THE LUTTERWORTH ACADEMIES TRUST INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

FINANCE AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

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WELCOME TO THE LUTTERWORTH ACADEMIES TRUST FROM THE EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL, ANDREW COOPER

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We recruit people for attitude and train for skills

We aim to recruit outstanding people. We would rather make no appointment than appoint someone who is not suited to our ethos. For this reason we try to articulate clearly our vision, values and expectations when putting together information for applicants and we always give a lot of attention to appointing the right person.

We aim to recruit staff who:

are excited by their role and by the prospect of working with young people, even those who are less well motivated;

love the processes of learning and teaching and are keen to continually develop their own skills;

recognise that teaching can be a demanding job but get on with it rather than complaining; will subscribe to the ethos of the Trust and ‘go the extra mile’ in terms of time and

commitment to get the very best from our students; see break duty as an opportunity to talk to students; are quick to praise and slow to criticise; and are not afraid to admit to seeing themselves as potential leaders of the future.

I am conscious that this may be your first contact with The Lutterworth Academies Trust and first impressions are very important. I hope what you read, coupled with anything else you discover about us, inspires you to apply for this post.

THE LUTTERWORTH ACADEMIES TRUSTVISION, VALUES & ETHOS

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We want the schools within The Lutterworth Academies Trust to be judged as great schools for all the young people that attend them.

However, this has to be based on the things we believe matter – that is:

Offering the right mix of courses for our students (and not introducing courses or approaches that would artificially improve our performance table position rather than directly benefit our students);

Teaching our students really well so that they enjoy coming to school; Having high aspirations for students of all backgrounds: every student should reach their

full potential; no student should be left behind; A commitment to the development of the whole person - we want students to make the

most of participation and leadership opportunities.

A number of factors can get in the way of students reaching their full potential such as a belief that “this student cannot succeed” or a lack of a structure that allows learning to take place. Regardless of what happens outside College, it is important we provide a safe, structured place for young people to learn.

The following beliefs apply equally to students, staff and governors:

A belief that effort can lead to success; A belief that everyone has the capacity to learn and improve, therefore it is important to be

reflective and to learn from experience; A belief in teamwork and working collaboratively and wanting to share good practice in

order to improve; A belief that schools are the hub of an extended local community and that involving parents

and community members in our school is central to our existence and success.

What this means for all of us if we are to put these beliefs into practice:

‘If you want to predict the future you must invent the future.’ (Alan Kay) We will work hard to be aware of what is happening beyond our school so that we can predict future trends at an early stage and remain in control of our destiny (rather than

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being at the mercy of external initiatives).

We will be willing to take risks, to try new things, to experiment so that as an organisation we are flexible and innovative. This can occur only in a climate where mistakes are not automatically seen as negative but rather as an experience from which to learn.

What we will need in terms of skills and abilities: Be able to communicate effectively; Be able to plan ahead and organise effectively; Be committed to the personal and professional development of ourselves.

What this means in terms of attitudes and approaches: We will be committed to high standards and high expectations for all; We will listen to and respect the views of others; We will have a sense of responsibility by taking ownership of issues; We will take a pride in what we do.

And finally, ‘The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.’ Stephen R Covey.

We need to make a conscious commitment to place teaching and learning at the heart of everything we do. Keeping teaching and learning as the ‘main thing’ requires us to bear two key principles in mind:

1. Everything in the organisation must be based explicitly upon teaching and learning. Effective schools display high degrees of internal consistency. One way of achieving this is to make sure there is a shared understanding of, and commitment to high quality teaching and learning, in particular, helping students to become better learners.

2. Staff must also be learners. In other words, learning must not be confined to something we do with students. The deeper we understand teaching and learning, the better able we are to facilitate it in others.

Our Ethos

Lutterworth College is an inclusive Church of England school and we welcome young people of all faiths and none. The Sir Frank Whittle Studio School has no association with any particular faith.

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Our ethos should be evident in: The content of our curriculum. The study of a wide range of religions is to be taken

seriously and we will encourage open and honest debate about the nature of faith and the way faith is practised inside and outside the school;

The way in which we encourage our young people to become open to serve others and emphasise the importance of service above self;

The respect for democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs;

The understanding and appreciation of the range of different cultures within school and further afield;

The way we acknowledge that we are connected to each other, dependent upon each other, members of one body and in the membership there can be no isolated suffering or joy;

The way we celebrate. Students and adults should be made aware of the rhythms of the Christian year and the features of the festivals of other faiths;

The opportunities students have for silence and reflection. This may occur in assemblies or it may occur in worship within a faith room in the schools;

The ways the schools practice trust and demonstrate forgiveness. The hallmarks of our ethos will be seen in the way we cope when mistakes have been made and the priority we give to providing a safe, structured environment for our students;

The way we encourage and lead young people into asking the deeper and harder questions about self and our place within the wider world;

The way we regard education as formation rather than function.

“The experience of learning isn’t always just a matter of learning to function within a society successfully enough to survive; it opens doors for the individual and for the whole group. Education is the forming of a constructively critical mind-set.” (Archbishop Rowan Williams)

THE POST

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I thought it might be helpful to provide some notes on the role, as you make up your mind about whether to apply.

The Lutterworth Academies Trust comprises two schools: Lutterworth College is a large 14-19 school which will become an 11-19 school from September 2015. The Sir Frank Whittle Studio School is a small 14-19 school specialising in Engineering and Business which opened in September 2014.

This is a very important post which requires someone with drive and ambition. The business management function at Lutterworth College was restructured around the time of our conversion to academy status in spring 2012 and the Finance and Operations Director now works alongside the multi-academy trust’s Human Resources Manager with both posts covering both schools in the Trust and reporting directly to the CEO/Executive Principal.

Leading on finance is the key element of the role and the person appointed will need to have a strong track record in this area. The Trust delivers many services in house including the payroll for up to 400 staff and the successful delivery of this service is an important function of the finance team. The Finance and Operations Director will also provide the line management of our Premises Manager and Catering Manager. We have developed strong trading activities with in house catering provision and significant community use of the site and the person appointed will be expected to lead the further development of these activities and line manage colleagues with responsibilities in these areas. The role also involves ad-hoc project work and the successful candidate will lead and manage projects across the Trust.

We are genuinely open-minded about the background of potential applicants for this role. Whilst we recognise there may well be staff from a school background seeking career development we will equally welcome applicants from other backgrounds with skills and experiences relevant to the role. Regardless of the background, the ability to lead and develop the financial and other functions to support the development of our students will be paramount.

We place great importance on the development of our staff and would commit to providing you with effective support and guidance for both your induction and on-going professional development.

Finally, your ability to work with me – by which I do not mean agree with me – will be crucial.

Please feel free to give our current Finance and Operations Director a call if you have any questions; likewise, you are very welcome to come and visit the Trust before you decide to apply. See schedule on page 10.

Andrew CooperExecutive Principal

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The Lutterworth Academies TrustBitteswell Road

LutterworthLeicestershire

LE17 4EW

FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR£37,524 - £47,340 per annum

dependent on qualifications and experience

An outstanding opportunity to provide the leadership of the financial operations of the multi-academy trust. Candidates should have direct experience of strategic financial planning, managing financial functions and a strong record of delivery against accounting and other standards. The ability to lead and develop effective teams is essential.We would like from you:To lead with energy and enthusiasm.To provide the strategic financial management of the Trust to support the development of our students.To lead and manage the Trust’s Premises & Catering teams.To provide advice and guidance to the Executive Principal and Board of Directors on strategic planning and other operational aspects.

We can offer you:Excellent professional development.The chance to join an organisation that is going places.

For further information and details of how to apply please access our website www.lutterworthcollege.comand return completed application forms and covering letter to:

Becky Towe. E-Mail: r.towe@lc.leics.sch.uk  Tel: 01455 555332

Closing Date: 9am Monday 27 October Interview Date: Thursday 13 November

The Lutterworth Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.Executive Principal: Andrew Cooper

At the hub of Britain’s motorway network, Lutterworth is a town withineasy access to London and the Midlands

THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT

The Finance Department at The Lutterworth Academies Trust is a welcoming, pro-active and customer focused team consisting of this post holder, and 3 highly experienced and capable part time members of staff who have been with the organisation for between 11 and 22 years, and have therefore ‘seen it all’ at one time or another!

The department works flexibly across 52 weeks of the year and responsibilities include:

Monthly payroll for approx. 290 permanent staff and up to 70 casual staff Processing & submission of pension data for Local government and Teacher Pension

schemes Processing & submission of HMRC data Processing & submission of quarterly VAT returns to HMRC Accounts payable including ordering and BACS payments to suppliers Accounts receivable & credit control Collecting & recording of school trip forms and monies Management and development of cashless systems within the Trust Cash flow & management of College funding End of month accounts and reports for the Executive Principal, budget holders & the Board

of Directors Collecting & recording of monies raised for Charities Strategic financial planning, forecasting and effective management of approx. £9.7m

revenue budget

SAGE payroll has been used since 2003 when payroll was first brought in-house. SAGE is also used for the College, Studio School and Trust accounts.

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Additional software used within the department includes: SIMS.net, Excel, HCSS budget software, Trust-e cashless software and internet banking software.

Due to the nature of its work, the team works closely with many departments, in particular the HR team which is situated in adjacent offices.

RECRUITMENT TIMETABLE

If you wish to take up the opportunity for a telephone discussion or a visit with our current Finance and Operations Director or if you have any other specific enquiries please contact Becky Towe, Recruitment Administrator: r.towe@lc.leics.sch.uk in the first instance. Please note that this visit/discussion will not form part of the selection process.

Date: Friday 10 October Advertisement appears in Accountancy Age, NASBM website, local and regional papers

Date: Week commencing 20 October School visits and telephone opportunity to discuss any aspect of the role with Claire Hersey Tel: 01455 205106 (if required but not part of the selection process).

Date: Monday 27 October Closing date for applications (by 9am).

Date: Week commencing 27 October Longlisting, candidates will be contacted during this week.

Date: Friday 7 November Telephone interviews.

Date: Monday 10 November Shortlisting, candidates will be contacted.

Date: Thursday 13 November Interviews.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post Title: Finance and Operations Director

Purpose of Post:

1) To provide the strategic financial management of the Lutterworth Academies Trust to support the development of our students. To provide advice and guidance to the Executive Principal and Board of Directors on strategic financial planning and other operational aspects. To be responsible for ensuring that the finances are managed in accordance with statutory regulations and that high levels of customer service are provided.

2) To lead, manage and support the operation of the Trust’s Premises & Catering teams.

Reporting To: Executive Principal

Responsible For:

Administrative Assistant (2)Clerical Assistant (1)Premises Manager (1)Catering Manager (1)

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Salary / Grade: Grade 13/14 - £37,524 - £47,340

Hours: Full time 37 hours per week.

It is anticipated that there will be a higher demand for work during college termtime with an on-going need for work in college holidays. There will be arequirement to attend events such as training and meetings that may take placeoutside normal working hours. A flexible approach will be neededto accommodate the demands of the post.

Main (Core) Duties

Strategic: Providing the leadership and management of our financial development including:

Undertake strategic financial planning and providing advice to the Executive Principal and Board of Directors on the most effective use of resources;

Ensuring that the financial functions operate in accordance with statutory regulations;

Interpretation of new legislation and guidance and identification of the implications for the Trust.

Ensure the effectiveness of the team to maximise the positive impact on teaching and learning, safeguarding of children and extended services provision;

Ensuring effective procedures for the recruitment, appointment, induction, review and development of staff in the team;

Develop and implement procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of the team and feed directly into improvement planning;

Establish standard operating procedures and other processes to maximise the efficiency of the team and provide for service continuity in the event of staff absence;

Develop an on-going customer service focus; Develop and share good practice in the team, across the Trust and into

partnerships with other schools and relevant bodies; Securing arrangements to source external advice where appropriate; To lead the development of income generation through seeking grants and

developing trading services as appropriate.

FinanceManagement:

Provide the management of Finance including:

Ensure that finances are managed effectively and in compliance with all relevant financial regulations.

To be responsible for the preparation and setting of annual and long-term budgets including revised estimates, savings and growth and the identification of future changes in funding levels and expenditure needs.

To be responsible for the monitoring of the budget for the current financial year including reporting to budget holders, senior management and Board of Directors.

To establish appropriate arrangements for the financial planning and monitoring of any traded activities.

To prepare business case assessments and advise on the suitability and viability of projects and initiatives.

Preparation of year end accounts Liaison with external auditors and establishment of appropriate internal

audit processes

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Provide advice to budget holders, staff and the Board of Directors relating to the efficient management of resources.

Ensure effective arrangements for the provision of a payroll system for the Trust staff including returns to HMRC and other bodies.

Ensure that procurement arrangements represent best value and meet relevant tendering procedures.

Ensure proper accounting records are kept and control exercised over accounting arrangements.

PremisesManagement:

To manage the Premises Manager to ensure that the estates function is run effectively and in accordance with the operational needs of the Trust and any regulatory requirements including:

The maintenance and development of the site and buildings to meet the needs of users and ensure that there is a safe environment

Production and maintenance of site maintenance and development plans Maintaining high standards of security of the site and contents Arrangements are in place for the maintenance, servicing, testing and

inspection of site equipment, fixtures and vehicles Arrangements are in place to deal with emergency repairs or call outs Purchasing arrangements represent best value and that contracts are

secured in accordance with financial guidelines and regulations Developing and promoting energy efficiency measures The operation and development of cleaning and grounds maintenance

services either through outsourcing or in house operation Arrangements are in place for the site to remain operational during

inclement weather The work of the estates team and contractors meets the requirements of

health and safety and other regulations Systems for telecommunications, porterage, laundry and waste disposal Maintaining licences as necessary Secure arrangements to source external advice where appropriate

Health &Safety:

To manage the Premises Manager who is the college’s Health and Safety Officer to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made to:

Maintain and develop the Health and Safety Policy Provide advice and guidance to other staff to assist them with the

discharge of their responsibilities Develop and implement an internal audit process Ensure effective procedures are is in place for reporting of accidents and

near misses Ensure adequate levels of qualified First Aid staff are available as

necessary Ensure H & S is being discharged correctly across all extended service

provisions Provide for the control and co-ordination of emergency evacuation

procedures

CateringManagement:

TradingActivities:

To manage the Catering Manager, to ensure that the catering facilities are run effectively and in accordance with the operational needs of the Trust;

Continuation of successful catering function providing healthy food that students enjoy and meet the wider hospitality needs of the Trust.

Ensuring compliance with all required legislation and regulations. Management and development of cashless catering.

To promote and develop the trading activities including: The development of our in house catering operation Establishing, monitoring and developing procedures for community access

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without negatively impacting on the day to day operation of the Trust Ensuring that community use of the site is in accordance with health and

safety and other regulatory requirements including co-ordination of risk assessment procedures

Ensuring appropriate budge monitoring arrangements for trading activities

Additional duties to include: As part of a team of support staff, provide assistance with the invigilation of examinations if

required As a member of staff working in a school setting to have a duty to help keep young people safe

and to protect them from sexual, physical and emotional harm and to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety and well-being of students

To ensure awareness of and compliance with  personal responsibilities and requirements communicated in Trust policies and procedures including Health & Safety

As a member of staff in an organisation that works in partnership with other organisations, to contribute to the development and sharing of good practice into partnerships with other schools and relevant bodies. This may include undertaking duties and work in other schools and at other locations

To hold a First Aid at Work certificate May be required to accompany and supervise students on educational visits As a member of staff in a school setting you will have the opportunity to participate in programmes

for mentoring students and to participate in extra curricular activities To carry out such other duties which may be required from time to time within the grading of the

post. To work across The Lutterworth Academies Trust where appropriate – this may mean working in

more than one school.

Any Special Conditions of Service: No smoking policy

PERSON SPECIFICATIONCandidates will be assessed on the following:

QUALIFICATIONS Financial qualifications eg ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA preferable but not essential Recognised degree OR professional qualification in a field relating to School Business

Management/Business Administration

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING Experience of leading the strategic financial planning for a large organisation/service unit Evidence of successful management and leadership of teams Experience/knowledge to secure arrangements for the effective Facilities Management

provision The ability to provide the leadership of other functions in the job description Track record of successful project management Proven experience of high quality school self-evaluation Policy formulation, evaluation and review Competent user of ICT Understanding of school context Experience of working in an education environment would be advantageous but certainly

not essential

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

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Be able to work sympathetically with the ethos of the Trust, developing effective and purposeful relationships

Be able to communicate effectively and persuasively Be able to manage time effectively by prioritising ruthlessly Be able to manage and develop people and teams Be able to allocate, organise and monitor resources Be able to plan and organise effectively Be able to motivate and inspire others Be able to recognise and manage stress in themselves and others Be able to understand and interpret a range of data Be committed to the professional development of themselves and others

ATTITUDES AND APPROACHES A reflective practitioner with a desire for continuous improvement Want to develop own learning and do things differently and better Committed to high standards and high expectations for all A commitment to working in a Leadership Team within a multi-academy trust to develop a

collaborative vision which embraces excellence, high standards and inclusion Possess energy and enthusiasm Enjoy relating to and can build rapport with staff Willing to learn from and with others in the development of good practice Have a good sense of humour Have humility Willing to try out new ideas Flexible, so that when you are asked at short notice to change responsibilities, you

recognise that this is the way leadership is Willingness to take a full role in the life of the Trust Ambitious – can see an opportunity to make an impact and develop own leadership skills

HOW TO APPLY

Please read the information in this pack. If you decide to apply you should include a letter with your application form on no more than two sides of A4, giving your reasons for applying for the post, addressing information you have read in the pack and particularly the person specification, and outline any relevant experience and personal qualities you would bring to the Lutterworth Academies Trust. Please do not send a general letter; we really are looking for someone who is prepared to respond to us as an individual school. You can be sure we will take time and care in reading your letter; we appreciate how much energy goes into it. Please ensure that you address your application to Mrs Becky Towe, Human Resources Department (r.towe@lc.leics.sch.uk)

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