Head of Finance & Business Services recruitment

 The Academies were created in September 2011 from three predecessor schools. As schools, all higher level financial and business management was provided by the local authority. However, the Academies now operate on an independent financial basis and need to manage their own accounting, tax, procurement, contracts and other business functions as well as generating income from the letting of Academy facilities and the provision of services to other local schools and community organisations.

Both Academies are undergoing a period of extensive change, including the construction of a new brand state of the art building for Hastings and a major rebuild / refurbishment for St Leonards. All our business processes need to be reviewed to ensure that they are effective and meet the needs of the new organisations.

Your role will be to lead this change with support from the Director of Resources.

The requirements

• You will be a qualified accountant and educated to degree level, with several years post-qualifying experience managing a team of staff.

• You will have excellent IT and financial analysis skills and have a good working knowledge of charity and VAT legislation.

• You will have experience of managing projects and implementing changes to enable processes to be streamlined, brought up to date and made more efficient.

• You must be an excellent communicator, and be capable of building good working relationships, both throughout the Academy and with external organisations.

• Well organised and self-motivated, you will have the ability to lead, motivate and mentor others.

• You will show good commercial acumen and be able to contribute new ideas which you are able to sell and then implement, where applicable.

About us

Building on a platform of success, The Hastings and St Leonards Academies have brought together mutually supportive and collaborative schools which have been part of the Hastings Federation since 2008.

The Academies are currently involved in a phased programme of capital investment which will culminate in both the Hastings Academy and the St Leonards Academy moving into new and refurbished buildings during 2013/2014.

Benefits

We offer excellent training and prospects, as well as an attractive salary and benefits package

Safeguarding

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  Successful applicants will need to undertake, or currently hold, a CRB enhanced clearance for this authority.

Apply

For an informal conversation about this role, please contact Peter O’Connor, Personnel Officer on 01424 711925.

For an application form, please visit www.hasla.org.uk

Please send postal applications to:  Personnel Officer, The St Leonards Academy

Darwell Close, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN38 9JP or alternatively, email your completed application form clicking on "Apply Online". 

Closing date: 1200 noon Tuesday 17 July 2012.