Job Overview
Are you an experienced finance professional looking for a senior, hands‑on role within a values‑led organisation? George Watson’s College is seeking a highly capable Head of Finance to take responsibility for the day‑to‑day leadership of the school’s finance function, ensuring robust financial control, high‑quality reporting and strong governance across a large and complex organisation.
Watson’s operates at significant scale, with substantial income streams, complex cost bases and a charitable governance framework. The Head of Finance will play a critical role in maintaining financial integrity, strengthening systems and processes, and supporting informed decision making across the school.
Working closely with the Chief Finance and Operations Officer, you will lead on financial control, statutory and management reporting, budgeting, forecasting, audit and compliance. You will also oversee the effective operation of core finance processes, ensuring accuracy, transparency and continuous improvement.
We are looking for someone with strong technical expertise, sound judgement and a meticulous approach, who is equally comfortable working collaboratively with non‑finance colleagues. You may come from outside the education sector; what matters most is your ability to bring rigour, professionalism and pace to a demanding but rewarding environment.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and manage the day‑to‑day finance function for the school.
* Provide robust financial control and governance.
* Prepare statutory and management reporting, budgeting, forecasting, audit and compliance work.
* Oversee core finance processes, ensuring accuracy, transparency and continuous improvement.
* Collaborate with non‑finance colleagues to support informed decision‑making.
Qualifications
* Strong technical expertise in finance and accounting.
* Excellent judgement and a meticulous approach.
* Experience in financial control, reporting and compliance.
* Capability to work within a charitable governance framework.
* Ability to collaborate effectively with non‑finance stakeholders.
Location
George Watson’s College, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Application
To apply, send a tailored CV and covering letter to ScotlandExecutive@LHH.com by midnight on Tuesday 02 June 2026. The covering letter should be no more than two pages of A4 and should summarise your relevant experience, technical strengths and motivation for applying.
Contact
For a confidential, informal discussion, contact LHH at +44 (0)141 220 6460 or email the above address.
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