1. Simon Higginbotham (B Comm, B Ed, Cert Corp Gov)
Contact Details: Address: 41 Power St
Croydon North VIC 3136
Phone: Home: (03) 9723.6325
Mobile 0417 527 104
Email: simon.higginbotham@hotmail.com
Executive
Profile:
With extensive experience in diverse business
management and leadership roles, my background has
given me a highly varied and broad skill base.
Commencing as a secondary teacher in independent
schools, I then moved to various Coles Myer corporate
roles within Organisational Development, my final
position being National Finance & Relationship Manager
for CMI. I developed an activity based costing model to
charge out service costs to users, improving
accountability. I then moved to the challenge of turning
the financial status of Sacre Coeur around in the diverse
role of Business Manager. Over 7 years, cash balances
went from o/drawn to $9.7mill, a recurrent deficit from
$250K to a surplus of $958K, greatly strengthening the
school’s financial position. My key strengths are the
ability to view things strategically, improve
performance, deliver outcomes and drive change.
Key Competencies
Financial
Management
• Budgeting,
forecasting, cash
flow
• Key benchmarking
• Reporting,
variance analysis
• Strategic cost
analysis
• Debtors Policy &
recovery
• Audited Statutory
reports
• CAPEX programs
and asset mgt
• Borrowing &
invest’t strategy
Consulting, Property&
R’ship Management
• Contract
negotiations, key
service providers
• Financial
planning-major
b’ding projects
• Liaise with
stakeholders
• Oversee
maintenance of
buildings and gardens
• Tender
documentation
• Hire of facilities,
business developm’t
• Risk
Management
Framework
Governance
• Company
Secretary to Board
• Member sub-
c’tees-Finance,
Property, Special
Projects,
Investment
• Legal
accountabilities
• Periodic KPI
reports to Board
and C’tees
• Periodic
reports to
Governing Body
• Working
knowledge of
broad HR
requirements.
Engaging Teams
& Facilitation
• Supervision of
Admin and
Maintenance staff
• Engaging &
leading teams
• Recruit,
induct, develop,
appraise team
members
• Compliance
with Awards and
IR policy
• Registered &
experienced
Secondary
Teacher-VIT +
facilitated range
of management
programs at CML
1

2. 2

3. Career Outline:
Plenty Valley
International
Montessori School
Business Manager
Jan-June 2015
General duties came under following areas: Leadership &
Strategy-eg liaise with Board and attend meetings, role of
company secretary, negotiate and influence key strategic
direction of the school and oversee Business Plan; Financial
Management-All budgeting, forecasting, monitor performance
and variance analysis, maintain a strategic financial plan,
oversee the audit process and specific grant funding, all
Debtors policy, collection, recovery of debts; Administration
Management and ICT-manage the whole school admin and IT
functions and lead all support staff, Human Resource
Management-manage payroll services, staff contracts,
recruitment, staff development, staff issues , promote strong
relationships between teaching and support staff etc.
Property Management-maintain key service provider
contracts and monitor service provision, security,
maintenance, ensure continued availability of utilities,
insurance for the whole school; OH&S /Risk Management-
Ensure appropriate Risk Management framework is in place
and act as the school’s OH&S coordinator.
The role reported directly to the School Board and required a
strong strategic partnership to be formed with the Principal.
SACRE COEUR
Business Manager
2007-2014
Sacre Coeur is an independent Catholic Girls School from
Preparatory to Year 12, with current enrolments at 732. The
Business Manager is responsible for providing support services
and infrastructure to the School and reports directly through
the Principal to the School Board and the governing body, the
Sacred Heart Education Ministry.
Budgeting/Financial and Admin Management
• Prepared annual Recurrent Budget -$18mill plus Capital
Budget, monitor performance against Budget including
periodic cost reports.
• Prepared on-going 6 year forecasts for recurrent and
capital and cash flow statements to facilitate medium term
strategic planning.
• Managed the Finance Committee, coordinate and
implement decisions and make recommendations for
financial innovations and strategies.
• Management of the purchasing function in relation to
Operating and Capital expenditure and oversee annual
audit.
• Primary interface/preparation of annual corporate
accounts and compliance submissions to Government and
other authorities.
• Prepared annual performance reports and benchmarking
analysis to School Board and governing body.
3

4. • Coordinated and implemented School Tuition Fees and Debtors
policies including collection, reporting and admin processes.
• Delivered high level office/administration services emanating
from the Business Office for all stakeholders.
Property/Consulting/Relationship Management
• Managed Tender process including developing contracts with
key external service providers including School Café and
Cleaning and managed their operating performance.
• Coordinated financial planning of major projects, liaise with
key stakeholders and implement strategic plans.
• Oversee annual maintenance programs of buildings and
garden.
• Negotiated and administered all hiring arrangements of school
facilities including Hire Agreements.
• Drove Agenda of Building & Property Committee in liaison with
Committee Chair.
• Maintained close working relationships with key stakeholders
including Board, sub-committees, School governing body,
ASBA, CEBA and ANZNET members.
Governance & People Management
• Responded to School Board for duties associated with the role
of Company Secretary, which also includes School Foundation.
• Demonstrated full understanding through professional
application of legal accountabilities and governance
requirements of the role, including distribution of meeting
documentation and minute taking.
• Supervision of Administration/Finance and Maintenance staff.
• Recruit, induct, develop and appraise team members
including hiring of casual staff and maintenance of staff
personnel records.
• Contributed to the development of a Risk Management
Framework and Compliance policies.
Developed key financial strategic initiatives which turned school
finances around;-
• Conversion to compulsory annual Capital Building Fund in 2008
with previous voluntary collection at $55K in 2007, now $296K
pa in 2013; conversion to non-refundable pre-enrolment
Capital Building Levy at $1,250 in 2009, now earns $190K pa.
• Extensive break-even cost analysis and feasibility study
conducted in 2008 on Junior School led to Board accepting
recommendation to significantly reduce fees in the primary
levels. Enrolments were stagnating at 129 in 2007, reached
215 in 2012, a 67% increase.
4

5. Highlights:
COLES MYER
INSTITUTE
National Finance
& Relationships
Manager
2002-2007
Key Benchmarks 2007 2009 2013
Recurrent Surplus $250k $161K (S) $958K (S)
(deficit)
Capital Account $160K $650K $2.8mill
Cash & Bank accts O/Drawn $3.35mill $9.7mill
Maintenance spend $227K $355K $567K
Operating margin (-2.3%) 8.3% 14.8%
WC Ratio .68:1 .83:1 1.55:1
• Developed streamlined Financial Reports that conveyed critical
short and long term information and data to Board and Finance
committee.
• Introduction of Sinking Maintenance Fund in 2009 to cover key
strategic maintenance programs (eg Roof Tiles replacement at
~ $850K); current balance over $1mill.
• Delivered financial plans for key building projects:- Multi-
Purpose ‘Kirby’ $2.5mill (2009-2010); JES Science (2011-2012)
$3.2mill. Include next 2 projects of Master Plan-Arts/Car Park
$4.5mill (2015/2016), Science/staffing $5.2mill (both
internally funded ~ 80%).
• Delivered robust Debtors Policy, significant increase in cash
flow, virtual elimination of bad debts.
The CMI, being a Registered Training Organisation, was recognised
by its clients as the leading vehicle for learning & development
excellence. From its inception in November 2002, it delivered
high quality nationally recognised qualifications, from entry level
to post graduate studies, learning solutions and services for our
employee base of over 160,000 team members throughout
Australia. My role was to lead and manage the finance function,
to set up and manage cost effective and efficient standards of
administration methodology and to manage critical training
partner relationships that supported the activity of the CMI.
Project/Admin Management
• Established and managed contracts with external training
providers and negotiate cost effective rates.
• Management of ‘internal’ Masters in Practising Accounting
with Monash University for finance & admin customers.
• Oversee administration of higher education programs and
supporting education assistance policy in partnership with
Deakin University.
• Managed IT resources database including systems, PC and
internet access and administer peoplesoft database.
• Managed core administration services including procurement
of training materials, CML professional memberships, the
Institute National Library, the initial L&D quarterly training
activity report, evaluation and executive summary reports
5

6. Highlights:
Budgetary/Financial
• Planned, prepared and managed functions $19 million annual
budget (largest CML HR Budget), incorporating 5 State
Budgets, and Service Level Agreements with Brands.
• Prepared annual Activity Based Costing analysis to ascertain
charges for department services to customers.
• Prepared monthly forecasting reports, quarterly variance
reports, yearly statistical analysis, tracked and reconciled
National Office functional expenditure, conducted monthly
audits of 6 department cost centre’s expenditure and
prepared monthly metrics to measure state service delivery.
• Managed the total department charging, account payment
process and cost recovery component.
• Development, co-ordination and management of the
department’s capital expenditure budget and fixed asset
management functions.
People Management
• Responsible for 4 direct reports who completed admin and
reporting functions within the Institute. Role included regular
mentoring, development and performance management of
entry-level employees for future management positions.
• Maintained department’s national headcount visibility,
monitor changes and review $10 million salary models to
budget.
Inter-personal/Communication
• Highly developed relationship and inter-personal skills
fostering rewarding business relationships with external
service providers such as Monash University, Deakin Prime,
Drake Training (previous national provider of computer
education), various contracted facilitators and venue
managers.
• Key provider of financial information for CMI function heads
and direct reports to GM providing strategic and managerial
advice and presentations on financial control and
administration
• Established the CMI’s financial control framework, budgeting,
reporting and admin processes at its inception in Nov 2002.
• Delivered 3 consecutive years of budget surplus, exceeding
tight management objectives.
• Developed Activity Based Costing Model to allocate cost of
running CMI based on usage of services, improving
accountability and service visibility.
• Developed and implemented uniform education assistance
policy across all CML and aligned with Deakin Prime higher
educ’n program enrolments.
6

7. COLES MYER
HUMAN
RESOURCES
Planning Admin
Services Manager-
Learning & Dev’t
1998-2002
Highlights:
COLES MYER
HUMAN
RESOURCES
Training and
Development
1995-1998
Responsible for managing relationships between CML and a range
of external training service providers, training administration
requirements and planning of resources to deliver the
Management Development and Computer Education training
schedules. This serviced a customer base of over 4000 employees.
Managed the Training Programs Cost Centre budgetary
responsibilities in excess of $1,000,000. Delivered high level
management programs such as People and Project Management,
Leadership, Lifetime Management and Harassment.
• Delivered $1.2 mill cost savings compared with market rates
over 2 years via Mgt Dev’t program schedule. Successful
national roll out. Included negotiation of venue and
facilitation rates, state based facilitators, flexible charging
and extensive administration support.
• Implementation of CML Intranet site for self-bookings and
psoft Admin Training module dbase maintained.
• Successfully managed CML Scholarship for 3 years.
• Completed tender and outsourcing post feasibility study of
national computer education training delivery, providing
indicative savings of $100K pa.
Various Corporate Personnel then T&D and coordinator roles for
major customers including Coles, Logistics, Kmart etc. Involved
TNA, design, development and delivery of cost effective
solutions. Also included Preparation of a Discussion Paper to the
Board HR, including comparative analysis of CML business’ EEO
policies and initiatives, outlining 'best practice' options for the
future direction of the CML EEO Program
YARRA VALLEY
GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Accounting and
Legal Studies Co-
Ordinator
Dual VCE responsibilities, often including 3 separate subjects
at Year 12 level. Taught at all levels of VCE (Units 1-4) in
Accounting, Economics, Legal Studies and Business
Management with exemplary VCE final year results.
CAMBERWELL
ANGLICAN GIRLS
GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Accounting and Bus
Studies Co-
Ordinator
Planned, designed and co-ordinated programs at senior level in
the areas of Accounting, Business Management and Commerce.
Responsibilities included all middle school and VCE Accounting
and alternate Business Management program.
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8. Education: UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
Bachelor of Commerce
1983-1987
(Double Accounting Major, Commercial Law Major,
Economics Sub-Major:
Final year 2nd. Class Honours average)
STATE COLLEGE OF VICTORIA-RUSDEN
Bachelor of Education 1980
(Business Studies: Dux of Department)
CERTIFICATE IV in TRAINING & ASSESSMENT-Southern
Cross Training-2014
GOVERNANCE INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
Certificate in Governance Practice
2014
Training:
• Provide First Aid (Cert 2) 2014 (Incl Anaphylaxis)
• Emergency Management Training (EMQ) 2013/2014
• Worksite Traffic Management RIIWHS302D 2014
• Worksite Traffic Management RIIWHS205D 2014
• Work Safely in Construction Industry White Card
2014
• Train the Trainer & Instructional Design
(Technisearch)
• Project & People Management (Coles Myer)
• Leadership 1&2 & Step Leadership (Coles Myer)
• Lifetime Management (Coles Myer)
• Advanced Word, Excel, Power Point
• Synergetic , MYOB and Attache systems training
Memberships and
Affiliations: Provisional Membership: Australian Society of
Accountants (1988)
Member: Association of School Business Administrators
(ASBA)
Member: Catholic Education Business Administrators
(CEBA)
Member: Melbourne Cricket Club
Personal Information:
Family: Married with three sons and a daughter
Citizenship: Australian
Interests: In between numerous family sporting commitments, I
keep active through jogging and swimming. My other
interests include travel, golf, using my MCC
membership for cricket and football, gardening,
8

9. reading and a fascination with the weather.
Referees: Ms Liz Vinning
Head of Commercial
Deakin Prime
Ex Chair Sacre Coeur and Ex Manager at Coles Myer Ltd
Ph: 9918 9128 BH Mob: 0411 444438
Ms Clare Lethlean
Professional Practice Consultant
McGrath Nicol
Ex Vice Chair Sacre Coeur Board and current member of
Finance Committee
Ph: 9038 3117 BH Mob: 0419 207093
Mr John Loschiavo
General Manager-Procurement
Barro Group
Chair Sacre Coeur Building & Property Committee,
Director Sacre Coeur Board
Ph: Mob: 0409 038181
9

10. reading and a fascination with the weather.
Referees: Ms Liz Vinning
Head of Commercial
Deakin Prime
Ex Chair Sacre Coeur and Ex Manager at Coles Myer Ltd
Ph: 9918 9128 BH Mob: 0411 444438
Ms Clare Lethlean
Professional Practice Consultant
McGrath Nicol
Ex Vice Chair Sacre Coeur Board and current member of
Finance Committee
Ph: 9038 3117 BH Mob: 0419 207093
Mr John Loschiavo
General Manager-Procurement
Barro Group
Chair Sacre Coeur Building & Property Committee,
Director Sacre Coeur Board
Ph: Mob: 0409 038181
9