Business Director_Northern Territory

A strategic leadership role has arisen for a Business Director to join the Senior Executive Management Team of a Christian Education College, located in the Northern Territory. Due to the impending retirement of the current Director in early 2024, there is now an opportunity for a community-minded leader to continue the legacy. The College also has a Boarding Campus for students.

This is a diverse and rewarding role, where there is additional support from the Business Director and Operational Business Strategist from the Adelaide Regional Office. You can bounce ideas with other brilliant minds with other associated business/finance professionals. An attractive remuneration package is on offer, with free housing supplied, together with 6 weeks of annual leave, work-related travel reimbursements and annual professional development. You need to provide your own vehicle. Some accrued employment benefits are transferable to another position within this national Christian network of learning communities.

The Business Director supports and advises the Principal and the College Board on all business and financial matters in their decision-making. This role is also responsible for all non-teaching staff and the Support Services departments, the Boarding Program and the Finance/Business management of the College. This includes governance infrastructure and the outstanding management of the operational growth of the College.

The College has 101 personnel, 28 academic staff and 76 non-teaching personnel. The Principal, College Board and staff are committed to foster a vibrant learning environment and a dynamic Christian community where Indigenous students can grow in their academic learning, gain worldviews and prepare for work-life employment opportunities, through a wide range of academic learning and recreational programs.  

The appointee is directly responsible for the non-teaching personnel within the Financial and Business Operations, providing oversight management of the Finance Manager and the finance/ business administration team. This role also provides leadership and mentorship to the Departmental Line-Managers in Support Services, to best manage their teams and achieve their target goals. The oversight management will also include the Heads of Boarding and boarding team, Director of Community Liaisons, Compliance Officer, HR Officer, Media Officer, Property Services Officer, Learning Support Officers, Grounds and Maintenance staff, Facilities Officer as well as Contracted Services (ICT, Uniform Shop, Canteen, Transport). Some functions including project management, capital works, renovations, payroll, and WH&S will overflow into the teaching department.

Applicants will need to be a person of integrity, positive, inclusive, relational, resourceful, innovative, and excellent in problem-solving and multi-tasking. A heart for students in a culturally diverse community. A good communicator who builds collaborative relationships across all levels and strengthens the community.  A fore-sighted professional, who is also results-driven and able to lead, manage and support teams to achieve the objectives of the Business Plan.

Reporting to the College Principal, these are the key responsibilities:

 §  Assist and support the Principal, College Board, and senior management team in the development and outworking of the strategic, long-term Business Plan.

 §  Provide leadership to ownership of the vision and mission of the College.

 §  Prepare monthly financial and business reports, data analytics projections, cashflow/ budgeting, and forecasting reports for the College Board to make informed decisions.

 §  Evaluate and increase the efficiency of the financial and business performance and the Boarding Program.

 §  Oversight management of non-teaching line managers and their teams to deliver strong customer service, reach targeted KPIs, and achieve key outcomes that support the teaching and learning programs.

 §  Manage and grow line managers in the Support Services departments, in recruitment, training and development, performance reviews, recruitment, training and development, performance reviews, and succession planning.

 §  Adopt an entrepreneurial approach in business thinking, developing systemic solutions to facilitate future growth.

 §  Establish infrastructure, streamline systems and processes, ensure online and onsite security, reduce costs, increase performance, business intelligence, accuracy, transparency, integrity, and stability of the financial and business systems, ensuring all legal and statutory standards are met.

 §  Set up, monitor, and report key business metrics on the College’s performance and operational health.

 §  Provide insightful analysis from data analytics to uncover valuable insights into financials, identify process improvements to increase performance efficiency, and manage risks.

 §  Develop predictive analytics to use existing data to identify trends and for more accurate planning, forecasting, and future planning.

 §  Preparation and oversight of the budget using proven budgeting techniques.

 §  Maintain robust financial procedures and framework controls in the annual audit process and subsequent reporting.

 §  Implement effective risk mitigation strategies.

 §  Evaluate and develop sound policies and procedures, ensuring each department is meeting the regulatory operating standards and legal requirements.

 §  Ensure all school and community activities, and online social media platforms, are aligned with the strategic direction and best practices. 

 §  Effective multi-management of projects, teams, external contractors, cost containment, and schedule deadlines.

 §  Ensure grant applications, financial support from key partners, business opportunities, student opportunities, and community support are increasing. Monitor government funding trends and issues.

 §  Work creatively with the Media Officer and Director of Community Liaisons to improve marketing and community reach.

 §  Increase profitability through benchmarking, best practices, effective cost-reduction measures, and improvement opportunities.

 §  Ensure all preparation of financial, grants funding, and administrative returns and accountability reporting are submitted in a timely manner.

 §  Interpret and apply industrial awards and enterprise agreements in conjunction with the Principal.

 §  Negotiate contractual agreements with business partners, suppliers, and contracted services.

 §  Attend business training and development meetings at the Adelaide Head Office.

 §  Attend after-hours meetings and functions.

 §  Maintain a safe workplace with adherence to the WHS policies and procedures standards.

The professional will have at least 5 years of proven senior executive management experience with successful outcomes in complex financial/business operations. Industry experience within education, not-for-profit, commercial or finance sectors are ideal. A CA, CPA, MBA or equivalent business, finance or economics qualifications and governance knowledge are desirable.

The candidate must have a high level of computer literacy with MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, online communication tools and possess good ICT knowledge.

This role is for immediate commencement or negotiable to commence in early 2024. We encourage your early application by forwarding your Cover Letter and Resume in Word documents, demonstrating your proven experience in the key areas outlined. Please quote Ref: BD6523NT in your application.

Call Theresa on 08 8238 3490 for more information.