BURSAR & TREASURER

at  Pembroke College Cambridge

MESSAGE FROM THE MASTER AND MASTER-ELECT

Thank you for your interest in applying for the position of Bursar.
Pembroke is one of the most historic of Cambridge’s Colleges, and
is proud of its close-knit community of Fellows, students, alumni
and staff. We are seeking a new Bursar to lead the administration,
finances and staffing of the College after the retirement of Dr
Andrew Cates in September this year. Andrew has served for
eleven years and during that period the College has thrived,
despite the pandemic and the challenges it brought.
The College’s finances are stable, our investments have risen, and
we have just brought to completion the major new development of
a new quarter for Pembroke immediately across the road from our
historic medieval site. This has provided us with three new
courtyards, 87 new student rooms, an auditorium, an exhibition
space, café and many new teaching, meeting and seminar spaces.
Our challenge now is to make the very best use of these wonderful
new facilities while continuing to care for our historic site and
support our outstanding staff. There is real unity and determination
within the Fellowship to achieve this, with the Bursar playing a
leading role.
This is a fascinating and challenging position in a welcoming,
inclusive, ambitious and academically excellent environment. We
look forward to receiving your application.

PHOTO: STEPHEN BOND

Our Values: We will strive to provide genuine

• We are welcoming and value to our students for the whole

inclusive. of their University experience as

• We are supportive and undergraduates and/or

nurturing. postgraduates.

• We show respect for all, and

value diversity. Draw our students, undergraduate
• We fiercely defend free and postgraduate, from the
expression and discussion. widest possible range of
• We are outward and forward backgrounds. We will strive

looking. constantly to broaden the range of

• We are unafraid to challenge backgrounds from which our

received wisdom. students come, especially seeking
to draw in the brightest students
Our Strategic Priorities: from less advantaged
Strengthen the academic backgrounds, and we will do this
success we seek to achieve as a through our outreach and widening
College. We believe that participation work, by having a fair
academic success comes not only and transparent selection process,
from the excellence of teaching, and by the support we offer to
and the leading research that those who come here.
underpins it, but also from the
supportive and caring Enhance the cohesiveness of our
environment we provide for all College community. We are proud
members of our community. For of the welcoming, friendly
our students in particular, we will traditions that we have as a
sustain and enhance the pastoral College. We wish all our students,
support available to them, the International Programmes
range of non-academic activities students, Fellows, alumni/ae,
they can enjoy, and the self- partners and staff to be and feel a
understanding and confidence part of the College family, and we
that can grow as a result. We will will work constantly to strengthen
aim to lead the way in developing the collegiality and
how we teach, and pioneer new interconnectivity of our day to day
forms of academic engagement. life. We will encourage the fullest
engagement of undergraduates,
postgraduates and Fellows in the
life of the College.
Provide the best buildings and international intellectual and
facilities for our needs. We now cultural exchange. We will develop
have the space and facilities we collaborative relationships with
need in order to provide the full other universities around the world,
range of academic and with industry and business, with
recreational opportunities for our governmental and non-
students and Fellows. We will governmental organisations, and
continue to improve, renovate, with other national and international
and expand the physical spaces institutions. We will seek to make an
that enable our goals. We will impact far beyond the walls of the
improve the availability and College.
quality of our student
accommodation. We will maintain Our Five-year Implementation Plan.
the excellence of our garden
spaces. By 2030 we will aim to Academic Success:
have increased our endowment to We will aim to be amongst the top
at least £150 million. Colleges in academic ranking each
year.

THE PERSON

We are looking for an individual with exceptional people management
skills, capable of building and sustaining high levels of commitment in
the teams for which they hold responsibility and delivering agile and
efficient services for the College. Highly financially literate, you will
support the College in defining a sustainable vision for the effective
use of our resources and optimal deployment of these over the
medium and long term.
You will be comfortable working within the collegiate environment,
developing close effective relationships with colleagues,
demonstrating a high level of emotional intelligence, exceptional
communication and engagement skills, and leading with kindness and
respect.
You will recognise the importance of consensus in decision-making
and in engaging the Fellowship in operational matters. You will possess
a broad range of skills, experience and qualifications, including but not
limited to:

QUALIFICATIONS:

Excellent academic attainment (degree or equivalent
qualification).
Professional or post-graduate qualification e.g. Accountancy Body
affiliation and/or MBA are desirable but not essential.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Proven record of success in management of people and finance in
a complex environment.
Demonstrable commercial experience.
Financially literate with a sound understanding of financial
accounts, budgets and forecasts.
Real understanding of the key investment issues.
The ability to manage the College estate and other projects
effectively to time and budget.
An understanding of the requirements of an IT strategy.
Working knowledge of relevant legislation, including employment
law, data protection legislation, pension legislation and charity law.

PEOPLE SKILLS:

Experience of leading and inspiring multi-disciplinary teams in a
fair and empathetic way.
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
Able to work collaboratively and influence, motivate and negotiate
effectively.
Excellent communication skills.
Strategic vision, with an eye for detail.
Pro-active in approach, able to identify opportunities and pre-empt
problems.

TAKE A LEADING ROLE IN

commitment to the University, We will expect and support the
the UK, and the world. We are highest standards of academic
proud that we are a constituent research amongst our Fellowship
part of one of the leading and within our postgraduate
universities of the world; we will community.
help Cambridge University to
sustain and improve that national Through the excellence of our
and international standing. We will teaching and pastoral support we
draw strength from the quality will help our undergraduate and
and interdisciplinarity of our postgraduate students to achieve
research, discussions and improved success through their
learning. We will attract years at Pembroke, and to realise
outstanding international their full potential.
students here to Pembroke, to
enhance educational We will not expand the overall
opportunities and experiences for number of our undergraduate and
all our students, and to generate postgraduate students beyond the
2020 level agreed with the
University.
We will offer the whole range of We will provide added support to
available subjects to those who ensure that those of our students
seek to study here. from less advantaged
backgrounds can participate fully
We will maintain a balance in the life of the College.
between the sciences and the
humanities, aiming for a 50% Cohesiveness:
undergraduate STEM component. We will take a pioneering and
We will ensure that the size of our leadership role in providing the
Fellowship does not grow to a very best pastoral and wellbeing
position where it is no longer support for all our students, staff
possible to take decisions as a and Fellows.
holistic governing body.
We will commit to offering
Widening Participation: generous and appropriate
We will seek constantly to exceed financial and in-kind support for
the University’s OFFA targets for all our students, both
the proportion of our incoming UK undergraduate and postgraduate,
undergraduates from state who need it.
schools, whilst insisting on
selection by merit. We will ensure that there is a rich
variety of music, drama,
We will aim to draw more of our discussion, and sporting
undergraduate and postgraduate opportunities available for all our
students from the most members.
disadvantaged of backgrounds
and areas. With the Chapel close to the heart
of our College life, encouraging
We will pursue an active the search for the spiritual beyond
programme of outreach and the ordinary, we will build respect
widening participation for and understanding for people of
potential applicants, and all faiths and none within our
constantly monitor its community.
effectiveness.
The members of our community
include all students, all our staff,
and our alumni/ae; we will support
and respect all of our members.

THE ROLE

Pembroke College, Cambridge, is
seeking to elect a new Bursar and
Treasurer to succeed the current
incumbent, who will retire in
September.
You will play a pivotal role in the
leadership of the College in this
complex and broad role. As well as
developing the strategy of the
College with Fellows and staff, you
will work closely with senior staff to
ensure excellence in operational
delivery.
You will be committed to higher
education within our historic
setting in the centre of Cambridge.
You will embrace the values
identified by our community and
play a leading role in enabling the
College to meet its mission.
Accountable to the Governing Body (and a Fellow and Trustee), the
Bursar plays a critical role in the leadership and operation of the
College. The Bursar, as the senior non-academic Fellow of Pembroke
College, has overall responsibility for the College’s finances and
investments; estates and properties; HR; legal and compliance; risk
management; and other professional services functions.
The role is central in supporting our charitable objectives, promoting
our values and ensuring that we provide a welcoming and inclusive
environment for everyone.
Working closely with the Master, the Senior Tutor, other College
Officers, Fellows and senior staff, the Bursar will implement the
College’s Strategic Plan, guaranteeing its delivery through the
oversight of financial and investment strategies and the provision of
effective and appropriately resourced services to ensure the College’s
operational activities support our strategic aims.
The Bursar is jointly responsible, with Fellows and Trustees, for the
overall management and governance of the College, attending
Governing Body and committee meetings, providing assurance on
areas of responsibility and helping shape decisions and policy.
You will play a leading role in the development and delivery of the
College’s strategic objectives, particularly in the areas of financial and
infrastructure plans, supporting the Development Office in
fundraising and corporate strategy.
We look forward to hearing from candidates who are able to
demonstrate the qualities we require.