Head of Finance

Merchant Taylors' School - Northwood; Greater London; On-site; Confidential; Full time

Job summary

An established independent school is seeking a Head of Finance to lead its financial department. This role involves managing a £30m turnover, preparing financial reports, and ensuring compliance with statutory obligations. The successful candidate will work closely with the Bursar and lead a dedicated team, contributing to the school's financial stability and strategic planning. With a strong focus on ethical financial management and communication, this position offers a unique opportunity to impact the educational experience of students while enjoying competitive benefits and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

15% employer pension contribution

Life cover 4x annual salary

Access to lifestyle benefits

Staff fee remission on school fees

Use of school leisure facilities

Free lunch when catering is open

Free parking with EV charging

Support for professional development

Qualifications

• Proven experience in financial management and reporting.
• Strong leadership skills to manage a finance team effectively.

Responsibilities

• Manage financial records and prepare management accounts.
• Oversee payroll and pension schemes in collaboration with HR.

Skills

Financial Management

Leadership

Communication Skills

Diplomacy

Education

Degree in Finance or Accounting

Professional Finance Qualification

Tools

WCBS PASS

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Merchant Taylors’ School is a leading independent day school offering an outstanding, all-round education for over 960 talented boys aged 11 to 18 years. Competition for places is fierce, and entry is by competitive assessment at 11+ and 16+. Merchant Taylors’ Prep School caters for an additional 370 boys from 3 to 11 years of age offering a through-school experience for appropriately suited boys.
Renowned for its high academic achievement, Merchant Taylors’ pupils are intellectually able, curious and enthusiastic about learning. These qualities are fostered through an academically ambitious curriculum and forward-thinking teaching methods that seek to stretch, challenge and support boys in their studies. A wide range of co-curricular activities further inspires and develops the boys’ skills, passions and interests, ensuring they develop as happy, confident individuals ready to make their mark on the world.
Public examination results are outstanding, the majority of students proceeding either to leading universities as well as medical schools in the UK or abroad. We pride ourselves on our outstanding pastoral care as well as our excellent academic results, and aspiration in all areas goes well beyond the norm, making Taylors’ a particularly exciting and rewarding place to teach.

The Position
Merchant Taylors’ School is recruiting a Head of Finance from August 2025 to succeed the current post-holder who is retiring. The successful candidate will report to the Bursar and the Finance Committee and lead a department of six experienced staff, including:

The School is well placed to navigate the turbulence and volatility that has disrupted the sector this year. The School is in a stable financial position, with no debt and adequate cash reserves to cover short to medium term economic challenges. Pupil numbers remain strong, despite the recent impact of VAT on school fees and demand for places at both the Prep and Senior School remains high. In addition to the primary source of income through school fees, the School generates additional income by letting sports facilities through Merchant Taylors’ School Enterprises Ltd, which contributes towards bursary funding. This also provides significant public benefit and support to the local community.

The successful candidate will be a confident finance professional who is competent to manage a turnover of circa £30m using the School’s financial information system (WCBS PASS). This role will require effective leadership of the Accounts Team, ethical financial management and the production of clear financial reports to the Board, in close liaison with the Bursar.

Diplomacy, communication skills and professional standards will be required to ensure that appropriate financial standards are applied across the School.

Summary of Responsibilities

The Head of Finance will have core responsibilities for:
• Effective management of payments and receipts and financial records using WCBS PASS accounting software.
• Preparation of termly management accounts in support of the Board including five year income/expenditure, cash flow and capital expenditure forecasts.
• Preparation of annual statutory accounts in close liaison with Auditors (Saffery).
• Oversight of cash and banking facilities managed by the Accounts Manager.
• Oversight of payroll, in close liaison with the Payroll Manager and Head of HR.
• Management of staff pension schemes in close liaison with the Bursar and Payroll Manager (TPS and APTIS).
• Oversight of P11Ds in close liaison with the Payroll Manager.
• Maintenance of the Fixed Asset Register and calculation of depreciation.
• Oversight of quarterly VAT returns prepared by the Accounts Manager.
• Compliance with HMRC requirements.
• Submission of financial data for periodic survey reports.
• Preparation of the School’s annual budget in liaison with the Bursar for endorsement by the Head Master.
• Ensuring the School’s statutory obligations with Companies’ House and the Charity Commission remain up to date.
• Maintenance of the School salary scales for teaching and support staff, in close liaison with the Head of HR.
• Preparation of financial information to the Remuneration Committee.
• Drafting communication with parents on financial matters in support of the Bursar.
• Financial management of bursaries and scholarships in support of the Head Master.
• Briefing and advising the Finance Committee on the School’s financial position, in close liaison with the Bursar.
• For promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom they are responsible, or with whom they come into contact and to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding Policy Statement at all times. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School they must report any concerns to the Head Master.

Conditions & Benefits
General Conditions
Start date: 1 August 2025
Hours: Full time role working 37.5 hours per week (8.30am -5.00pm/Monday to Friday).
Salary: From £65,000 per annum dependent on skills, experience and qualifications.
Other Benefits
• 25 days per annum plus public holidays.
• 15% employer contribution to a defined contribution pension scheme (3% employee contribution).
• Life cover 4 x annual salary and income protection.
• Access to a cash flexible benefit in lieu of pension contribution.
• Access to a number of lifestyle benefits including Cycle to Work, ULEV cars, and retail discount vouchers via our benefit provider.
• Staff fee remission on school fees (subject to admissions criteria).
• Use of School leisure facilities, including pool, gym and fishing lakes.
• Lunch provided free of charge when the School Catering Department is open.
• Free parking on site, with access to electric vehicle charging (payable via app).
• Support for professional development and professional membership fees.

Merchant Taylors’ School is an equal opportunities employer and committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This role will bring you into contact with children, you are expected to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. 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).

How we use your information
We will use the information which you provided, and which we collect from other sources (such as from references and from the Disclosure and Barring Service) for the following purposes: to assess your suitability for the role for which you have applied, to assess your suitability to work with children and to enable us to comply with our legal obligations (including safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children ).
Further information on how the School uses personal data is set out in the School’s Staff Transparency Notice, which can be found on the Vacancy page of the School Website.

The Process
Please complete an application form and an accompanying letter (maximum 500 words) outlining your suitability for the post; you may wish to include a brief CV.

Applications to be submitted by 9.00am, Thursday 8 May 2025

Interviews to be held at the School on Thursday 15 May and Friday 16 May 2025

Applications to (email or post):
Recruitment Officer,
Merchant Taylors’ School,
Sandy Lodge,
Northwood,
Middlesex,
HA6 2HT
Email: [e-mail]

Job Summary

08/05/2025

Location:

From £65,000 per annum dependent on skills, experience and qualifications

Merchant Taylors' School - Northwood
Sandy Lodge
Moor Park
Northwood
Middlesex
HA6 2HT
England

http://www.mtsn.org.uk