School Governor with financial expertise - Volunteer

Centralfoundation; City of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational charity is looking for a School Governor with financial expertise to join the Governing Body at a prestigious girls' school in London. This voluntary role involves enhancing educational experiences for students and overseeing school performance. Suitable candidates should have a strong background in finance and be passionate about educational excellence.

Qualifications

• Experience in accounting or financial management is essential.
• Good verbal communicators who can ask insightful questions.
• Ability to build strong relationships and possess good analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Help create an inclusive environment where students thrive.
• Support the school's vision and educational performance.
• Join the Finance & Resources Committee of the Governing Body.

Skills

Financial expertise

Verbal communication

Analytical skills

Relationship building

Job description

School Governor with financial expertise - Volunteer

We are looking for a new governor with strong financial expertise, likely qualified as an accountant or with similar experience. You’ll be excited by delivering an excellent education for our students and keen to engage with our school’s development.

What difference will you make?

Your impact matters

As a Foundation Governor you will play a critical role in fulfilling our vision that through an exceptional Central Foundation education, every student learns, develops, and grows so they can reach their full potential.

The Girls' School provides a high-quality education for girls from 11 to 19 years old. A school that is rightfully proud to continue a long tradition of excellence in education as well as caring for the welfare of our students. A Central Foundation education involves providing students with a wide range of educational experiences not available to many state schools or students from the communities and backgrounds we serve.

As a governor at Central Foundation Girls' School, you will

• help to create an inclusive and empowering environment where every student thrives.
• help to transform lives through an unwavering commitment to high expectations and standards for all.
• be part of a school with a passion for learning which drives us to challenge and support each other, fostering excellence in every endeavour.
• value and celebrate the achievements of all community members, recognising the unique contributions each person brings.
• nurture positivity, creativity, innovation, and inspiration, to help cultivate a vibrant community where every individual feels empowered to succeed and make a difference.

Central Foundation Girls’ School is rightfully proud to continue a long tradition of excellence in education as well as caring for the welfare of our students. The school was originally established in 1726 and is now one of the largest schools in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. As a Foundation Governor you will ensure that tradition of excellence continues while keeping pace with the modern, changing world.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a new governor excited by and committed to the delivery of an excellent education for our students. We encourage applications from all members of society, regardless of background, gender, ethnicity, disability, or age. Applicants need to have a keen interest in the school and are prepared to play an active part in the governing body’s work to improve opportunities and outcomes for students. We are particularly interested in individuals who have had skilled and professional experience in accounting or finance.

More widely, we are keen that new governors add a breadth of skills, perspectives, and experience to enhance our work. We want people who are good verbal communicators, will ask insightful questions, are able to build strong relationships and have good analytical skills. It would be beneficial to also have local knowledge. Most important, you would have a keen interest in the school and be prepared to play an active part in the governing body’s work to help improve outcomes for our students.

What will you be doing?

We are looking for a new governor with professional experience accounting or financial management. The successful candidate will become part of a Governing Body comprising 18 members, all of whom are representatives of the school, and join the school’s Finance & Resources Committee.

Time Commitment

Governors usually spend ~20 hours per term on core governing duties. The Governing Body meets four times a year to undertake its regular duties, with occasional meetings for urgent or time critical decisions. Regular meetings currently take place on Wednesdays during term time, usually at 5/5.30pm. Governors also need to allow time to read papers and prepare for meetings. The Girls’ School Governing Body has three sub-committees – Finance & Resources, Curriculum, and Health & Safety and Personnel. These meet at least termly. We encourage governors to attend one governors' day per term when specific topics central to educational outcomes are highlighted for discussion with staff and students. Governors are also invited to attend public events such as school play performances, music concerts and prize‑giving ceremonies.

Skills And Background

Following a recent skills audit, we are particularly interested in individuals who have had experience in finance. We encourage applications from all members of society, regardless of background, gender, ethnicity, disability, or age.

Being a Foundation Governor

Governors come from a wide range of backgrounds and professions and include some appointed by the staff of the school, parents and the Tower Hamlets Local Authority. A majority of the governors are appointed by the Central Foundation Schools of London. As an Educational Charity we support two schools in inner London, the Girls' School and also Central Foundation Boys' School in Islington. This appointment will be a joint appointment by the Foundation and the Girls' School governing body. Training on the role of governor will be provided for successful candidates.

Becoming a Girls’ School Foundation Governor

The governing body has three core functions:

• Ensure clarity of vision, ethos, and strategic direction of our school;
• Hold the executive leaders to account for the educational performance of our school and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff;
• Oversee the financial performance of our school and make sure its money is well spent.

The successful candidates will join the governing body in Spring 2026 and will receive a full induction which is supported by ongoing training and development for all governors.