Director of Finance and Operations

International Schools Today; Bedford; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent pension scheme

Life insurance

Hospital surgical treatment insurance

Cash plan with wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Bedford Girls’ School in Bedford is seeking a strategic Director of Finance & Operations to join the Senior Leadership Team and oversee the finance, estates, IT, catering and other professional services. You will lead the budgeting, reporting and long-term estate planning while ensuring regulatory compliance and safeguarding governance processes.

As part of The Harpur Trust, the DFO will contribute to innovative efficiency and continuous improvement across school operations, partnering with

Responsibilities

• Lead Finance, Estates, IT, Catering and other operational teams.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety, data protection, and regulatory standards.
• Manage capital development and long-term estate planning.
• Support governance and risk management processes and act as Clerk to the Governors.

Job description

Director of Finance & Operations (DFO)

Start date: March 2027

Hours: 37 hours per week, full-time, full year. Flexibility required to meet the demands of the role.

About Bedford Girls’ School

Bedford Girls’ School is where girls soar. We are leaders in girls education; every decision is made with girls at its heart, designed to prepare them for a world of endless possibilities. We are one of the largest girls schools in the region, with a community of over 800 students from the age of 7 to 18. We offer a truly progressive education, achieve outstanding academic results and rank within the top 10 girls schools for sport.

Bedford Girls’ School is one of four schools within the Harpur Trust. It has been educating girls for over 140 years. Founded in 1566 The Harpur Trust is a leading educational and community focused charity with a focus on promoting education, relieving poverty and hardship, and supporting community welfare within the Bedford Borough.

About the Role:

We are seeking a strategic and dynamic Director of Finance & Operations (DFO) to join our Bedford Girls’ School Senior Leadership Team (SLT). The DFO plays a critical role in supporting the Headmistress and Governors in the strategic development, management and administration of the school, leading the professional services team and ensuring the smooth running of all operational areas.

This is a wide-ranging leadership role covering finance, estates, operations, IT, catering, compliance, and governance. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving efficiency, innovation, and continuous improvement across the school’s business functions to enhance the education of our students.

As an important constituent of the Harpur Trust, Bedford Girls' School and the DFO benefit from a range of shared services (in particular in finance and HR) from central Harpur Trust teams, as well as peer support from the DFOs of the other trust schools.

The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills, high emotional intelligence and an ability to build successful relationships with a wide range of stakeholders within Bedford Girls' School and the wider Harpur Trust.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage Finance, Estates, IT, Catering and other operational teams.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety, data protection, and regulatory standards.
• Manage capital development and long-term estate planning.
• Support governance and risk management processes and act as Clerk to the Governors.

Why Join Us?

Be part of an outstanding forward-looking school who have an ambitious vision to develop the next generation of creative thinkers, changemakers and problem-solvers. Become a member of a friendly inclusive community which values its employees, offering opportunities for professional development and growth.

We offer a wide range of benefits including, excellent pension scheme, life insurance, hospital surgical treatment insurance, and a cash plan scheme that includes a variety of wellbeing benefits.

At Bedford Girls’ School, we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We believe that a diverse team enriches our school community and helps us better meet the needs of our students.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The School may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview (including those which are “spent” unless they are “protected” under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

Bedford Girls' School is part of The HarpurTrust.