1. WANDA JANINA FORD
‘Mayfield’, Tarporley Road, Tarvin, Chester, CH3 8NF ● 01606 720519 (work) ● 01829 740371 (home)
wford@michesh.ac.uk
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
 Deputy Principal for a Further Education College with extensive experience of the sector
 Responsibility for developing and implementing the accommodation strategy and the Board Assurance
Framework
 OFSTED nominee
 A strategist with excellent communication skills who enjoys working as part of a team
 A senior manager who has been responsible for driving significant efficiencies and delivering value for money
throughout the organisation
SKILLS
EXPERIENCE
Deputy Principal, Mid Cheshire College, Hartford, Cheshire August 2013 - present
One of the two senior post holders who together with two directors comprise the Senior Leadership Team
responsible for the overall management of the College
Achievements
 Outstanding safeguarding
 Driving efficiencies in curriculum delivery and the provision of support services
 Board Assurance Framework recognised as well-developed and robust by auditors
 Development of a Growth Plan and the introduction of formal curriculum planning days and timetable of
activities
 Introduction of formalised Inspection Planning format based on the Common Inspection Framework including
clear roles and responsibilities
Responsibilities
 Deputise for the Principal in his absence
 Overall responsibility for all business and student support functions, with the exception of Quality and
Examinations. Providing line management for all of these functions.
 Key role in monitoring the quality of the HE and FE curriculum and employer focused delivery. Chairing the
annual Self-Assessment Panels and HE Self Evaluation Panels.
 Preparing the College Annual Self-Assessment Report
 Senior Officer for all reporting to Audit Committee, including value for money, audit of sub-contractors, risk
management and internal and external audit reports
 The development of a Board Assurance Framework to inform the annual risk management review process and
the development and monitoring of the risk management action plan. The embedding of risk management
throughout the organisation.
 Senior safeguarding lead including the implementation of the new Prevent Duty
 Management of the Performance Monitoring process
 Senior manager responsible for Data Protection and co-ordination of and reporting on Freedom of Information
requests
 Preparation of reports to the Corporation and its committees
 Overall responsibility for budgets, financial forecasts and the annual financial statements
 Liaison officer with internal and external auditors
 Development and maintenance of positive relationships with local and regional stakeholders including schools,
the Local Enterprise Partnership, local councils and community groups
 Chair of the Cheshire & Warrington Consortium of Colleges Student Support Group
Vice Principal: Business Management, Mid Cheshire College, Cheshire March 2001 - August 2013
Achievements:
 Development of a new Accommodation Strategy

2.  Disposal of surplus land
 Successful applications for capital grant support from a number of bodies
 Successful completion of major building projects
 Improvement of success rates in work based learning
 Rationalisation of business support functions resulting in significant savings in both pay and non-pay
expenditure
 Simplification and improvement in the quality and quantity of management information
 Strong partnerships developed with local councils, funding bodies and schools
 Development of risk management strategy
 Improved financial and other business process controls during a period of significant growth and change
 Positive and supportive relationships developed with governors
Responsibilities:
 Overall responsibility for the College support units - Human Resources, Information Technology Support,
Management Information Systems and Examinations, Estates Management, and Finance and Catering. In
addition Employer Engagement from May 2008. Providing guidance, leadership and support to the managers
of those units.
 Developing and ensuring the achievement of the College Accommodation Strategy. This includes the
management of the internal and external project management consultants. Responsibility for the appointment
of the Design Team and building contractors. Liaising with the contractors during the actual build period and
ensuring the needs of end users are met. Applying for capital grant support from a number of potential
funders. Ensuring the appropriate information and authorities are provided to and received from the governing
and funding bodies. Liaison with the planning authority, including public consultation, presentations to both
committees of local Council members and Area Meetings. Negotiations with respect to land transfer and
Section 106 agreements. The preparation of green travel plans.
 Development and management of a performance monitoring process that looks at both financial and qualitative
targets.
 Develop, maintain and manage relationships with key stakeholders and local partners.
 Preparation of reports to governing body to ensure that information is presented in a timely and appropriate
manner to ensure that key deadlines are met and decisions made. This includes annual information such as
budgets, financial statements, annual audit and Freedom of Information Act reports as well those related to
capital projects.
 Data Protection and Child Protection legislative compliance.
Head of Finance, North East WalesInstitute of Higher Education (NEWI), Wrexham 1995 – February 2001
Senior member of management responsible for the Financial Services function in NEWI
Achievements:
 Transforming the Financial Services function into a responsive and efficient department.
 Significantly improving the department's profile, both internally and externally.
 Establishment and monitoring of financial procedures and controls.
 Significantly improving the qualitativeness (quality) and timeliness of management information.
 Implementation of new software systems for both payroll and the financial accounting system.
Responsibilities:
 Provision of an effective Finance Services function for the whole organisation.
 Monthly and statutory annual group financial statements, including all financial and statistical returns to
regulatory bodies.
 Provision of advice and guidance to the Audit and Finance and General Purposes Committee of the Board of
Governors on changes in Accounting Standards and Financial Reporting Standards and the impact of any
changes in VAT.
 Treasury management.
 Company Secretary for all the group companies.
Director, Stoke on Trent Business Initiative Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent 1993 - 1995
Full time Director on a two-year secondment from KPMG (see below). Business Initiative (BI) is the leading
enterprise agency in North Staffordshire and is run under the auspices of the local Chamber of Commerce. BI
offers business counselling services to a wide range of start up businesses and individuals.
Achievements:
 Promotion of client service levels in a period of acute funding constraints.
 Attainment of Investors in People.

3.  Key role in the successful Staffordshire Training & Enterprise Council (TEC) led bid to establish Business Link
(Staffordshire).
 Key role in the successful Single Regeneration Budget bid for new business starts.
Responsibilities:
 Assessing the suitability of client business plans for grant assistance and monitoring subsequent financial
performance.
 Preparation of three-year Strategic Plan.
 Management of the Agency's operations, with particular responsibility for finance and staff issues and all TEC
contracts.
 Administration of the BS EN ISO9001 accredited system.
 Liaison with sponsor organisations and key players in the local economy at Managing Director level.
Senior Manager, KPMG, Stoke-on-Trent 1988 - 1995
Senior manager in charge of a Business Services department. The department's client base covered a wide
variety of business sectors, with turnovers ranging from £500,000 to £15 million. 'Business Services' comprises all
aspects of client care for the owner-managed company: accounting, audit, taxation, company secretarial and
general financial advice.
Responsibilities:
 Organisation and scheduling of work for a department of 30 staff.
 Technical management of the department's client base, including reviews of work and quality control.
Achievements:
 Successful management of client base and staff through a major restructure which involved the merging of two
departments.
 Increased margins and recovery levels on both individual and departmental client work.
 Improved staff morale and in particular lines of communication. This was achieved despite general uncertainty
caused by redundancies and a reduction in the client base due to the recession.
Manager, Dean Statham, Chartered Accountants, Stafford 1986 - 1988
Manager with responsibility for the organisation and scheduling of work for a small portfolio of clients, including sole
traders, partnerships and limited companies, with turnovers in the range £10,000 to £2.5 million.
Assistant Accountant, Frank Innes Black Horse Agencies, Derby 1985 - 1986
Assistant Accountant responsible for the preparation and analysis of monthly and annual financial accounts and
budgets for a multi-branch organisation. Managed the installation of a computerised accounting system designed
to replace manual records.
Trainee Chartered Accountant, KPMG, Stoke-on-Trent 1981 - 1985
A three year period of training and practical experience leading to qualification as a Chartered Accountant. All
examinations were passed first time.
EDUCATION
Continuing Personal Development: Accounting Standards ● Audit Requirements ● PAYE ● Employment law ●
Data and Child Protection Legislation ● Health & Safety IoSH qualification ●Team Building ● Appraisal/Interviewing
Skills ● Managing Difficult People ● Selling and Negotiating
Chartered Accountant exams??
BA (Hons) 2:1 in Law (full-time), Stafford University
‘A’ levels: Pure Maths with Statistics, History, English Literature, General Studies
9 ‘O’ levels
Regular attendance at technical updating sessions covering accounting standards, audit requirements, PAYE, and related matters. Training
on relevant aspects of employment law. Data and child protection legislation. Health & Safety -
including the IoSH qualification.
Management training, including team building, appraisal and interviewing skills, managing difficult
people, selling and negotiating