Finance Director

The King's School; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious independent school in Gloucester is seeking an experienced Finance Director to provide strategic and operational leadership over financial management. The role involves ensuring fiscal sustainability and advising the Senior Leadership Team. The ideal candidate will have substantial finance experience, be fully qualified, and demonstrate strong leadership skills. The position includes a competitive salary and generous benefits package, with applications due by January 5th, 2025.

Benefits

Annual holiday entitlement of 25 days plus statutory bank holidays

Contributory employer's pension scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Opportunity to participate in gym membership

Free parking on-site

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading and developing a high-performing team.
• Demonstrable ability to deliver strategic financial planning and robust long-term forecasting.
• Experience in capital project planning, mergers or acquisitions.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership of the School's financial management.
• Advise on financial strategy to Senior Leadership Team and Board.
• Ensure sustainability, resilience and effective stewardship of resources.

Skills

Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Significant senior leadership experience in finance

Strong knowledge of VAT and tax

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Commercially aware with ability to identify efficiencies

Education

Fully qualified accountant

Tools

iFinance

Staffology

iSAMS

Job description

Required: Easter 2026 (flexible subject to notice periods). Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer. Hours: Full‑time, full‑year. Member of: Senior Leadership Team (by invitation). Closing date: Monday 5th January, 12:00 noon. Interview date: Tuesday 13th January.

The Role

The King's School, Gloucester is seeking an experienced, commercially minded Finance Director (FD) to provide strategic and operational leadership of the School's financial management. The FD will ensure sustainability, resilience and effective stewardship of resources, with strong P&L, balance sheet and cash flow management. As the School's most senior finance professional, the FD will advise the Headmaster, COO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Governors, embedding financial strategy into organisational decision‑making. Responsibilities include statutory compliance, financial performance optimisation, leading VAT and tax strategy, vendor negotiations, capital investment programmes and navigating sector changes including regulatory shifts and market pressures.

The King's School

The King's School is one of the oldest schools in the country, founded in 1087 and re‑founded in 1541. It is the Cathedral School in Gloucester and is held in high regard amid a competitive educational area. Recent ISI reports have all been rated “excellent”. The school has received awards such as “Independent School of the Year” from SoGlos, and maintains high pupil roll growth and parental satisfaction.

Key Duties

As the School's most senior finance professional the FD will undertake duties in the following areas: strategic leadership, financial planning & management, financial operations & controls, governance & reporting, sector insight & continuous improvement.

Personal Profile – Qualifications & Experience

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
• Significant senior leadership experience in finance, ideally within education, charity or complex multi‑stakeholder organisations
• Demonstrable ability to deliver strategic financial planning and robust long‑term forecasting
• Strong knowledge of VAT, tax and regulatory frameworks affecting independent schools (or readiness to acquire expertise)
• Proven experience leading and developing a high‑performing team
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, inclusive of reporting to non‑financial audiences
• Commercially aware, able to identify efficiencies and income‑generating opportunities
• High integrity, resilience, sound judgement and a commitment to safeguarding and ethical governance

Desirable Qualities

• Experience within the independent school sector or wider education sector
• Experience working with Boards/Governors, including audit and finance committees
• Experience in capital project planning, mergers or acquisitions
• Familiarity with charity accounting and SORP requirements
• Experience with school finance systems (e.g., iFinance, Staffology, iSAMS, other MIS)

Salary

The salary offered will be competitive and reflective of the significance of this role in a leading HMC independent school, and will depend on skills and experience.

Benefits

• Annual holiday entitlement of 25 days plus statutory bank holidays, rising to 30 days after five years' service
• Staff fee remission for children at King's
• Before and after‑school care for children at King's when school is in session
• Contributory employer's pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Lunches when school is in session
• Opportunity to participate in gym membership
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free parking on‑site
• Appointment with the School Doctor if required

Applications

Candidates should apply through TES or by submitting a completed School Application Form and Covering Letter via email to [e-mail]. A CV is not required. The closing date for applications is Monday 5th January at 12:00 noon, with interviews scheduled for Tuesday 13th January. Candidates are advised that the School is on Christmas break from Monday 15th December to Friday 2nd January inclusive; applications received during this period may experience a slight delay in acknowledgement. For further information, please contact Mr Harry Fuller on 01452 337337 or via email to [e-mail].