Schools today face growing financial challenges. They need to balance rising costs to provide quality education. This makes the role of a bursar more important than ever.
A bursar helps schools manage their money, plan wisely, and use resources best. They work closely with school leaders to ensure decisions support education and finances.
One person who knows this role well is Vanessa Lakatos. Vanessa Lakatos is the Bursar at Gayhurst School, an independent preparatory school in the UK.
She has worked there for over six years, leading the school’s finances, operations, and planning. Before this, she served as Bursar at Padworth College, managing finances and overseeing the school’s sales.
In this article, we will look at how Vanessa Lakatos built her career as a bursar. We will talk about her steps, the skills she learned, and the choices that shaped her path.
We will also discuss the challenges she faced and how she overcame them. Finally, we will explore the key lessons she shares for anyone who wants to follow a similar career.
How Vanessa Lakatos Built Her Career as a Bursar
Vanessa Lakatos ran her retail business for 18 years before becoming a bursar. At 24, she opened a clothing shop. Over time, she grew the business to three shops in Henley-on-Thames, Hungerford, and Salcombe.
She handled everything herself, including finance, hiring, buying, sales, marketing, and property management. These skills helped her later as a bursar, where she also managed risk and made key decisions.
Moving from Retail to Cost Reduction
In 2014, Vanessa chose to close her shops because the high street was declining. She felt relief later, knowing she avoided the struggles that came with COVID-19.
While exploring new roles, she met a local marketing company owner. This meeting led her to Nigel, who hired her at a cost reduction company.
There, Vanessa:
- Managed the office and helped remote consultants
- Worked with schools to lower costs without losing quality
- Learned about procurement, energy savings, and cutting waste
- Attended conferences and met many bursars
This role taught her how schools work and the financial pressures they face.
Starting as a Bursar at Padworth College
Vanessa’s first bursar job was at Padworth College, a boarding school with students from 40 countries.
Her first week brought a major challenge when a student from Vietnam disappeared as part of a trafficking ring. The case involved the police and new checks for overseas students.
Transitioning to Gayhurst School
After helping manage the sale of Padworth College, Vanessa left and joined Gayhurst School. She has worked there as a bursar for six years. Gayhurst has 350 pupils.
She enjoys working closely with the head and governors on strategy while handling day-to-day tasks like building checks and traffic duty.
Balancing Heads and Governors in a Career as a Bursar
Vanessa values open, honest talks with the head and governors. She helps them balance academic goals with the school’s budget.
The governors, many former parents, stay engaged and invested in the school’s future.
Why Diverse Governance Supports a Career as a Bursar
A strong governing board needs people with different skills, ages, and views. Adding younger members and professionals from varied fields helps boards make better decisions.
Diversity avoids groupthink and brings healthy challenges. A board should not work as an echo chamber. Open debate and honest input are needed to guide the school well. Governors also carry legal duties.
They are more than advisors. Their role holds real responsibility for the school’s future. Paying governors might be a way forward. It could help schools expect more time and commitment from them.
How Business Skills Strengthen a Bursar’s Role
Business experience gives bursars useful skills for their work. Running a business teaches them to:
- Manage bookkeeping
- Handle risks
- Measure return on investment
- Make decisions under pressure
These skills help bursars manage money and plan wisely. A bursar with a business background often feels more prepared to handle risk and responsibility.
Challenges of Being the Sole Business Voice in a Career as a Bursar
In many schools, the Bursar is the only leader focused on finance. Others focus mainly on teaching and students. This balance can feel lonely.
A bursar must explain financial limits while still helping the school’s goals. Building a network of bursars offers support and shared advice.
Why Financial Awareness Matters Across Staff
Teachers and staff need to understand how their actions affect school costs. Schools benefit when staff learn:
- How daily choices impact the budget
- Why saving energy and supplies helps
- How small savings free funds for other needs
When staff see how their work connects to the budget, they share responsibility. This shared effort protects resources and supports the school’s goals.
Balancing Efficiency and Leadership in a Career as a Bursar
Schools must work smart with their resources. Private schools often focus on profit, so they watch every penny. They expect every employee, even teachers, to meet cost goals.
Charitable schools aim to create a surplus for bursaries or community links. That money gets reinvested, not paid as bonuses.
Outsourcing as a Cost-Saving Strategy
Many schools choose to outsource jobs outside teaching. This keeps payroll costs down. Schools now review every role to make sure they spend wisely.
- Reassess Unnecessary Roles: Schools check if roles like art technicians are still needed or can be shared across duties.
- Use Staff More Effectively: They ask if teachers cover tasks like lunch duty when others could handle them for less cost.
- Maximize Teaching Hours: Schools review timetables to ensure teachers teach close to full time, aiming for about 80%.
Sharing Resources Between Schools
Some schools share staff or services with nearby schools to save money. This can lower costs without losing quality.
However, competition between schools can make sharing harder. Schools with strong reputations may feel more open to it.
The Role of Bursars in School Leadership
Bursars play a key part in managing costs while supporting education. They work with heads and governors to plan spending.
Many bursars also connect with others in their role to exchange advice. This shared advice helps them feel less alone in their work.
Bursars need to be visible. When they explain school finances to staff and parents, they build trust. This helps everyone understand why certain choices support the school’s future.
Key Skills Required for a Career as a Bursar
Being a bursar is more than working with numbers. It takes a strong balance between many tasks while staying calm and focused. A bursar must know the school’s finances and handle safety, risks, and daily needs.
Key Skills Every Bursar Needs
To do this job well, a bursar must juggle many duties and set clear priorities. The work changes fast, so quick decisions matter. You do not need to be an accountant but must understand school finances. Thinking ahead and making smart plans is also key.
In smaller schools, bursars need hands-on knowledge of many areas. They may need to handle transport permits and fire safety or check building issues like radon levels. In larger schools, teams may manage these jobs. In smaller ones, the Bursar often does them all.
Health and Safety Responsibilities
A bursar also holds responsibility for health and safety. They carry legal duties to keep the school safe.
This work may include:
- Leading safety training
- Managing fire checks and building safety
- Making sure safety rules are followed
This responsibility is serious. A mistake could lead to fines or even prison.
Building Resilience and Support in a Career as a Bursar
The bursar role can feel lonely. They work behind the scenes while others focus on teaching. However, many bursars build networks with other bursars for support. Talking with peers helps reduce stress and keeps them connected.
Anyone thinking about this role should expect variety. Each day brings something new. Bursars must stay flexible, ready to learn, and open to what comes next.
Conclusion
A career as a bursar suits people who enjoy solving problems and handling many tasks at once. It blends finance, planning, and day-to-day work.
You help the school stay on budget while supporting its goals. You also handle safety, check buildings, manage risks, and talk with staff and parents. Each task matters. Your work helps the school run smoothly.
This job needs clear thinking, strong decisions, and steady focus. You don’t need to be an accountant but must understand money and planning. In smaller schools, you may do more hands-on work.
In larger ones, you guide a team. Either way, you carry real responsibility. It can sometimes feel lonely, especially when you’re the only one thinking about money.
Many bursars find support by talking to others in the same role. Sharing advice helps you stay strong and focused. If you like variety, clear roles, and being useful daily, a career as a bursar can be a great choice.
FAQs
What qualifications help start a Career as a Bursar?
You do not need a specific degree, but financial skills help. Many bursars have business or accounting experience.
Can a Career as a Bursar work part-time?
Some schools offer part-time bursar roles, but most need full-time work due to wide responsibilities.
How does a Career as a Bursar handle stress?
A bursar can manage stress by building support networks, staying organized, and setting clear priorities.
Is prior teaching experience needed for a Career as a Bursar?
No, you do not need teaching experience. A bursar focuses on finance, operations, and school management.
Does a Career as a Bursar involve public speaking?
Yes, bursars sometimes present reports to governors, staff, and parents to explain financial decisions.
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