Martin Kelly ACIS

Martin Kelly ACIS

I am delighted to introduce my associate Martin Kelly, a close friend and highly respected former colleague.

Martin is semi-retired and now offers a range of services for Bursars, Heads and Governors.

His full CV and contact details follow below.

Martin Kelly ACIS

A Chartered Governance Professional with extensive experience of good governance and sound financial management in the charitable, commercial, and public sectors; with most career experience in educational and training organisations.  A record of being instrumental in facilitating strong governance, effective management and robust compliance in schools.  Roles have included full time, part-time, and consultancy.  

Employment History:

August 2018 onward– Group Secretary - Solent Group of the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association.(Occasional post).  

April 2016 to August 2018:  Bursar and Clerk to the Board of Governors - Chafyn Grove School (independent day/boarding prep).  Responsible for: financial management, statutory compliance, estates management, all support services, and effective governance and compliance.  (Part-time post: 3.5/5).

June 2015 to April 2016:  Head of Governance - Wellington College Academy Trust (sixth form, secondary and primary academies).  Clerk to the Board of Trustees, and the Local Governing Bodies, and Trust Company Secretary.  Responsible for: 

  • Improving the effectiveness of governance across the Trust.

  • Training and advising trustees on statutory obligations and regulatory compliance. 

  • Establishing effective risk management throughout the Trust. 

  • Advising of on commercial aspects of contracts, leases etc.  

Particularly focus on raising the standards of governance in preparation for Ofsted inspection. (Part-time post: 4/5).

July 2006 to June 2015:  Bursar and Clerk to the Governing Body - The Pilgrims’ School, Winchester (independent day/boarding prep).  Responsibilities as for Chafyn Grove.  Particular achievements include:

  • Improving governance by reorganising the committee structure, and introducing an effective induction process and a transparent nominations system.

  • Supporting the Governing Body through several management challenges, and supporting their recruitment and selection of two headmasters and one interim.

  • Delivering a major development project to time and cost.

  • Beneficial renegotiation of major loan agreements.

December 2001 to June 2006: Finance and Commercial Manager – Fast Training Services Ltd -a PFI shell company delivering a training service to the MOD.  Responsible for:  sub-contractor compliance and delivery, major contract change negotiation, leases and insurance, and financial modelling.

1972-2001: Supply and Secretariat Officer in the Royal Navysenior appointments included:

  • Director of Finance of a multi-site training group with a £34M budget.

  • Policy lead, compliance inspector and advisor on charitable fund management.

  • Executive Assistant and legal/HR advisor to the CEO of major training establishments.

  • Leading and Managing the logistics department in operational warships.

Consultancy Experience

  • Providing mentoring for ab-initio bursars. 

  • Carrying out appraisals of governance and advising governing bodies on improving and strengthening the effectiveness of Governance.

  • Providing training for Governing Bodies, including induction and compliance.

  • Conducting 360°Bursar appraisal. 

  • Advising on recruitment and selection to both governors and candidates.

Qualifications and Training:

2017-19: Studying for MA in Naval History at the University of Portsmouth (part time).  Due to Graduate in Autumn 2019.  

2014: International Certificate of Risk Managementwith Institute of Risk Management – passed at “Distinction”

2001: Qualified as a Legal Executive(now Chartered) with Institute of Legal Executives completing specialist modules in Company and Partnership Law, Contract Law, and Equity and Trusts.

1999: Qualified as a Chartered Company Secretary and Governance Professionalwith the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. Final modules in:  Financial Accounting, Corporate Finance and Taxation, and Company Law and Practice. Completed Post-Qualification Certificate in Commercial Contracts (2004).  Qualification maintained by CPD. 

Previously: Commissioned as Supply Officer in the Royal Navy at Britannia Royal Naval College and the RN Supply School (1975).  

CPDin past five years includes:  Health & Safety for Managers, Crisis Recovery and Business Continuity Planning, GDPR compliance. ISBA annual conferences.

Other Relevant Experience:

Governor of Princes Mead School, Winchester. (2016-present)

  • Trustee of the Lighthouse Learning Trust: one of the country’s first Sixth Form College Multi Academy Trusts – Chair of Governance, Audit and Risk Committee. (2015-present)

  • Trustee of Southampton Sea Cadets:  Responsible for fund raising for a building development project.   

  • Previously served as a trustee for two charities 

  • Previously governor at Local Authority School for 9 years (7 years as Chair).

Interests include:

Naval historical research, sailing (RYA Yachtmaster Offshore), music, art history and architecture,  and allotment cultivation.

Contact Details: