Running a school today is harder than ever. Costs keep rising, and many families feel stretched. At the same time, schools must keep offering a strong education while carefully managing their budgets.
Leaders face tough choices about how to save money without hurting the quality of learning. Financial leadership in schools has never been more important.
Ed Hellings brings deep experience to this challenge. He is the Bursar at The Marist School, Sunninghill, Ascot, a for-profit independent school. He manages the school’s finances with a focus on stability and careful spending.
Before this, he worked for over 15 years as a Bursar at Queen Anne’s School in Caversham. He helped the school grow while handling important financial and operational tasks there. He also worked as interim Bursar at St Mary’s Calne for 13 months.
He helped guide the school through a time of change. Ed started his career by training as a Chartered Accountant at Touche Ross. This company is now called Deloitte. After that, he worked at BAE Systems for 12 years. During those years, he held roles in finance. He also worked in operations and treasury.
In this article, we will explore the lessons Ed has learned throughout his career. We will look at his insights on leading school finances with care and responsibility. We will also cover his advice on managing risks in a changing world.
In addition, we will discuss how he balances priorities to meet both short-term needs and long-term goals. Finally, we will see how his work helps schools stay strong, stable, and prepared for the future.
How Ed Hellings’ Career Prepared Him for Financial Leadership in Schools
Ed began his career by training as a chartered accountant with Touche Ross, now called Deloitte. This gave him a solid start in understanding how businesses work.
He learned about financial systems, controls, and how to improve processes. He also learned why networking matters, even when it feels hard.
Image Credits: Photo by ICSA on Pexels
Working closely with clients showed him how teams work inside an office. He often felt part of the client’s team but had to stay objective as an auditor.
This balance of staying connected yet independent prepared him well. A bursar must support their team while stepping back to make the right choice for the school.
Moving from Auditor to Bursar
Moving from auditor to bursar brought more responsibility. Ed Hellings had to keep clients happy and meet standards as an audit manager. But as a bursar, he had to take the blame if things went wrong.
He learned the value of asking simple questions. For example, “Why don’t these numbers match?” Simple checks often show if a system is working or not. This skill helps school leaders make smart choices early.
Leadership Insights from BAE Systems
Ed Hellings worked for 12 years at BAE Systems in different finance roles. He learned three key lessons:
- Know Your Strengths: Focus on what you do well and build a strong team.
- Speak Up Early: Raise issues early, even if it feels tough.
- Make Problems Simple: Break problems into clear, simple steps so others understand and help.
At Queen Anne’s School, he used these lessons to guide growth while carefully planning.
Balancing Financial Leadership in Schools with Educational Priorities
Running a school means balancing money with learning goals. Both matter, but they can be pulled in different ways. Knowing how to handle both is key to keeping the school healthy.
Understand Why Parents Choose Independent Schools
Parents pick private schools for many reasons:
- Smaller class sizes
- Higher quality than state schools
- Family tradition
- Strong programs in subjects like science, sports, or the arts
Every family has different needs. A school must understand these reasons to plan well.
Take a School-Wide View, Not a Personal One
Leaders may push for areas they care about most. But a bursar must stay neutral. It’s their job to ask, “What’s best for the school?” They need to remove emotion and personal bias from their choices. This helps the school stay strong in the long run.
Business vs. Education Thinking
In business, decisions follow the money. If something brings in more money, it gets support. Schools work differently. Teachers care first about students, not finance. This is good, but it also brings risk.
Without money, schools can’t meet their goals. A bursar must ask hard questions and point out issues early. It keeps problems from growing bigger.
Why Relationships Matter in Financial Leadership in Schools
A school has three main roles:
- Head
- Bursar
- Governors
All three must work well together. If one fails, the school risks trouble. A bursar needs strong ties with all three. They also need a trusted governor or finance chair to talk to when needed.
The job needs resilience. Some days feel lonely. Disagreements with the head can add strain. Staying calm, focused, and clear helps the bursar keep going.
Many schools raise fees yearly without checking costs. This hides deeper problems. Rising staff pay adds pressure. Schools need to plan smarter, not just raise fees.
Long Tenures in Financial Leadership in Schools
Leading a school for many years brings rewards and risks. Bursars must balance staying long enough to make an impact without staying too long.
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Knowing When to Move On
Staying in a school for a long time builds trust and deep knowledge. However, staying too long can limit growth. It’s better to leave when people wonder why you left, not stayed.
Today, bursars move more often because the role is harder. Stress, changing heads, and rising demands make long stays less common. Reinventing yourself every few years takes effort many find hard to maintain.
Key Differences in School Structures
A school’s setup shapes how it runs. Charity schools and proprietorial (for-profit) schools work differently.
- Charity schools often check finances once a term.
- For-profit schools check finances monthly with tighter reviews.
- Charity schools can own minibusses under special permits.
- For-profit schools face stricter transport rules, leading them to outsource.
These differences affect day-to-day choices. A for-profit school keeps a sharper eye on costs but faces more rules in some areas.
How Healthy Challenge Supports Financial Leadership in Schools
Asking questions is key to good leadership. Challenge helps find better ways to work. Yet, many schools avoid challenges by hiding behind tradition.
Leaders must ask, “Why are we doing this?” They must separate valuable traditions from habits that hold the school back.
Keeping teams lean and connected also matters. Big schools risk becoming stuck in silos, where teams stop talking. Smaller schools that stay flexible can react faster when things change.
Good leadership means knowing when to push for change, when to hold steady, and when to ask the hard questions.
Outsourcing and Change in Financial Leadership in Schools
Schools today face rising costs, stricter rules, and greater pressure to manage money wisely. Outsourcing and bold decisions are becoming more common as schools look for ways to stay strong.
Image Credits: Photo by Husniati Salma on Unsplash
Why Outsourcing May Grow
Outsourcing was once rare in many schools. A key reason was tax. When schools hired outside companies for services like cleaning, they had to pay VAT they could not claim back. This made outsourcing more costly than keeping the work in-house.
Now, with new tax rules, schools can recover VAT. This makes outsourcing more attractive. Many schools already outsource catering since food costs carry little or no VAT. Cleaning and other services may follow as schools seek savings.
However, schools must weigh savings against quality. Outsourcing can cut costs but may reduce control over service standards.
Schools Will Face Hard Choices
The next few years may bring big challenges. Some schools may need to merge or close. Many families may struggle to pay fees as living costs rise. Some schools may shift to a for-profit model to survive.
Leaders must make careful choices. Options may include:
- Outsourcing more services
- Merging with nearby schools
- Reducing staff or facilities
- Changing school structure to for-profit
Each option brings risks and rewards. Every decision must balance finances with education goals.
Strong Leadership Will Be a Key
Small fixes may not be enough. Leaders may need to rethink how their schools work. Sometimes, reducing management layers or combining teams is the only way to lower costs.
Big changes take courage and clear thinking. Leaders must stay focused on what matters most: strengthening and stability the school.
In the end, schools depend on full classrooms. More pupils mean more income, helping schools meet costs and continue their work.
Conclusion
Strong financial leadership in schools helps them stay steady and prepared for change. It is not just about saving money. It is about making smart choices that keep education and finances working.
We learned that leaders must act early and ask simple but important questions. Waiting too long or avoiding hard talks can lead to bigger problems. Leaders also need strong ties with the head and governors. Working well together helps the school make tough choices when needed.
Schools today face higher costs and new rules. Outsourcing may help save money, but leaders must weigh savings against quality. Some schools may need to merge or change their structure to stay open. Each choice needs careful thought to protect both money and learning.
Moreover, leaders must stay flexible. They need to look ahead and plan for what may come next. Keeping classrooms full is key since more pupils bring more income. Good leaders know when to adjust, when to hold steady, and when to push for change.
In the end, financial leadership in schools means more than managing numbers. It means keeping schools strong, focused, and ready to serve their students and families well.
FAQs
What skills help someone succeed in financial leadership in schools?
Financial leadership in schools needs clear thinking, strong problem-solving, and good communication. Leaders must explain numbers in simple terms and guide teams through hard choices.
How does financial leadership in schools support teacher recruitment?
Good financial leadership in schools ensures that there is enough budget for hiring skilled teachers. It balances pay, benefits, and staff needs while staying within financial limits.
Why should financial leadership in schools include long-term planning?
Long-term planning helps schools avoid sudden money problems. It ensures the school can fund future needs like buildings, programs, and staff growth.
How does financial leadership in schools affect student activities?
Financial leadership in schools protects funding for clubs, sports, and trips. Leaders must plan spending so students get more than classroom learning.
How does financial leadership in schools manage rising energy costs?
Strong financial leadership in schools finds ways to lower energy use. It may include switching to better systems or negotiating better rates.
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