Bursar and Clerk to the Governors

Girl's Schools Association; Hounslow; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK independent school is seeking a Bursar to ensure its financial health and sustainability. The successful candidate will lead a team, manage day-to-day operations, and contribute strategically. Candidates should have financial qualifications or relevant experience, alongside high-level communication skills. Applications are encouraged from those passionate about education and with backgrounds in education, business, or the public sector. Applications are due by 22nd September 2025.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in managing financial operations in an educational setting.
• Strong communication skills for collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in business or public sector management is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the School’s financial health and sustainability.
• Lead a diverse team of support staff.
• Oversee day-to-day non-educational operations.
• Contribute to the School’s strategic direction.

Skills

Leadership skills

Financial management

High-level communication

Commercial acumen

Education

Professional financial qualifications or strong background in financial/commercial management

Job description

We seek a new Bursar who will ensure the School’s overall financial health and sustainability, providing leadership to a team of support staff whilst overseeing the delivery and efficiency of the day-to-day non-educational operations of the School.

Detail

The Cavendish School has a long and proud tradition of educating girls in a warm and inclusive environment, relishing the wide variety of backgrounds represented by our pupils, parents and staff.

Our School was founded in 1875 and was named for its location in Cavendish Square in central London. The school moved to its current site in Camden in 1970, when it became a charitable trust.

Our founder was the remarkable American-born educator and visionary, Cornelia Connelly. At a time when much learning was done by rote, she spoke of ‘meeting the wants of the age’. She had in 1846 founded the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in Derby and embarked on a ministry of education among mill girls and poor children, setting up day and night schools as well as Sunday classes to accommodate young factory workers.

Now without religious affiliation, the school has built on the vision and wisdom of its innovative founder, offering a unique and vibrant education to girls between the ages of 3 and 11 years. We pride ourselves on remaining at the forefront of what is very best in education today to help girls develop into knowledgeable, secure, collaborative and socially aware women. Our girls are exposed to and encouraged in a kaleidoscopic variety of engaging subjects that enhance their understanding of themselves, others and the wider world.

The school’s finances are sound due to consistent pupil numbers and a prudent and robust approach to financial management. This enables constant reinvestment in premises, resources and the school’s systems and infrastructure. The school is in a strong position to navigate the current political and economic climate, with a supportive, proactive and highly experienced Board of Governors in place.

Due to the retirement of our current Bursar next year, The Cavendish School is now seeking a new Bursar who will ensure the School’s overall financial health and sustainability, providing leadership to a diverse team of support staff whilst overseeing the delivery and efficiency of the day-to-day non-educational operations of the School. They will also make a leading contribution to the School’s strategic direction and fulfil the role of Clerk to the Governors.

The successful candidate will either possess professional financial qualifications or demonstrate a strong background in financial/commercial management. They will possess high-level communication skills with the ability to listen to others in order to form dynamic and collaborative relationships with Governors, the Head, staff and parents.

Applications are encouraged from candidates with educational, business or public sector backgrounds who have strong commercial acumen and a genuine passion for education.

Application Process

The Cavendish School is being assisted in the recruitment of this key position by the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association (ISBA) Recruitment Team, from whom an application pack can be obtained by sending an email to [e-mail]

Alternatively, if you would like to speak with ISBA, please contact Lucy Wyatt on 07817 038 009.

Closing date for applications is 22nd September 2025, 5pm.

Safeguarding Information

The Cavendish School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. To assist in this, the school follows a formal recruitment procedure for the employment of all staff, which adheres to the recommendations of the Department for Education (DfE) in ”Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education” and the school’s Safeguarding Policy. A copy of this procedure is available on request.

Applicants must undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.