In this episode of the ISBA Bursar Conversations, host Nigel Ward welcomes Peter Sircar, Director of Finance & Resources at Hammersmith Academy to unpack lessons learned from decades in international school business management covering growth, strategy, and the future of multi academy trusts. Peter Sircar shares his journey from law to becoming a leader in school business management. He reflects on his experiences across various educational institutions, including overseeing the growth of a large school network and modernizing systems at a prestigious grammar school.

Peter highlights his strategic approach to leadership, emphasizing the importance of long-term planning, technology integration, and a people-first mindset. He discusses how his background in law, finance, and IT shaped his role and offers advice for those entering the field of educational business management, stressing resilience, passion, and the need for strategic thinking.

Key Takeaways:

- From Law to Education

Peter shares his early career ambitions to be a human rights lawyer, but a change in circumstances led him to focus on education and school business management.

- Lessons from the Largest School Network

His work at a large school network, where he helped grow the organization from a few to 100 schools, taught him valuable lessons about school management, HR, payroll, and project management.

- Building and Automating Systems

Peter combined his legal and finance background to automate processes in education, streamlining operations and introducing new technology.

- Leadership in Crisis and Growth

Reflecting on his career, Peter highlights his approach to leadership, including managing rapid growth, navigating the death of his father, and balancing work and personal life.

- People-Centric Leadership

Peter shares a powerful story about improving staff morale and ownership by acknowledging and respecting cleaning staff, showing the importance of appreciation in leadership.

- The Role of Strategic Planning

Peter discusses how strategic thinking in education management is key. From facilities management to staff development, he stresses the importance of planning for both short- and long-term goals.

Key Timestamps:

[00:00:00] - Teaser

[00:00:58] - Introduction and Peter’s educational background

[00:02:11] - Experience at a large school network: growth and challenges

[00:06:59] - Balancing personal and professional life

[00:09:53] - Leadership lessons and project management in education

[00:17:19] - The tension between institutional legacy and business realities

[00:23:06] - Peter’s passion for education and the drive to become a bursar

[00:25:56] - Advice for transitioning into educational business management

[00:27:58] - The importance of outsourcing and streamlining operations

[00:34:13] - Managing maintenance, grounds, and in-house teams

[00:39:24] - Commercializing school assets and developing new income streams

[00:44:42] - Innovations under financial pressure and sustainability models

[00:50:55] - The future of school business managers and strategic leadership

[00:54:02] - Conclusion

Connect Our Guest on:

Linkedin: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/petersircar

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peter.sircar/

Connect with Nigel Ward on:

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nigel-ward-author-of-using-less-stuff-88684a25

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This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional advice.