Head of Finance
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:
- School Accountant
- Accounts Manager
- Payroll Manager
- Accounts Payable Clerk
- Accounts Receivable Clerk
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.
Start date: 1 August 2025Hours: 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.
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
If you have any questions regarding the role, please contact Ian Williams, Bursar: idw@mtsn.org.uk
Applications to (email or post):
Recruitment Officer,Merchant Taylors’ School,
Sandy Lodge,
Northwood,
Middlesex,
HA6 2HT
Email: recruitment@mtsn.org.uk
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.