Job Description

Northwood College

Hillingdon
81,210 per year

Job type:

Full Time, Permanent

Apply by:

29 September 2025

Job overview

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Required from:

November 2025

Contract term:

Permanent

Hours:

36 hours per week - full year round

Salary:

Senior Leadership payscale (from 81,280)

The role:

We are seeking applications from accomplished and strategic leaders to join Northwood College for Girls as Director of Finance and Operations. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the long-term development of a well-established school in the GDST network, and to contribute at the heart of a purposeful and high-performing senior leadership team.


This is a key senior leadership post, reporting directly to the Head and forming part of the School's Senior Leadership Team. The DFO is responsible for the strategic leadership and day-to-day management of all non-teaching operations, including finance and accounting, estates and facilities, IT, HR, administration, health and safety, catering, cleaning, and school transport.


The successful candidate will act as a trusted strategic partner to the Head, with a key role in driving operational excellence, inspection readiness, and long-term planning. With oversight of finance, compliance, infrastructure and services, the DFO will ensure that the school's resources and support functions are aligned with its strategic objectives and educational vision.

Key responsibilities include:

Leading all aspects of school finance, including budget preparation, management accounts, payroll, and financial planning in collaboration with the GDST Finance team Managing the estates and facilities function, including site operations, capital projects, compliance, and sustainability initiatives Line managing the IT team and overseeing the delivery of robust, secure and future-facing digital infrastructure in partnership with the Trust's central IT function Leading on inspection readiness, health and safety, compliance and business continuity planning Overseeing administration, HR, catering, cleaning, and school transport operations Supporting the Head in the development of business cases and income generation opportunities Building strong relationships with staff, pupils, parents and the wider community, and contributing to major events and school life
We are looking for someone who:

Has proven leadership experience in financial and/or operational leadership, preferably with strong working knowledge of school policies, compliance frameworks, and school operations Brings sound financial and commercial judgement, with the ability to lead business planning and deliver services effectively in a complex educational setting Can confidently lead and develop high-performing teams across multiple operational functions Is solutions-focused and collaborative, with the ability to work closely with the Head to deliver the school's strategic priorities Has an understanding of how operational functions underpin outstanding teaching, learning and pupil experience

This is an excellent opportunity for a current finance and operations professional seeking a new challenge - whether to broaden your professional remit, lead in a new school context, or take on more strategic responsibility within a highly collegiate leadership team.

About the School:

Northwood College for Girls is an independent, academically selective day school for approximately 880 girls aged 3-18. At NWC, we value character and academic rigour equally. Our curriculum ignites intellectual curiosity and fosters emotional intelligence, building resilience through challenge. An NWC education enables every girl to lead a purposeful life and feel successful in their learning.





Both pupils and staff are encouraged to find and develop their passions and talents, through clubs, societies and an extensive programme of CPD. All members of the NWC community are expected to act with compassion and integrity, with respect for others and the environment and an awareness of global responsibility.





Everyone is equally valued in our NWC family and our dynamic young women are proud of their school. Looking after one another and rejoicing in one another's successes comes second nature to a NWC girl as does her 'can-do' attitude and drive.





NWC is at an exhilarating moment in its evolution, with a dynamic and ambitious Senior Leadership Team and a range of new developments (including a Sixth Form Centre and the Alvarium science building). The successful candidate will be similarly ambitious for the school and ready to make an impact in our vibrant learning community.

Benefits:

As part of the GDST, the UK's leading network of independent girls' schools, we can offer a variety of benefits, such as:Competitive salaries and pay progression Access to extensive professional development opportunities Training grants for qualifications Generous pension scheme Free life assurance benefit Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme A discount of up to 50% on fees for children at GDST schools Interest-free loans for training, computer purchase loans and travel season ticket loans A Cycle to Work scheme Competitive terms and conditions of employment Access to the school gym and swimming pool Free school lunches during term time Retail and lifestyle discounts via Pluxee Financial guidance and support

For further details and an application form please visit the school's website.

Studies have shown that women and people from under-represented ethnicities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single aspect of a job description and person specification. At NWC we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so we encourage you to apply even if your past experience does not align perfectly with every qualification or experience in the information provided.

Applications must be received by 4pm on Monday 29 September 2025.

First stage interviews will take place the following week.

The GDST is committed to diversity, inclusion and real change: a family where every individual is valued, respected and included.

We are dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. As part of our commitment to ensuring a safe environment for children, all applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post. This process includes checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified individuals. To be eligible for employment, candidates must provide proof of their right to work in the UK.

Recruiter contact:

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Email us

Call us

About

Northwood College

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Northwood College

Maxwell Road, Northwood
Middlesex
HA6 2YE
United Kingdom

+44 1923 825446

"Northwood College is EXCELLENT in every category" - ISI inspection report, March 2012.

Northwood College is an independent day school for girls, which was founded in 1878 in Central London. By 1892 it had moved to its present site on Maxwell Road. Careful, planned development over the decades has ensured that the College has facilities which enable it to provide a high quality of education appropriate to modern needs. Further development is outlined in the school's strategic building plan over the next ten-year period.



The completion of a new Performing Arts block, comprising drama studio, recital hall, three teaching rooms including an ICT suite of 16 MAC computers, 10 smaller practice rooms, offices, assembly area and conservatory, in October 2004, marked the beginning of this development. Two new ICT suites opened in September 2005, providing four suites throughout the school plus a mobile bank of laptops. A new Early Years Centre, called Bluebelle House, containing 14 PCs for Nursery and Reception classes, opened in April 2009. In addition, there are approximately 60 interactive classboards.

Our Ethos

Teaching at Northwood College is a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. Girls are of above average ability, motivated and keen to learn. They come from a wide variety of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and all the world's major religions are represented by the girls - as well as a number of the minor faiths. The atmosphere at Northwood College is unique. Relationships between girls and between girls & staff are excellent. We are an extremely harmonious community that places great emphasis on valuing the individual and expecting the highest standards of behaviour in order to maintain the principles of mutual respect, tolerance and consideration for others which characterise our community. There are approximately 750 girls aged 3-18 on roll, with approximately 100 in the Sixth Form.



As girls are able, the pace of teaching is brisk. Our unique "Thinking Skills" initiative challenges us all to consider the way we teach so that we enable our girls to be able to think critically and creatively, and thus help to prepare them for the rigours of the future. Staff are expected to be committed fully to this programme and training is provided in support of this.



We believe that it is important for every girl to develop her individual talents - whether academic, musical, dramatic, artistic, sporting or organisational. Every girl, from our youngest nursery pupil to our most sophisticated sixth former, is valued for her own unique contribution to the school community.



We encourage girls to recognise their own achievements and those of others. Girls display mutual respect and understanding. Initiative, independence, social responsibility and concern for others are highly valued. We offer a strong system of pastoral care which ensures that every girl feels confident and secure. The College has a warm, friendly atmosphere, and older girls take opportunities to help younger ones.



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