Head of Finance at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
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Friday 10th October 2025.
Reports To:
School Principal
Responsible For:
Finance Team
Department:
Finance
Location:
The majority of the Theatre School's activities are based at the School's Downside Road, Clifton site, with input at other relevant locations as required.
Hours:
This is a part-time post, predicated on 24 hours each week. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School supports flexible working whilst ensuring that the operational needs of the School are met.
Salary:
£36,000 per annum (based on the full-time equivalent of £60,000 per annum)
Benefits:
* Flexible working hours, according to business needs.
* Complimentary tickets to Theatre School productions.
* Invitation to annual screening of students' film work.
* Join alumni masterclasses arranged for current students.
* Parking space on a first-come-first-served basis.
* Bring your (well-behaved) dog to work.
* Employee Assistance Programme available to all staff.
* Staff-led groups.
* Supportive and friendly environment.
Pension:
7.5% employee contribution and 10% employer contribution to workplace pension administered by the People's Pension
Holidays:
20 days per holiday year inclusive of bank holidays (based on the full-time equivalent of 33 days inclusive of bank holidays)
Notice Period:
3 months, after successful completion of probationary period
Probationary Period:
6 months
Duties & Responsibilities:
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES
* Working closely with the Principal & CEO, and Deputy Principal, to have overall responsibility for the financial management of the charity known as Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and its subsidiary companies and activities.
* Ensuring appropriate and efficient systems are in place to generate accurate and timely management accounts - including producing annual budgets, rolling cash flows, forecasts, monthly accounts and other reports as required.
* Working on financial modelling & forecasting, on long-term cash & capital forecasts and any other specialist ad hoc reports required by the School and its Trustees, auditors, partners, regulators or other related organisations.
* As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, working collaboratively to ensure the best use of the financial resources to achieve the charity's financial and strategic plans.
* Working with very limited financial resources both in terms of the budget for the finance function and systems and for the organisation as a whole
* Assuming line management responsibilities as required.
FINANCIAL, STRATEGIC AND STATUTORY REPORTING
* Present and report financial performance information at Council of Trustees, Executive Leadership, Senior Management and Finance Committee meetings.
* Present and report external and internal audit information and internal control status at Audit Committee meetings.
* Take overall responsibility for reporting all required financial, student and other information to UWE Bristol according to deadlines given.
* Submit all required financial and statutory returns and information to the Charity Commission, Companies House and HMRC.
* Ensure adherence to all statutory and best practice policies and procedures across finance generally across the School.
* Collaborate with the external auditors, internal stakeholders and the Board in the accurate and timely production of the annual accounts.
FINANCIAL CONTROL
The role will manage the Finance team to deliver the following objectives:
* Implement and adhere to an agreed set of accounting principles.
* Ensure that financial systems are effective and appropriate.
* Prepare and present management accounts at required intervals.
* Cash flow and treasury management.
* Oversee the annual budgets as modelled, prepare updated forecasts and produce financial models as required.
* Monitor funding, performance and other income streams, and liaise with all relevant income partners as required.
* Control and award departmental and other expenditure budgets, setting delegated authority levels and support budget holders to deliver timely and accurate budget reconciliations and reporting.
* Encourage and support the generation of additional income.
* Act as the main contact for the external and internal auditors, bankers and HMRC.
* Monitoring and managing the charity's restricted and designated funds and any required liaison with fund representatives.
ADMISSIONS
* Liaise closely with the Admissions Manager to identify required annual student numbers and intake.
HUMAN RESOURCES (HR)
* Liaise with HR Manager and external payroll consultants to deliver payroll procedures including pension schemes and personnel records.
GENERAL AND STUDENT ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT
* Liaise with UWEBristol regarding agreeing the tuition fees payment schedule and other financial drawdown, as well as on-going instalment payments/repayments.
* Liaise with UWE Bristol over updates on outstanding student tuition fees
* Contact students over outstanding debt in the first instance
* Supporting the Awards & Bursaries Panel and administering student support funds and awards, taking students' individual financial requirements into account.
INTERNAL INTERFACES
* Chair of Council of Trustees, Chair of Finance Committee, Chair of Audit Committee, and other Committees as required, Council Members and Company Secretary.
* Executive Leadership Team, Senior Management Team, budget holders, all staff members and students as required
EXTERNAL LIAISON
* University of the West of England (UWE) and affiliates including their Finance Directors and staff.
* Charity Commission and Companies House.
* Bankers, Investment Managers, Legal Advisors, Auditors and Insurers.
Person specification:
IMPORTANT TO US:
* Qualified accountant (ACMA or equivalent).
* Minimum 5 years post qualification experience, depending on breadth of experience post- qualification.
* Excellent communicator at all levels including Board level.
* Proven ability to work at strategic and operational levels.
* Ability to interface effectively with operational functions.
* Management experience of finance teams.
* Ability to build positive relationships with staff and students.
* Willingness to build relationships with partner and business-related organisations.
* Experience of income generation aspects of organisations.
* Excellent IT skills including Word, Excel, Google suite, Xero and database experience.
* A flexible and committed individual with a sense of humour and an appetite for change.
* A passion for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the arts or Higher Education
* WE'RE ALSO INTERESTED IN:
* Experience in a Higher Education setting.
* Experience of working in an arts / creative industries organisation.
* Experience of working with/in the charity sector.
* Experience of change management processes and their implementation.
* Or the ability to illustrate transferable experience and leadership skills.
Additional Information:
This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted. It is the practice of BOVTS to examine job descriptions where required and update them as they relate to the work as then being performed, or to incorporate any changes being proposed. This will be conducted in consultation with whoever is in post. It is the organisation's aim to reach agreement on changes, however if this is not possible, the organisation reserves the right to insist on changes to job descriptions once the consultation is complete.
Equal Opportunities:
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School's approach to Recruitment and Selection:
We aim at all times to recruit the person who is most suited to the job. Recruitment will be on the basis of the applicant's abilities and individual merits, measured against the job criteria and competencies.
Equality & Diversity:
The Theatre School recognises the positive value of diversity, promoting equality and challenging unfair discrimination. We welcome applications from those currently underrepresented in our own workforce and across the wider arts and training sectors: these include, but are not limited to, people who are culturally and ethnically diverse and experience racism in our society, those with LGBTQ+ identities, neurodivergent and/or D/deaf and disabled, those with caring responsibilities and those who have experienced socio and economic barriers.
We will not discriminate or tolerate discriminatory behaviour on the grounds of age, disability, educational background, gender, employment status, ethnic origin, marital/partnership or family status, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, social class, transgender, working pattern or any other irrelevant factor in any aspect of employment.
We are committed to employing disabled people, and reasonable adjustments will be made to the recruitment procedure to ensure that no-one is disadvantaged because of their disability. If a disabled person is appointed, reasonable adjustments will be made to the workplace as far as possible, including premises & equipment, duties, practices or policies.
Selection & Assessment:
We use a range of methods at the interview stage to assess candidates against objective job criteria contained in the job description and employee competencies applicable to the role. The purpose is to accurately predict a candidate's ability to perform the job in question. All interviews will be undertaken by a panel of two or more people, and we will endeavour for the panel to be representative of society. Selection panels will keep written notes on each applicant recording reasons for decisions taken. These are disclosable to the applicant. All disabled applicants (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who meet the essential criteria as defined in the job description will guarantee an interview.
We are committed to improving the diversity of our workforce. Where two candidates are equally scored following interview or assessment, positive action will be taken and we may appoint a candidate with a protected characteristic which is underrepresented within the Theatre School.