1.4 Digital Strategy & Leadership

Appointing Digital Champions in the Finance Team

Digital transformation is as much about people as it is about technology. Within independent schools, where finance teams are often small and multitasking is the norm, appointing digital champions can make the difference between a successful transformation and a stalled initiative. These champions help bridge the gap between vision and execution, acting as motivators, mentors, and change agents across the school.

Why Digital Champions Matter

Finance digital transformation introduces new tools, workflows, and ways of thinking. It requires mindset shifts and collaborative engagement across teams. Digital champions are individuals within the finance team who:

• Embrace digital change and understand its value

• Help others adapt to new systems and processes

• Act as internal advocates for innovation

• Identify small issues before they become big blockers

For independent schools, digital champions bring leadership and continuity to digital projects without the need for additional staff or consultants. They embed change in the day-to-day.

Key Qualities of a Digital Champion

1. Strong Communicator
   Champions must be approachable, able to explain technical changes in plain language, and comfortable giving peer-to-peer support.

2. Digitally Curious
   While they don’t need to be IT experts, champions should be eager to explore new tools and share what they learn.

3. Process-Oriented
   They understand existing workflows, identify inefficiencies, and suggest digital improvements.

4. Trusted by Colleagues
   Champions are well-respected and have credibility across departments. Their buy-in influences others.

5. Solution-Focused
   They take a practical, “how can we make this work?” approach to solving digital challenges.

How to Appoint Digital Champions in Finance

1. Identify Naturally Engaged Team Members
   Look for staff who already ask questions, propose improvements, or show interest in new systems.

2. Clearly Define the Role
   Set expectations: this isn’t about doing IT’s job, but supporting adoption, identifying opportunities, and encouraging continuous improvement.

3. Provide Training and Time
   Offer champions access to additional training and dedicated time to work on digital initiatives, recognising their contributions.

4. Align with Broader Transformation Goals
   Ensure champions understand how their role fits into the school’s wider digital roadmap.

5. Celebrate Their Impact
   Share their successes in staff meetings or newsletters. Recognition fuels momentum.

Examples of Champion Activities

• Hosting informal drop-ins or lunch-and-learns to support peers

• Gathering feedback on new systems and reporting it back to leadership

• Piloting automation or digital tools before wider rollout

• Creating simple guides or cheat sheets for commonly used processes

Chris’s Conclusion

Digital champions don’t just support systems - they support people. In a busy finance department, where change can often feel like one more thing to do, champions create a culture of curiosity, confidence, and collaboration.

For independent schools on the path to digital transformation, appointing finance digital champions is a smart, scalable way to embed change from within. With the right support, these champions can become the heartbeat of your transformation journey.