Director of Finance & Resources
Devonport High School for Girls, Plymouth, Devon, PL2 3DL27 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
23 March 2026 at 9am
Date listed
23 February 2026
Job details
Job role
- Other leadership roles
- Administration, HR, data and finance
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: 37 hours Monday to Friday All Year Round
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £58,973 - £63,545
What skills and experience we're looking for
MAIN DUTIES
Strategic Leadership
- To work with the Head Teacher and the Trustees as a member of the School Leadership Team (SLT) in order to secure a strong financial position for the school.
- Contribute positively and take responsibility as part of the SLT for strategic decision making within the school.
- Be an active and supportive member of the SLT and demonstrate the overall ethos and aims of the school.
- Lead key support areas of the school including finance and accounting, HR, procurement, administration, premises management, catering and Health & Safety.
Financial Management
- Is the Chief Financial Officer for the School, responsible for the management of the school accounting function, ensuring its efficient operation according to agreed procedures.
- Review all accounting and financial procedures annually to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and other requirements, including the DfE’s Academies Trust Handbook.
- Prepare for approval by the Head Teacher and the Trustees the annual budget for the School and submit the plan to the DfE by the published deadline.
- Provide regular management accounts for budget holders, the Head Teacher and the Trustees in relation to monitoring of expenditure and income.
- Work effectively with all budget holders so they understand the resources available to them and how to achieve value for money in the use of those resources in the delivery of learning and teaching.
- Continue to develop, review and implement the school’s financially related policies, processes and procedures, including all aspects of financial budget planning and management, income generation, audit and control in order to make the best use of the financial resources.
- Responsible for effective and appropriate procurement including insurance, school services, and service level agreements.
- Ensure the effectiveness of the school’s governance arrangements in order to enable the school to meet financial compliance with the DfE, company and charity law, and other statutory requirements.
- Take the lead on the preparation for internal and external audits throughout the year, including the Teacher Pension Audit.
- To complete and return annual DfE surveys (Charities Commission, Land and Buildings Collection Tool, Accounts Return, Schools Resource Management Self-Assessment Checklist, Budget Forecast Return etc.).
- To lead on procurement, finding the best contracts available that ensure quality and value for money (e.g. Gas, Electricity, insurance etc).
- Ensure an understanding and appropriate treatment of funds.
- Work with the Development Officer to ensure the generation of donations to the school and fund raising.
Human Resources (HR)
- Responsible for all HR matters relating to school staff, in conjunction with our HR Advisor. To ensure all pre-employment checks are satisfactorily completed and renewed as required. To keep oversight of the single central record maintained by the Personnel Manager. To oversee the recruitment process and issue of contracts of employment.
- Responsible for ensuring the provision of the outsourced payroll service for all school staff, with the implementation of the various pension schemes and other deduction schemes, where appropriate.
- Responsible for reconciliation of monthly payroll.
- Responsible for all annual returns in relation to pension audits and HMRC statutory requirements.
- Ensure the Schools Workforce Return is completed annually.
- Ensure the school’s Pay Policy is updated annually in line with terms and conditions of employment for all staff.
- Lead the recruitment, annual support staff development programme and professional development of all school support staff.
- Participate as an active member of the school’s Joint Negotiating Committee meeting with external Trades Unions to discuss and consult on contracts of employment and other terms and conditions of service.
- To have oversight of Support Staff Appraisals, co-ordinating the annual setting and reviewing of performance objectives.
- To take the lead on the absence management process for all staff, including return to work interviews when trigger points are met.
IT
- Lead on the strategic development of ICT, in conjunction with the Network Manager and SLT.
Facilities Management and Health & Safety
- Act as the school’s Health & Safety Co-ordinator and have oversight of Fire Safety for the buildings and site; ensure records are kept for alarm tests and practices and that emergency evacuation procedures are in place and regularly reviewed.
- Responsible for ensuring the effective maintenance of the school site and buildings. This includes the oversight of the preparation of maintenance schedules by the Estates’ Manager, and that all statutory checks and services are carried out.
- Maintain the asset register and risk register and provide regular reports to the Head Teacher and the Trustees.
- Oversight of lettings, and the development of school facilities for out of hours use in conjunction with the Estates’ Manager.
Catering
- Oversee the catering provision for the school.
- Work with the Catering Manager to ensure that meals are of the highest standard and comply with the Healthy Schools Agenda.
- Oversee the operation of the cashless catering system.
- Provide regular reports on the catering budget to the Head Teacher and the Trustees.
Capital Projects
- Identify additional sources of capital funding and bid for resources to facilitate the school’s long term development.
- Co-ordinate the drawing up of outline specifications for new buildings, obtaining tenders, planning permission and liaison with the school’s project management provider, architect and building contractors, where appropriate.
- Monitor, evaluate and review all capital projects, with a particular focus on safety, financial controls, building quality and other contractual issues as appropriate.
Income Generation and Best Value
- Maximise income generation and internal cost savings within the ethos of the school.
- Oversee the implications of the lettings policy and maximise income generation through lettings of the school premises.
- Investigate alternative sources of external funding, and lead and co-ordinate the preparation of bids to external agencies for facilities, resources and funding.
- Negotiate and monitor contracts and tenders for the provision of services to the school that will maximise best value.
What the school offers its staff
At Devonport High School for Girls, our mission is to ensure that all of our students receive an exceptional educational experience, through a wealth of opportunities within a nurturing environment, leading to outstanding achievements. This is an exciting time to join our school on our continuing journey to fulfil our mission.
Our teachers, support staff and Trustees are all committed to the DHSG mission and strive to ensure that it becomes a reality for our students. DHSG has a long tradition of excellence and was founded in 1908. We are proud of our history, but our main focus is looking to the future. We are a 21st century grammar school, whilst retaining the best academic traditions. We look after our staff at DHSG and have systems in place to support and develop our colleagues, including wellbeing. For example, we have an additional week for half term for all staff in October/November, which is paid.
We are a highly successful and oversubscribed 11-18 selective grammar school and one of the country’s highest performing state schools. Our students are absolutely fantastic and we value our staff here, and as such have sensible policies and systems in place.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced check by the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Devonport High School for Girls
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 916 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Devonport High School for Girls website
- Email address
- recruitment@dhsg.co.uk
- Phone number
- 01752 705024
A highly successful and oversubscribed 11-18 selective grammar school
Arranging a visit to Devonport High School for Girls
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@dhsg.co.uk.
School location
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