Interim Bursar

Interim Bursar

Application Deadline: 2 May 2025

Department: Bursary

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: Brasenose College

Compensation: £100,000 - £110,000 / year

Description

The Governing Body of Brasenose College wishes to appoint an Interim Bursar for four months to cover for the College’s long-serving Bursar who has been granted a period of extended leave. The role is mainly full time and in person, but there is some flexibility, particularly in August and early September.

The Bursar is the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of the College and a leading member of the senior management team. The Bursar works closely with the Principal, Vice Principal, Senior Tutor, and Development Director and leads about 100 Professional and Support staff across the College through four direct reports: the Director of Operations (Domestic Bursar), Finance Director, HR Director, and IT Director.

Brasenose College is a self-governing institution and a registered charity. It has its own Statutes and By-Laws, and the ultimate authority for decisions rests with the Principal and the Fellows of the Governing Body. Under the leadership of the Principal, the work of the College Officers is overseen by the Governing Body through a structure of Committees. The Bursar takes the lead in the Estates and Finance, Investment, HR, Remuneration, and IT Committees and is a member of the other main Committees, including the Academic Committee and Development Committee.

The College has about 600 students (370 undergraduates, 230 postgraduates), of whom 450 live in College rooms at one of our four city-centre sites. The College has 44 Governing Body Fellows, 100 academic employees, and 120 professional and support staff. The endowment is about £200m, and the income drawn down from it covers about 40% of the operating costs of the College.

Principal Responsibilities and Duties of the Bursar

The Interim Bursar will work closely with the other Senior Officers and the Directors to provide a central point of contact and coordination in order to provide advice, ensure that planned activities are developed appropriately, and ensure that the College responds well to emerging issues by identifying what needs to be done by whom and when. A key part of the role will be to ensure that decisions and reports are referred to the appropriate committees at the appropriate time.

It is envisaged that some of the more specialised parts of the role will be delegated to particular Fellows or others, although the Interim Bursar will still need to coordinate closely with them. Likely examples are the major strategic property developments and the HR support for any cases involving senior academics.

Because of the very diverse range of activities carried out within the College, the Interim Bursar should expect to deal with multiple diverse issues at any one time and be comfortable moving quickly from major strategic issues to relatively small operational matters that do not fall within the clear jurisdiction of other Offices or a Director.

1. Financial Planning and Control (headed by the Finance Director)
   • Long term financial planning, budgeting, financial control, compliance.
   • Of note in 2025: a new finance system is being introduced on 1st August. We are setting up a new Audit and Risk Committee. The College’s financial year end is 31st July, and the preparation of accounts and on-site audit will be ongoing during the period August 2025 to November 2025.
2. Endowment
   • The endowment is managed by the Investment Advisory Committee which includes five expert alumni. This is convened by the Bursar. One third of the endowment is invested directly in property which the Bursar manages with our agents Bidwells.
   • Of note in 2025: on two major development sites we will shortly be submitting planning applications for housing developments (c. 900 houses each). We will also be finalising the sale of a smaller site with permission for 60 houses. We are preparing plans for the development of one of our most significant city centre buildings (for c. 60 student rooms) and potentially negotiating another long lease for 40-60 student rooms.
3. Domestic Bursary (headed by the Domestic Bursar/Operations Director)
   • This department is the main employer of non-academic staff (about 80 people) and its smooth running is essential to the day to day life of the College community. Through the promotion of Conferences in vacations it is also an important source of extra income. The teams include catering, housekeeping, maintenance, security, and Health and Safety.
   • Of note in 2025: There has been some change of personnel in key posts over the last few months.
4. Building Projects (headed by the Domestic Bursar/Operation Director)
   • The College has a programme of significant building projects across its operation estate, managed by the Domestic Bursar with direct oversight of the Bursar for the larger schemes.
   • Of note in 2025: the redevelopment of Frewin Hall should be finishing in September 2025, in time for the returning students. We are also planning a new arrangement for our rare books and a 20-room development on one of our graduate sites.
5. Employment Matters (headed by the HR Director)
   • Recruitment, reward, retention, development, and general welfare of all employees of the College. The academic employees are managed by the Senior Tutor with the support of the Bursar and HR Director. The Bursar has a formal role in the management of College employment policies and procedures eg harassment and discipline.
   • Of note in 2025: we are currently recruiting a new HR Director. The annual pay review usually occurs in October.
6. IT (headed by the IT Director)
   • IT systems, IT security, data protection. The Bursar is the Data Protection Officer, but day-to-day issues are handled by the IT Director.
   • Of note in 2025: we are developing a new website & seeking cyber essentials certification.
7. Governance (in partnership with the Vice Principal)
   • Responsible for advising the Principal and Fellows on all issues affecting the College arising from the operation of Governmental and other statutory bodies. In particular, the Bursar will take the lead in dealing with the Charity Commission. The Bursar is the College’s Freedom of Information Officer.
   • Of note in 2025: an ongoing governance review; and recruitment of a new Principal (long listing will occur in autumn 2025, with interviews planned for spring 2026).

Person Specification for Interim Bursar

Candidates will have personal authority and integrity and will need to demonstrate experience at a very senior level of financial and organisational strategy, the management of staff, and the representation of an organisation to external regulatory bodies. The following will be particularly desirable:

• Senior leadership experience, preferably in an organisation with complex governance structures.
• Strategic prioritisation, appropriate analysis and management of risk, and evidence of sound judgement.
• Extensive experience in strategic financial management and a track record in setting and delivering budgets for complex organisations.
• Strong commercial experience.
• Experience of managing change.
• Preferably experience of managing capital projects and/or investment property and/or heritage property.
• Ability to work collaboratively with senior colleagues and to achieve results in a consensual environment.
• Experience of managing and dealing with colleagues and staff of different kinds which will enable the candidate to relate well to all the college’s members – Fellows, Students, Staff, and Alumni.
• A strong interest in higher education would be an advantage.
• Excellent communication skills both in writing and in person.
• The ideal candidate is likely to be educated to degree level.

Terms and Conditions of Employment

This role is scheduled to close 2nd May 2025.

AppointmentThis appointment is offered as a full-time, fixed term contract. There is an initial probationary period of 1 month. The appointment will be conditional on verification of the successful candidate’s ‘Right to Work’ checks and subject to the receipt of satisfactory references and medical clearance through the University’s Occupational Health Services.

Salary
£100,000 - £110,000 per annum dependent on experience, and calculated pro-rata for length of contract.

Hours of work
Full time 35 hours each week. Standard hours are from 9am until 5pm, with an unpaid hour taken for lunch, Monday to Friday. The postholder will be required to work the hours necessary to fulfil the job requirements and subject to operational needs. A willingness and ability to adopt a flexible approach to working hours and duties is essential according to the requirements of the College.

• Pension - Eligibility to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). The successful candidate will be entered into this scheme automatically on joining, but ongoing membership of the scheme is optional.
• Salary Exchange Scheme - Staff who join USS will also be enrolled into the Salary Exchange Pension Contributions Scheme on or around three months after joining.
• Annual leave - The holiday year begins on 1 January and ends 31 December. The paid holiday entitlement for a full-time contract is six working weeks (30 days) annual leave (5 days to be taken over Christmas break) plus statutory Bank Holidays. The remainder to be taken at such times and shall be mutually convenient and agreed in advance. Bank Holidays which fall within the full terms of the University of Oxford are normally worked, for which compensatory time off in lieu will be given. The holiday year runs from 1 January to 31 December. For part years of service, the entitlement will be calculated as 1/12th of the annual entitlement for each completed month.
• Meals - Employees are entitled to take lunch free of charge when the kitchen is open.
• Welfare Support - Employee Assistance Programme – a free confidential telephone helpline and online medical guidance. Free annual flu jab.
• Travel Pass Loan - a discounted travel scheme is available with monthly deductions from salary.
• Cycle to Work Scheme/Bike Loan - monthly deductions from salary.
• Sports Facilities - Access to the University Sports club.
• University Card - for discounts in shops, cafes, and restaurants and University Leisure facilities.