School Business Manager

Job Introduction

Our School Business Manager is retiring after many years in post, and we are excited to offer an opportunity for a new or experienced School Business Manager to join Mansbridge Primary School.  This may be suitable for a person with experience of school financial systems looking to move to the next step, or an experienced person looking for a better work/life balance.

We are offering this position at Grade 8 or 9 (depending on experience) for 2.5 to 3 days per week, term time plus 4 weeks (negotiable).

This role is pivotal in driving the school's long-term vision, ensuring the operational business model aligns with and directly supports our strategic objectives and continuous improvement journey.

Mansbridge is a single form entry school at the heart of the local community, we are committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for both our children and our staff. We are proud of our children who are happy and well-motivated and work together to support their peers.

We have a skilled and dedicated team of teachers and support staff, committed to doing the best for all the children in the school and a supportive leadership team and governing body with a commitment to your professional development.

Job details 

Salary: From £37,280 FTE depending on Grade and experience

Hours: 2.5-3 days per week negotiable

Contract type: part-time, permanent

Reporting to: The Headteacher

Responsible for: Overseeing the Admin Team

 Main purpose 

The school business manager (SBM) is responsible for managing the strategy and operation of the business functions of our school, including financial management, health and safety, human resources, compliance and administration. 

They will advise on and implement the day-to-day support that enables the school to operate effectively and efficiently, and that allows other members of the leadership team to focus on teaching and learning.

 Duties and responsibilities 

Leadership and strategy

• Be responsible for line-managing support staff, including carrying out long-term resource planning and managing recruitment, appraisal and professional development
• Under the direction of the headteacher, lead on all financial matters in school, to ensure the school’s successful financial performance and to ensure financial decisions are clearly linked to the school’s strategic goals
• Implement school-wide changes and allocate resources in line with the school improvement plan, putting policies and procedures in place and communicating them to staff
• Take all decisions in line with the vision and values of the school, and encourage others to do the same 
• As a member of the senior leadership team (SLT), attend SLT meetings and report to governors where appropriate

Financial management and fundraising

• In partnership with the headteacher, manage the school’s budget and ensure it is in line with forecasts, realistic, and represents an effective use of public funds 
• Submit the budget to the governing board 
• Monitor the budget all year round, advising the headteacher where revisions or changes are needed 
• Forecast future years’ budgets, based on the school’s estimated funding and trends in expenditure, to enable the headteacher to make strategic, long-term decisions
• Comply with financial reporting requirements and submit statutory returns
• Oversee school bank accounts on a day-to-day basis, ensuring money is banked, invoices are paid promptly, money owed is collected, and clear records are kept
• Support the school’s fundraising and income generation strategy, choosing fundraising priorities in line with the school improvement plan 
• Find and apply for grants
• Lead on procurement processes, managing tenders where appropriate, conducting due diligence, benchmarking and evaluating suppliers, negotiating deals and ensuring value for money 
• Manage the school’s lettings offer
• Ensure the effective and efficient operation of the admin team, delegating tasks to office staff where appropriate 

Human resources

• Oversea the school’s payroll provision with the payroll provider
• Ensure that recruitment, appraisal, disciplinary and grievance policies are administered in accordance with employment law
• Advise on HR issues within school and liaise with the external HR provider
• Conduct reviews of the school’s staffing structure to ensure effective deployment of staff and financial efficiency

Health and safety

• With the headteacher and premises team, supervise the maintenance of the school site 
• Manage the school’s compliance with health and safety regulations, and put in place processes and procedures to ensure the safety of all in the school 
• Oversee health and safety training for staff

Compliance

• Manage the school’s compliance with statutory obligations, and advise others on the relevant legal, regulatory and ethical requirements
• Track all school policies and ensure they are updated in accordance with the policy review schedule
• Monitor and update the risk register

 Administration

• Keep records in accordance with the school’s record retention schedule and UK data protection law, always ensuring information security and confidentiality 
• Provide administrative support for the headteacher and governing body
• Support or be the school’s data protection officer depending on experience, taking responsibility for monitoring data protection compliance and advising the school community on data protection issues

 The school business manager will be required to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and follow school policies and the staff code of conduct.

Please note that this list of duties is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the school business manager will carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role, as directed by the headteacher.

Safer Recruitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.