Chief Financial And Operations Officer

Ivy Rock Partners is incredibly proud to be recruiting a new Chief Finance and Operations Officer for the Harris Federation. This is an amazing opportunity for a passionate finance leader who is looking to work within an organisation impacting children across London and the south east. Market leading salary and benefits on offer.

We welcome applications from all sectors, particularly applicants who have operated in highly regulated environments, and have led on ERP implementation projects.

Harris Federation seek to operate in areas with high levels of socio-economic disadvantage. In these places a high quality education is fundamental to the future success of the children they serve. They aim to disrupt the status quo, and free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only, providing an exceptional education for every child, where all children thrive and learn through engagement with an exciting, ambitious curriculum underpinned by excellent teaching.

For informal discussions please contact Phil Southern at Ivy Rock Partners directly on:

T: 07717 229627

E: philsouthern@IvyRockPartners.com

Job Purpose

Finance:

• To lead and manage the Harris Federation finance function so that Harris delivers its educational aims and objectives as well as meets all DfE and EFSA requirements.
• To be responsible for the financial sustainability and development of Harris Federation and for the financial probity of the organization
• To ensure the provision of an efficient, responsive, reliable, and effective financial service to the Harris Federation.
• To support the CEO in his role as Accounting Officer in line with the Academy Finance Handbook
• To provide strong leadership and direction to an established  central finance team consisting of  35 staff), this being the led by a strong Financial Controller and the business partnering team led by a strong Head of Business Partnering.
• To manage the Financial Controller and oversee the operational finance and accounts team
• To manage the Head of Finance Business Partnering and oversee relationships with key stakeholders across the academy network

Operations:

• To work alongside the CEO and Directors to continue the development of an effective and efficient business model for the Harris Federation central services.
• This will align with the Oracle roll out where the current operating model will require business change that will drive the efficiencies and benefits a new and sophisticated system like Oracle can bring.
• To give strong leadership and direction to the central systems team (circa 6 staff), this team currently supporting the roll out of the Oracle system across HR, Payroll and Finance.
• To ensure the provision of an efficient, responsive, reliable and effective systems support and development service to the Harris Federation.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Strategic leadership and development:

• The CFOO will work alongside the other Federation Directors to ensure our academies continue to be highly effective and efficient, driving improvements and efficiencies in line with the Harris Federation’ vision and values.
• The CFOO will be accountable for supporting the Federation’s strategic development and aims through effective financial planning and management, in line with regulations.
• The CFOO will advise the CEO, board and other Federation leaders on all matters relating to business change and systems development, financial strategy and Operations
• The CFOO will provide strategic financial leadership of the Federation.
• To work alongside the other Directors and central teams to provide Business change leadership working towards agreed target operating models
• To undertake business and financial strategy planning, monitoring, management and reporting, including management and development of policies, systems, processes, risk assessment and personnel involved.
• To lead, develop, coach and inspire the finance team and the systems team to add value and be an effective and efficient business partner to all academies and central team departments.
• To ensure that Financial Management and Control is of the highest quality,
• To advise the Directors, CEO and Principals on major financial issues which arise and which are outside the agreed boundaries of management authority, for example, a proposed major new fundraising initiative/capital project.
• To ensure that budgets, annual accounts and reporting are timely and accurate.
• To participate in the Leadership of Harris Federation as a Director in Leadership Team meetings and Federation meetings.
• To provide robust, insightful reporting and guidance to support the Board and make informed decisions.
• To ensure that accurate financial due diligence is conducted on schools applying to join the Federation and report to the board and Federation leaders with recommendations
• To contribute to the Federation’s risk management efforts, including identifying strategic and operational financial risks and taking steps to mitigate these risks.

Financial management and operational controls:

• The CFOO will be accountable for maintaining robust financial management of the Federation and its academies.
• To oversee the budgeting process, to ensure that budgets are accurate and timely.
• To ensure that Finance operates within and promotes the Federation’s strategic objectives.
• To provide consolidated Financial and other information to the Executive Board to enable effective strategic management of the business.
• To provide all relevant information and direction, as required, to the Finance and General Purposes Committee and Audit and Risk Committees.
• To pursue operational excellence across the business to ensure that value for money is optimised.
• To take appropriate action to address financial risks, problems and any irregularities.
• To manage the external audit for the Federation and its academies, and follow up on any recommendations resulting from audits.
• To arrange and manage necessary insurance arrangements for the Federation.
• To manage the Federation’s tax and National Insurance arrangements, including ensuring claims for VAT and business rates are submitted and refunds are received and appropriately accounted for.
• To manage the Federation’s cash position at all times, including overseeing bank deposits.
• To support the income generation strategy for the Federation and its academies.

Reporting and compliance:

• The CFOO will be accountable for ensuring that the Federation and all its academies comply with their legal obligations, adhere to financial regulations, and submit accurate financial reports in a timely manner.
• The CFOO will manage the contracts that support the central business systems
• The CFOO will ensure financial returns as required by the Department for Education, the Education and Skills Funding Agency, and other organisations are returned in a timely and accurate way
• To ensure the submission of the Federation’s financial returns and reports, including annual accounts and monthly management accounts
• To maintain the Federation’s accounts in line with the funding agreement and the Financial Handbook and other regulations
• To monitor developments to legislation around payroll, pensions and benefits, implementing changes and adapting processes as required
• To overall responsibility for company secretarial duties.

Leadership and management:

• The CFOO will be accountable for supporting the effective management of the Harris Federation and its academies, and for providing motivational leadership at all levels of the Federation’s organisation.
• To develop the Federation’s central finance services, ensuring these are fit for purpose and provide a high-quality service to Academies, helping the Federation achieve continuous improvement
• To take responsibility for financial management systems, including the Oracle ERP, including considering future system developments and the generation of insightful reporting that will support directors in continuously improving their services, increasing efficiency and effectiveness.
• To lead and manage the finance team taking responsibility for their professional development and ensuring best practice is observed at all times
• To lead and Manage the Systems support team taking responsibility for their professional development and ensuring best practice is observed at all times
• To manage the Oracle contract and oversight of projects developed via this system and integrations with other Harris systems going forward.
• To develop effective relationships with the stakeholders and partners in order to support the development of business operations and of Finance services across central services as well as the wider Federation.
• To act as a representative for the Federation in external networks and forums, raising the profile of Harris, engaging with the wider sector, and ensuring that Harris is alert to information, changes and opportunities that could affect its work
• To be responsible for the financial sustainability and development of Harris Federation and for the financial probity of the organization
• To ensure the provision of an efficient, responsive, reliable and effective financial service to the Harris Federation.
• To lead and manage the Harris Federation Finance function so that Harris delivers its educational aims and objectives as well as meets all DfE and EFSA requirements.
• To support the CEO in his role as Accounting Officer in line with the Academy Finance Handbook

Federation Ethos:

• To undertake such other duties as may be required, commensurate with the level of responsibility of the post
• To engage actively in the performance review process, addressing appraisal targets set in conjunction with the line manager each autumn term
• To participate in training and other professional development learning activities
• To promote equal opportunities and celebrate diversity in all aspects of the Federation
• To play a full part in the life of the Federation community, to support its distinctive aim and ethos and to encourage staff and students to follow this example
• To support and attend Federation events
• To promote actively the Federation’s corporate policies
• To adhere to the Federation’s Dress Code
• To comply with the Federation’s Health and Safety policy and undertake risk assessments as appropriate
• To be familiar with and promote safeguarding requirements, demonstrating adherence to the DfE Guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education and the academy’s Safeguarding/Child Protection policies
• To be aware of and comply with all academy and Federation policies and procedures, in particular those relating to conduct, child protection (as above), health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person

Employees will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from a manager to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description. Employees are expected to be courteous to colleagues and provide a welcoming environment to visitors and telephone callers.

The Federation will endeavour to make any necessary reasonable adjustments to the job and the working environment to enable access to employment opportunities for disabled job applicants or continued employment for any employee who develops a disabling condition (as defined in the Equality Act 2010).

Following consultation with you this job description may be changed by management to reflect or anticipate changes in the job which are commensurate with the salary and job title.