Chief Operating Officer

Location: Bournemouth

Salary: to £60k DOE

Hours: 37.5 hours pw Monday-Friday office based or 30 hours over 4 days

Benefits: 33 days holidays inc Bank Hols, pension, free parking, complimentary lunch served daily in the staff dining room with a freshly cooked daily hot meal and salad bar, discounted membership to the nearby West Hants Club, providing access to superb facilities, complimentary use of on-site swimming pool for their staff Sunday session, complimentary use of the on-site gym facilities, discount on school fees, for your own children, subject to the school admission process and fee remission policy, complimentary after school childcare for staff’s children in Pre-pre or the Junior School, Super camps Holiday clubs offer 50% discount to Talbot Heath Staff, Occupational sick pay scheme

Aspire Jobs are working in partnership with our client, Talbot Heath School, based in Bournemouth. Due to retirement, they are seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer/Bursar to join their support staff team. The role will be starting in September.

Talbot Heath is a leading independent school in Dorset that offers girls aged 3-18 an outstanding education within a strong and supportive community. Their staff are the heart of the Talbot Heath experience, whether you are part of their teaching or support staff, they will invest in your development and wellbeing to help you reach your full potential. Established in 1886 and is based in a beautiful woodland campus. It is a selective school whose pupils achieve excellent exam results at both GCSE and A level. Exam results count, but just as important are resilience, self-esteem, character, those life skills that are acquired as a result of a nurturing environment and a holistic approach to education.

The school prides itself on hiring the highest quality teaching and support staff. As an employee you will work as part of a dedicated and focussed team.

With a new Head in place, the school are going through some positive changes and the incoming COO needs to be of a change mindset with good commercial/business sense who can maximise the revenue from the school site (not just from fees).

As the Chief Operating Officer/Bursar, you will play a pivotal role in the strategic and operational management of the school. Reporting directly to the Headteacher, you will be responsible for overseeing the financial, administrative, and operational functions, ensuring the smooth running of the school and the effective delivery of educational services.

This is not a role for someone who is looking to take a step back. This needs a dynamic, forward-thinking individual.

Key Responsibilities:

Oversee the financial operations of the school, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting

Facilities Management: Ensure the effective management of the school's facilities, including maintenance, health and safety compliance, and security

Strategic Planning: Contribute to the development and implementation of the school's strategic plan, ensuring alignment with educational objectives

Provide support to the governing body, attending meetings, preparing reports, and advising on relevant policies and procedures

Compliance: Ensure compliance with statutory regulations, government guidelines, and internal policies

Proven experience in a school business manager role • Strong financial acumen and budget management skills • Adept at strategic planning and problem-solving • Knowledge of government funding and best practices in education and school administration • Relevant qualifications in business management, finance, or a related field

The successful person will:

• Demonstrate sound commercial acumen and strategic thinking
• Be AAT qualified or part qualified or able to demonstrate a similar level of competence achieved through significant experience
• Ideally have worked within a similar role
• Have strong financial and budgeting experience
• Have a strong operational mindset and make sure that the school is operating efficiently
• Be a real team player with great interpersonal skills and staff management experience
• Have outstanding organisational skills and strong attention to detail
• Demonstrate sound IT experience including strong Excel skills, ideally with Sage Line 50 experience
• Be able to self-manage and prioritise
• Be a caring, friendly, open-minded and flexible personality

Job Description

Talbot Heath is currently seeking a qualified school Bursar/Chief Operating Officer to offer strategic direction and leadership across various administrative areas within our School. This includes financial management, ICT management, human resources, marketing, compliance and administration.

The position involves a wide range of responsibilities in school operations, requiring strong organisational skills, exceptional interpersonal skills to motivate and inspire others, attention to detail, and the ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines. The ideal candidate should be forward-thinking, supporting the Headteacher and senior leadership in improving school systems to provide high-quality education to students. A solid background in financial management, budgeting, and strategic planning is essential.

As the Bursar (COO), you will play a crucial role in contributing to the success and expansion of Talbot Heath School within a supportive and dynamic educational setting. If you have the necessary skills and experience, we invite you to apply and be part of our vibrant school community.

You will be a strong people manager, managing a team of around 10 direct staff and in total around 70 support staff.

INTERVIEWS WILL TAKE PLACE W/C 20TH MAY AND WILL TAKE AROUND 1/2 A DAY INCLUDING A TOUR. PLEASE NOTE ALL DIRECT APPLICATIONS WILL BE SENT TO ASPIRE JOBS.