Appointment of Business Manager

Information for candidates Dear candidate, Thank you for your interest in this post. These are exciting times for the school and we are looking for an exceptional Bursar/Business manager with the can-do attitude, taste for adventure and vision to support us with our plans. When Ivor Poole established Great Ballard in 1924 he made a promise that the school would be different and that courage to stand out from the crowd still energises us almost a century later. The school maintains a proud reputation for academic excellence, for music, for the arts and for sport. But, above all else, Poole wanted everyone to be cared for and treated fairly and it’s a principle that still guides us. Great Ballard is a family in which everyone matters and no one is invisible. It is a school that cares, a school built completely around its pupils, a school with a heart. While Poole’s principles remain unchanged, the world beyond school refuses to stand still. Our duty to equip young people for an unpredictable future has never been more apparent. Our curriculum is broad, forward thinking and outward facing and we encourage pupils to look beyond our idyllic bubble and to develop the skills required to adapt to change and genuinely make a difference in their world. We focus on leadership, problem solving and communication while covering a broad range of traditional subjects. But we also nurture a special passion for technology, computer science and communication skills which we champion without ever compromising the highest standards of literacy and numeracy. We see unique potential in all our children and support them to become the very best versions of themselves. We currently deliver a 2-13 education but are extending to 16 over the next three years by welcoming year 9 in September 2021. Our educational approach is built around the 4Hs (Head, Hand, Heart and Health) with an ethos rooted in building the strongest relationships and on empathy and respect. Our young people recognise a need to be role models but also to lift others, to serve and to give. And we love to take education beyond the classroom making the most of our wonderful location and prioritising creativity, teamwork and pupil well-being. While we celebrate achievements right across the co-curricular range, we also acknowledge the value of the arts and exercise in shaping happy, healthy and resilient young lives. Above all else, we value our warmth and our sense of family and all visitors, young and old, quickly recognise just how keen we are to get to know them and to start including their individual journeys within our own. If you have ambition and want to be a part of an exciting project this is certainly a job that will provide you with opportunities and challenges. I hope that you enjoy the recruitment process and wish you the best of luck. Yours, Matt King Headmaster Further Information

Great Ballard School is a delightful, co-educational independent boarding and day school, for children aged 2½ - 13 years, but extending through to 16 years from September 2021, when we welcome our first ever Year 9. Set within 30 acres of the South Downs National Park and the Moore’s International Dark Sky Reserve, it is ideally situated to provide a stunningly natural educational environment combined with excellent transport links across the County. It is located between the cathedral city of and the charming market towns of Arundel and Petworth, an area steeped in history and boasting easy access to sandy beaches, fishing villages, historical and family attractions; it is one of the most beautiful locations in South-East England. Although the school is nestled near the south coast, London Victoria is approximately a 75- minute ride away from Barnham or Chichester train stations, Gatwick and Heathrow are easily accessible and Great Ballard School is less than 30 miles from Brighton and Portsmouth. Whilst there are a number of independent schools in the area, Great Ballard School is truly unique in providing individualised care and support for the children and a safe space in which each pupil can be inspired to discover what they can really achieve. Pupils are known by all staff, not just their form tutor and the school takes great pride in ensuring that none ever feel invisible or overlooked. Great Ballard understands that modern parents have work commitments and busy lives and the extended day and boarding options available reflect this.

School History Founded in 1924 by Ivor Poole, a choral scholar from King’s College Cambridge, Great Ballard was based initially in New Milton, . Originally, there were 20 boys and it was the aim of Mr Poole to run a school that was different to the traditional perception of a boarding school by engendering a love of the environment and nature, where education was provided in a caring environment and everyone was treated fairly. The school motto, “Vincit qui se vincit” which means “He conquers who conquers himself” was established then and is still as relevant today. With the onset of the Second World War, the school premises were commandeered by the Canadian forces so had to find a new home. The desire was to find another countryside location close to urban centres and after several moves, in March 1961, the school moved to in West Sussex. Eartham House is an 18th Century Grade II listed residence, originally occupied by the Hayley family and with a rich artistic and political history. It was entirely rebuilt in 1905 to designs by the architect Edwin Lutyens, and retains many original features. The current proprietors have had longstanding ownership and retain a strong emotional and financial investment which they are committed to handing to the next generation to ensure the school continues to benefit children in the years to come An Exciting Future Great Ballard’s spectacular site currently caters for children from Nursery through to Year 8 but, to accommodate Years 9, 10 and 11, a whole new school is being developed within the heart of the main building. Everything will be built around the Lutyens staircase and beautiful central corridor with some of Eartham House’s most historic rooms providing home for 6 new teaching spaces with communal spaces for all senior pupils. The common rooms demonstrate the school’s commitment to exemplary pastoral care and will provide spaces for individual and small group tutorials, hot chocolate with your teachers as well as room to read, study, play or just relax. The Year 10 and 11 centre will have a careers library and seminar room as well as its own kitchen encouraging students to develop their independence and sense of responsibility. As Mr King explains: “Great Ballard is a school that recognises the value of those important life skills. We want to treat our young people more like adults because we know they achieve more when we trust and believe in them. The atmosphere will give students an insight into what life will be like when they move on from us to 6th form colleges and then universities and we hope it will encourage them to set their sights high and aspire to be the very best versions of themselves.” The school is on an exciting journey and keen to make it with a team who are looking for something fresh, something different and something special.

The 4H Approach

HEAD HEART HAND HEALTH Ambitious, tailored Practical approaches Empathy and service Mental and physical teaching focusses on to learning embed foster a sense of wellbeing provide the individual progress and collaboration, belonging and self- foundations for confident, encourages intellectual creativity and worth, inspiring spirited learning and curiosity and future- communication and students to lift others vigorous, constructive ready problem solving foster a diverse range and lead positive lives of real world skills change Governance and Leadership The Proprietor is supported by an advisory Board of Governance drawn from the worlds of both education and business. This wide range of skills is invaluable for developing a clear vision for the future, and together they work hard to ensure that the school stays true to its ethos. The Proprietor and Board of Governance work closely with the Senior Leadership Team, (consisting of the Head, Business Manager, Deputy Head, and Head of Pre-Prep) advising, monitoring and supporting their endeavours. All those involved at the school work towards the aim of creating a caring learning environment where every child can flourish. bit of body text

The Candidate The school seeks an ambitious, highly motivated, proven or aspiring Business Manager to consolidate its strengths and to support the Proprietor and new Head in delivering the next stage of its development. The role holder will require the vision and drive to lead an ambitious estate development plan to further enhance the site. The Business Manager will lead and manage a diverse support staff, exercise oversight of the School’s financial resources, including charitable provision for bursaries and have a strategic overview of: the estate and buildings, including boarding accommodation; catering and soft-services; human resources and information technology.

The successful candidate will be able to establish highly effective, collaborative working relationships at all levels and will work closely with a range of talented senior and middle leaders as well as a committed staff and supportive Governing Body to ensure the School’s aims and vision are realised. Financial literacy and robust commercial judgement will be essential. Candidates will have a genuine interest in and empathy for education but prior experience of working in a school is not a prerequisite.

Job Description JOB TITLE: School Business Manager REPORTING TO: Managing Director and Chair of the Board of Governance PURPOSE OF THE ROLE: Overall responsibility for Accounting, Financial Strategy, IT, Compliance, Health and Safety, HR and Support Services. Nature and Scope of the Role Finance 1. Contributing to short, medium and long term plans that ensure both the sustainability and growth of the School. 2. Responsible for Accounting, Banking, Payroll, Pensions, Catering, IT. 3. Responsible for the production of termly accrual-based management accounts to present at Board of Governance meetings, and preparation of annual statutory accounts. 4. Preparing annual phased budgets and rolling financial forecasts. 5. Preparing ongoing cash-flow forecasts and liaising with external organisations on funding where appropriate. 6. Preparation and issue of fee invoices and collection of fees, including the management of Parent debtors. 7. Advising on, and implementing any, school fee changes. 8. Liaising with professional advisers including Auditors, Bankers, Pension providers and Insurance Brokers. 9. Responsible for regulatory compliance in line with Financial Regulations and ensuring Internal Controls are in place.

Buildings and Health and Safety 1. Management of Property and Grounds maintenance. 2. Dealing with any Health and Safety issues. 3. Management of Building improvements and new projects 4. Organising of tendering processes for the award of contracts for catering, cleaning, energy supply, IT support and telephone communication systems with regular monitoring of these contracts to ensure control and, where possible, savings on expenditure. 5. Management of site and building security. 6. Implementation and maintenance of Health and Safety Policies to ensure the wellbeing of staff, pupils and visitors and compliance with the H and S legislation both on the school premises and in relation to Risk Assessments for school trips and outings. 7. The provision and maintenance of the School fire prevention, detection and escape systems. 8. Assuring the School’s compliance with all relevant Health and Safety and Disability legislation. 9. The purchase, maintenance and insurance of school vehicles and their Public Service Vehicle licences. 10. Organising School Minibus runs. 11. The letting of school premises for outside organisations and weddings including drafting of agreements, billing and collecting the fees. 12. Liaising with Insurers to ensure adequate cover for lettings and other special events. Staff and Administration 1. In consultation with the headmaster, the engagement, management (including appraisals) and discipline of all non-teaching staff 2. All compliance and HR matters including the Single Central Register and Data Protection. 3. The maintenance and development of the school’s computerised accounting and administration system. 4. Updating and overseeing all school policies and risk assessments.

Marketing 1. Leading the marketing team in promoting the school, overseeing design of the school website, prospectus, local advertising and social media. Person Specification Qualifications and experience Degree level or equivalent, ideally with a financial qualification of ACA or CIMA Extensive experience of effective financial management and budgeting at a senior level is essential. Candidates will have a genuine interest in and empathy for education but prior experience of working in a school is not a prerequisite. The ability to support the educational aims of Great Ballard ensuring that the school is a safe, healthy and sustainable environment. The successful candidate will display an understanding of the needs of a school, be pupil-centred in her or his decision-making and demonstrate a knowledge of the political climate of independent schools Experience at management level including palpable experience of people management in a result oriented organisation; a strong track record in financial management and experience of premises management and compliance. Will have demonstrated excellent communication, writing and reporting skills, including presenting financial information to senior audiences and non-technical stakeholders in a clear and concise manner. Will have played a part as a team player in a leadership context and demonstrated successful outcomes in project management. Will have shown success in creative and strategic thinking and have a proven track record as a decisive and pragmatic problem-solver. Demonstrate an appetite for change and an ability to implement it at whole-organisation level. Will have shown evidence of working with and improving existing services as well as bringing innovation to a business. Will have evidenced strong business acumen; a demonstrable record of performance improvement in a complex organisation, delivering excellence and value for money in customer service. Show evidence of a keen business mind able to provide vision and strategic direction. Will have a successful track record in managing direct reports and taking a team forward successfully. Will have engaged with financial software and will have introduced technological solutions to aid the operational running of an organisation.it of body text Skills and behaviours Will make strategic decisions based on an understanding of the best educational outcomes for pupils and the stated aims and objectives of the School and be able to encourage others to do likewise. Will be able to implement school-wide changes and allocate resources in line with the school’s strategic planning, putting policies and procedures in place and communicating them to staff. Will have excellent inter-personal and soft skills (oral and written) and the ability to communicate in a confident, accurate and engaging manner at all levels. Will be able to work pro-actively in isolation and as a part of a team, showing self-motivation, resilience, flexibility and adaptability. Will be able to engage with the needs of a range of stakeholders, demonstrating high-level skills in diplomacy, negotiation and persuasion. Will be highly organised, able to deal with administration effectively and able to manage time effectively with a clear vision for identifying priorities. Will be able to focus on the practicalities of managing and progressing large scale projects whilst also demonstrating a developed eye for detail. Will have remarkable patience; an essential sense of humour; a winning personality and the flexibility and can-do attitude required in such unpredictable and challenging times!

The Application Process

Interested candidates are invited to contact Rachel Lewis to arrange a confidential discussion about the role: [email protected] 01243 814236

Candidates should complete the application form on the school website electronically and email it to Mrs Lewis together with a covering letter, addressed to the Proprietor, Mrs Sue Jay, which explains your reasons for applying.

Please email your completed application form and covering letter (both as PDF files please) to Rachel Lewis, at [email protected].

Closing date for applications: 11.00am (GMT) on Tuesday 9th February 2021.

Interviews will commence week beginning: 15th February

Great Ballard 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 must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS clearance.