Conducting an Executive Search for a Chief Operations and Finance Officer to provide high level leadership of finance, IT and operations in a leading Sydney girls’ school.
The Brief
Having recently placed two senior leadership roles, the school sought to build on the established relationship engaging Future Leadership™ to lead the search process for their next Chief Operations and Finance Officer.
The Chief Operations and Finance Officer (COFO) provides the business and operational support that is essential to the School fulfilling its purpose of delivering educational programs of the highest quality to our students. The successful candidate will provide high-level leadership of the School’s commercial activities, financial management, investments, contracts, technology, facilities and capital works in line with the strategic plan
Candidate net Promote Score
Future Leadership combines truly personalised relationships with innovative technology solutions to ensure an approachable and efficient process for all our Net Promoter Score across clients, successful candidates and unsuccessful candidates is well above industry standard.
Candidates supported every year
We maintain genuine relationships with past candidates and continue to support them with leadership solutions long term, after they land their role.
Senior Women Appointed since 2002
Over half of the executive search assignments undertaken by our team have resulted in the appointment of outstanding female or LGBTQI+ leaders to high profile roles.
Candidate Retention Rate for 12 months since 2002
Our thorough briefing process and ability to engage passive candidates mean that we go to great lengths to find the right person for the role – long term!
The Process
The Future Leadership™ team, led by Liam King undertook a comprehensive search process tailored to the school’ needs.
Key steps included:
- Briefing and Strategy Development: Future Leadership™, represented by Liam King, Senior Partner undertook a comprehensive briefing with members of the Executive Team and a number of key actions points were agreed.
- Targeted Candidate Search: The Future Leadership™, collaborated with trusted referral partners and engaged with known candidates across independent schools and related sectors throughout Australia. The search process was supported by a print and online advertising campaign.
- Candidate Assessment: A Shortlist of five candidates was presented to the school with all candidates competing psychometric assessments. Four candidates progressed to first round panel interviews with two candidates progressing to a final round which included a 15-minute presentation to the selection panel and tour of the school.
Emerging Capabilities
Commercial Acumen
Provides a deep understanding of relevant industry, marketplace and business drivers as applicable to the organisation. Leverages the application of commercial tools and frameworks to manage opportunities, conflicts and trade-offs. Able to focus on customer service requirements and acts proactively to raise the customer experience.
Culture and Engagement
Engages stakeholders inclusively with sensitivity and regard for diversity and facilitates a psychologically safe environment for social or cultural differences affecting behaviour.
Systems Thinking
Systematically breaks down siloes across the operating environment and connects stakeholders to harness convergent ideas. Understands the leverage points of systems change and demonstrates the ability to think beyond known systems.
Critical Thinking
Examines information for assumptions and gaps in logic; reframes problems and presents well-reasoned insights accommodating diverse perspectives. Persistent in asking insightful questions, enabling complex strategic judgements to be made across multiple dimensions.
Strategy and Purpose
Leads transformational processes, motivates teams, and influences commitment to a shared purpose that individuals and the workforce will require to enable sustained organisational success. Builds and promotes a culture underpinning the vision, purpose and values the organisation aspires to achieve.
Communication and Influence
Communicates with clarity and impact to facilitate individual and collective understanding, inspire action and enable information exchange. Leverages human-centric communication and storytelling to effectively influence stakeholders across the physical and virtual realms.
The Outcome
The successful candidate was appointed to the position and commenced in November 2024. Reporting directly to the Principal, the appointee will provide high-level leadership of the School’s commercial activities, financial management, investments, contracts, technology, facilities and capital works in line with the strategic plan. The appointee is a Chartered Accountant with over 15 years’ experience in commercial leadership across the for profit and not for profit sectors, holds an MBA specialising in educational business leadership and a graduate diploma in Educational Studies. Most recently the appointee held the position of Chief Financial Officer at an International School in Asia.
It was a pleasure working with Liam King and the team at Future Leadership during the recruitment process for my role at the school. I was impressed with Liam's broad experience in education and in particular his understanding of the international school market in Asia. As a candidate I felt supported during the process and informed about the role. I would certainly recommend Liam to other candidates searching for roles in the Educational sector.
