Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools (Habs) are leading independent schools, comprising Haberdashers’ Boys' School and Haberdashers’ Girls' Schools, both of which run from 4-18 including a pre-prep / prep or junior school and a senior school. The schools share a 100 acre campus in Elstree, Hertfordshire, and cater for over 2,750 pupils. Together they have a turnover of around £60m and employ 600 staff. 

Habs is a strong, happy and supportive community committed to the pursuit of excellence in education. The schools are academically outstanding, but a Habs education is about more than exams, preparing young people for fulfilment in a world that demands flexibility, creativity, resilience and critical thought. Habs caters for a diverse community and nurtures in its pupils a global perspective and a deep sense of responsibility with the ambition that they will have a profound impact on the world.

The Girls' and Boys' Schools work closely together, offering the best of single-sex education in a co-educational environment which sees each student take at least one A-Level in a co-educational group and benefit from a largely shared co-curricular programme. To establish this co-educational approach, the Governors and Executive recently conducted a full strategic review encompassing the underlying ethos of the Schools; of the curriculum, school day and staff reporting lines. The aspirational Board of Governors and Executive are aligned in a strategy which promotes collaboration, sharing of best practice and an education which is outstanding across the academic, pastoral and co-curricular elements of school life.

An important and unique dimension of Habs is its relationship with The Haberdashers' Company. Education is of prime importance to the Company, and it is proud to support a family of 18 schools which come in all shapes and sizes - whether a brand new, state academy like Haberdashers’ Borough Academy, opened in 2019, or a centuries’ old independent institution, like Haberdashers’ Monmouth School, founded in 1614. The Company, as Trustee of the various educational charities that support the schools, is responsible for ensuring that the educational offering for the 10,000 maintained sector students, as well as those in the independent schools, is of the highest quality. It delivers this through the provision of the relevant school estates, financial support for ‘the Haberdashers’ Advantage programme’ and the establishment of excellent governance. The Company's Education Committee maintains close links with the school governing bodies and support is provided for all Governors in the form of professional development and opportunities that arise from the an association with one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies. The support, challenge and professional expertise provided by the Haberdashers' Company is a constant resource for its schools.

Alongside the standard duties of a Governor, this new appointee will play a leading role in Board discussions surrounding any subjects relating to financial matters. As a member of the Finance Committee, the Governor will be expected to focus on one or more of the specific areas under the Committee's purview and to provide advice on these matters to the relevant executive team member. For example, this might include pensions, long term modelling, financial input into major capital projects, assessing the impact of political changes, etc. 

In time, it is hoped that the Governor will be open to taking on more responsibilities within the Board, including potentially chairing the Finance Committee. Additionally, progression within the Haberdashers’ Company is available for those who wish to make further contributions to the voluntary sector.

Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools seeks a new Governor with a senior, strategic-level background in Finance to join its board.

The ideal candidate will have operated at the highest levels of complex organisations in a Finance or Audit capacity, for example as a CFO or Audit Partner. The Board is open to first-time non-executives, however board-level exposure as an executive is a minimum requirement. While experience in the education and / or non-for-profit sectors is not required, it is expected that applicants are able to demonstrate an understanding of the challenges and opportunities currently facing the independent schools sector. An accounting qualification is necessary for this post.  

All successful candidates will have the communications skills, intellect and passion to actively engage with senior staff and the Board of Governors. They will be innovative, collegial and able to challenge. Crucially, they will understand the nature of the governance role and respect the boundary between strategy and operations. Most importantly, they will be passionate about helping Habs’ pupils flourish.

A full list of the Governors can be found here. Please note that there is a single Board which governs both Habs Boys and Habs Girls. 

The Board is supported by a number of committees which operate across the two schools and an advisory group for each school.

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. There are usually four or five in person Board meetings and three to five video conference-based Committee meetings per year, plus stakeholder engagement and meetings with the executive. Additionally, Governors are expected to spend one day per term in school (which can be combined with meetings) and attend key events across the school year. The appointment is for a four-year term, which can be renewed once at the discretion of the Board.

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