Director of Finance and Operations

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious, dedicated and motivated individual to join Oxford High School as Director of Finance and Operations (DFO). 

We are looking for an inspiring leader to lead a high performing support staff team, who will be responsible for the financial and operational side of the school as well as an engaging figure to the teaching staff and a visible, approachable face of the school with the students, and the wider community. 

You will have a strong understanding of finance and financial acumen, a really clear understanding of what outstanding looks like and the desire and commitment to make a difference.

Oxford High School is proud to belong to the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) family of schools: the largest group of independent girls’ schools in the country and a national leader in girls’ education.  The GDST is an organisation that combines a long history of fighting for girls’ rights to education with a cutting-edge awareness of current and future trends.

The Director of Finance and Operations (DFO) is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, with a key role in the long-term strategic development and planning for the whole school. You will work closely with and have responsibility to the Head for the following areas:

• Leadership & management of support services

• Management of resources

• Finance and accounting

• Estate management

• Administration

• Catering and cleaning

• Health and safety

• Human Resources

As DFO, you will be expected to input into the development and implementation of school policy, strategic direction and regulatory compliance, ensuring your own responsibilities are executed to support the achievement of the School and Trust’s strategic objectives.  This will require you to have a clear understanding of teaching and learning requirements and how you will support this. In addition, you will demonstrate a strong commitment to girls’ education and the ethos of the school as well as be an ambassador for the School and wider Trust both within the school and the wider community. 

About the School:

In the heart of leafy north Oxford, just a stone’s throw from St Giles’ and the Ashmolean, and within easy walking distance of the University parks and colleges, stand the three sites which comprise Oxford High School.  We are proud to be Oxford’s oldest girls’ school, and are proud, too, of the historic relationship between the city, its university and ourselves. 

Since its foundation over 140 years ago, Oxford High School has been innovative and pioneering in its approach to girls’ education. Today, Oxford High School is a happy and vibrant place to work: our students are highly motivated and ambitious, supportive yet self-aware. From our youngest Reception pupils through to our longest-serving members of staff, there is a real sense of pride at being part of the Oxford High community.   

Benefits:

As part of the GDST, the UK's leading network of independent girls' schools, we can offer a variety of benefits, such as:

• Competitive salaries and pay progression
• Access to extensive professional development opportunities
• Training grants for qualifications
• Generous pension schemes
• Free life assurance benefit
• A discount of up to 50% on fees for children at GDST schools
• Interest free loans for training, computer purchase loans and travel season ticket loans
• A Cycle to Work scheme
• Competitive terms and conditions of employment

For further details and to apply please click the apply button.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Wednesday 6 July 2022.

Interviews will take place in the week commencing Monday 11 July 2022.

The GDST is committed to diversity, inclusion and real change: a family where every individual is valued, respected and included.

The GDST is committed to the safeguarding of children and child protection screening will apply to this post.