Chief Financial Officer (School Business Manager)

About the Role

Hounsdown School is seeking a capable, strategic and forward‑thinking Chief Financial Officer (School Business Manager) to join our Senior Leadership Team at an exciting point in the school’s development.

Reporting directly to the Headteacher, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the school’s strategic direction by leading and integrating all key operational functions. This is a highly influential leadership position, combining strategic financial oversight with operational delivery, governance, and long‑term sustainability.

You will take professional leadership responsibility for:

• Finance and Procurement
• HR and Payroll
• Estates and Facilities (including Health & Safety and IT oversight)
• Student Services

The CFO is central to ensuring the school’s resources, financial, physical and human, are deployed efficiently and effectively in support of outstanding educational outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Finance

• Provide strategic financial leadership to support the school’s long‑term vision and development.
• Lead budget setting, financial planning, forecasting and multi‑year financial modelling.
• Ensure robust financial controls, value‑for‑money decision making and statutory compliance.
• Advise the Headteacher and Trustees on financial risk, investment and sustainability.
• Oversee procurement and contract management to maximise efficiency and savings.

Human Resources & Payroll

• Lead all aspects of HR strategy, including staffing structures, workforce planning and policy development.
• Oversee payroll administration and compliance with employment legislation.
• Provide professional HR advice to senior leaders and trustees.
• Support staff wellbeing, performance management and organisational development.

Estates, Health & Safety and IT

• Provide strategic oversight of the school estate, ensuring buildings, grounds and facilities are safe, compliant and well‑maintained.
• Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety legislation and best practice.
• Oversee ICT infrastructure and systems to support learning, administration and safeguarding.
• Lead capital projects, maintenance planning and long‑term site development.

Student Services & Operations

• Oversee student support and operational services to ensure a high‑quality experience for pupils and families.
• Ensure operational systems and processes actively support safeguarding, inclusion and attendance.

Governance & Compliance

• Support the trustee body with high‑quality reports and professional advice.
• Ensure all statutory, regulatory and audit requirements are met.
• Act as a trusted professional advisor within the Senior Leadership Team.

Safeguarding

Hounsdown School is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check along with other relevant pre-employment checks.

Equality and Recruitment

As a school, we welcome and encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals. We are unable to accept referrals via recruitment agents and therefore unable to contract on their terms and conditions. All candidates will be considered by the school as applying as a direct applicant and not via an agency referral.