety of university courses and

careers beyond.

Our co-curricular programme is extensive, so

that imagination in and out of the classroom is

fired. Our aim is to prepare confident, fearless

young women, ready for a future where

intellectual agility and resilience will be key.

We want our girls to stride out of Wimbledon

High School into the world and shake it up.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES AND ATTRIBUTES

EFFECTIVE USE OF RESOURCES • Takes a lead role in the financial and

operational management within the school,

including: health and safety, physical resources,

building fabric, technology and environmental

impact.

DELIVERING RESULTS • Identifies issues and takes a proactive approach

to dealing with them. Is an innovator and

delivers change initiatives to achieve added

value and improve school performance in

support of the overarching strategy and vision

for the school and wider Trust. Able to analyse

information to understand issues, identify

options and support sound decision making in

the delivery of projects, school processes and

service improvements. Understands the market

place and customer needs.

STRATEGIC THINKING • Contributes to the setting of a vision and

strategy for the school. Seeks to ensure

improvement of performance in business and

operational aspects of the school, showing

clear leadership in this regard. Ensures

compliance with legal, regulatory and ethical

requirements. Supports the management

of risk.

WORKING WITH OTHERS • Develops productive relationships with

colleagues and stakeholders within the school

and across the Trust, playing an active role.

Builds and leads effective and productive

teams. Supports staff to achieve high standards

through robust staff management and

development.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT• Takes responsibility for own personal and

professional development, seeking to ensure

continuous improvement in own activities.

Through committing to CPD, for self and

others, achieves high performance across self

and teams.

JOB DESCRIPTIONDIRECTOR OF F INANCE AND OPERATIONS

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTING • Responsibility, in collaboration with the Head

and GDST, for all the school’s finances

• Preparation of annual budgets, periodic

forecasts and business plans

• Monthly management accounts and school

payroll

• Line management of the Finance Manager to

ensure that the financial side of the school runs

efficiently and effectively.

• Work closely with the GDST Fees Department

on fee and income related matters.

• Regular review and renegotiation of tenders

and contracts.

• Ensuring the Head, and the Local Governing

Board, are fully informed of the school’s

finances on a regular basis.

HUMAN RESOURCES • Line management of the HR & Compliance

Manager to ensure the efficient running of the

school HR systems.

• To oversee the finance, HR, administration,

and estates staff, to include the procedure

for recruitment, oversight of induction,

development and performance management in

line with school and GDST policies

• Ensuring compliance with all GDST and

Independent Schools Inspectorate HR policies

and regulations.

• Ensuring the school maintains and operates

appropriate disciplinary and grievance

procedures for all support staff and in

consultation with the Head & the GDST,

implementing these, as necessary.

ESTATES MANAGEMENT • Line management of the Estates team to

ensure the efficient running of the school site

and facilities.

• Oversight of building management,

maintenance, compliance and day to day

upkeep of all buildings, as well as grounds

maintenance and security of people, buildings

and property.

• Project management of proposed new build

project and other projects as required.

HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT • Coordination and development of policies to

comply with the relevant requirements of the

Independent Schools Inspectorate and Health

and Safety legislation in conjunction with the

GDST Health and Safety advisors.

• To act as the school’s Health and Safety

Coordinator, with responsibility delegated by

the Head

JOB DESCRIPTIONDIRECTOR OF F INANCE AND OPERATIONS

SECURITY • Working together with the Estates team, and

other members of the school community to

ensure that security concerns are raised and

investigated effectively.

• Regularly review site safety and security

to ensure preventative measures are taken

wherever possible and to ensure as safe a

site as possible.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT • Sustaining and increasing non-fee income

including grants and lettings in line with

overarching strategic plan.

• Support the Head in the preparation and

presentation of Business Cases for major

projects.

• Assisting in the marketing and development

of the school in consultation with the

Head through business plans and strategic

assessment.

• Lettings procurement

• Development of established and new lettings

opportunities

• Line Management of Estates team in relation

to lettings

• Financial management of lettings

ADMINISTRATION• Line Manage Office Manager to ensure that the

support function is effectively administered

across the school.

CATERING AND HOUSEKEEPING • Management of the catering and cleaning

contracts.

• To ensure the efficient and effective of the

catering and housekeeping services in the

school.

• Ensuring excellent standards of catering and

cleanliness are provided to students and staff

and that kitchens and equipment are well

maintained and comply with Health and

Safety and Hygiene regulations.

• Monitoring catering and cleaning service

standards and levels and regular review of

performance against contract as appropriate,

as well as scrutiny of financial performance

against agreed budgets.

STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP• As the most senior support staff leader on

SLT, the DFO works closely with other senior

support SMT members, including the Director

of Marketing & Communications, and the

Director of Digital Learning and Innovation, as

well as non-SMT members such as the Director

of Development and the Head of Admissions.

The DFO is crucial to the leadership and

management of Inspection Readiness,

overseeing the SCR and other areas of H&S/

Site compliance.

They are also a key contributor to and driver

of the overall strategy of the School, working

closely with the Head in shaping the vision and

direction of the senior team.

JOB DESCRIPTIONFUNDRAISING OFFICERJOB DESCRIPTION

DIRECTOR OF F INANCE AND OPERATIONS

ALL SCHOOL STAFF ARE EXPECTED TO • Work towards and support the school vision

and current school objectives outlined in the

School Development Plan.

• Contribute to the school’s programme of co-

curricular activities.

• Support and contribute to the school’s

responsibility for safeguarding students. Work

within the school’s health and safety policy to

ensure a safe working environment for staff,

students and visitors.

• Work within the GDST’s Diversity Policy to

promote equality of opportunity for all students

and staff, both current and prospective.

• Maintain high professional standards of

attendance, punctuality, appearance, conduct

and positive, courteous relations with students,

parents and colleagues.

• Engage actively in the performance review

process.

• Adhere to policies as set out in the GDST

Council Regulations, Notes of Guidance and

GDST circulars.

• Undertake other reasonable duties related to

the job purpose required from time to time.

• This job description should be seen as enabling

rather than restrictive and will be subject to

regular review.

JOB DESCRIPTIONDIRECTOR OF F INANCE AND OPERATIONS

Head Ms Fionnuala Kennedy

Wimbledon High SchoolMansel Road, London, SW19 4ABwimbledonhigh.gdst.net

ContactT 020 8971 0900E info.@wim.gdst.net

The Girls’ Day School Trust is a Limited Company. Registered in England No. 6400. Registered Charity No. 306983. www.gdst.net

LOCATION

Wimbledon High School is conveniently situated

in the heart of Wimbledon.

The station is a few minutes’ walk away, serving

National Rail, London Underground and Tramlink.

Buses 93, 493, 200, 57 and 131 stop nearby.

If you are driving to Wimbledon to visit the

school, please use one of the two public car

parks marked on the map and allow plenty of

time. Parking in Mansel Road and surrounding

roads is limited to a few metered bays.

We regret that there is no visitor parking

available on the school site.

Our playing fields are at Nursery Road, a ten

minute walk down Worple Road.

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