School Business Manager

What skills and experience we're looking for

The sucessful candidate will

• Will have excellent school business management experience
• Demonstrate effective leadership and management skills
• Have robust background in Finance, ER and HR
• Be highly motivated, organised and display a positive attitude towards work
• Be proactive and be able to work on their own initiative
• Be professional and courteous towards others
• Be able to work under pressure
• Have excellent interpersonal skills and able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Be able to lead a team and work effectively as part of a team.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: School Business Manager

Grade: Scale P01 – P04

Person reports to: Head Teacher

Staff supervised: PO1 Office/admin staff

PO2 Office staff and Site Supervisor

PO3 /PO4 More than 2 groups of staff or more e.g. including admin, clerical and finance staff; premises and maintenance staff; cleaners; teaching assistants; lunchtime supervisors

Purpose of job:

The SBM is responsible for the strategic and operational management of all non-teaching functions of the school, including finance, personnel, site management, administration, and operational support. The role ensures the smooth and efficient running of school operations while supporting, but not directly involving, the teaching function.

A key aspect of the role is customer relations. The SBM represents the school to a wide range of stakeholders, including pupils, staff, governors, local authorities, service providers, and the wider community. The SBM is expected to project a positive image of the school, foster strong relationships, and promote the school’s services and community role.

PO4: Additionally, the SBM serves as a full member of the Leadership & Management Team (LMT), contributing to strategic decision-making, policy development, and leadership across the school and extended services.

Equal opportunities:

The Council is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of employment. All recruitment, selection, training, and promotion decisions are based on fair, job-related criteria. We expect all employees to respect these principles, contribute to a positive working environment, and help ensure that no one experiences discrimination or harassment.

Duties and Responsibilities:

P01

1 To be responsible for own continuous professional development.

2 To be responsible for administrative support for governors and headteachers.

3 To monitor and evaluate school admin, finance, and health & safety procedures and identify risk areas.

4 Allocate and monitor the quality of work and progress of work in their teams

5 To liaise effectively with colleagues, governors, local authority and contractors

6 Responsible for the recruitment and selection of staff within their area of responsibility.

7 Responsible for ensuring the recruitment and selection of all staff within the school is in line with legislation, regulation, professional and occupational standards, frameworks and codes of practice requirements, and for the administration of those processes.

8 Responsible for performance appraisal of staff within their team.

9 To identify and manages unacceptable or poor performance issues of teams or individuals.

10 To monitor school budgets and maintain accurate financial information.

11 To contribute to the effective management of school physical resources.

12 To be a member of a school project team as required and assist in monitoring its effectiveness.

13 To maintain and monitor information to assess school performance.

14 To be responsible for all cash transactions within the school.

P02

As above plus

1 Provide guidance to enable governors and leadership teams to be compliant with regulatory requirements

2 To monitor and evaluate school admin, finance, and health & safety procedures, identify risk areas, suggest remedies and implement changes after agreement from the head teacher.

3 To contribute to the measurement, analysis and review of school performance, including benchmarking information against other similar schools.

4 To present to governors, accurate accounts of school performance.

5 To undertake effective procurement processes to ensure value for money.

6 To be responsible for ensuring that health and safety requirements are met in line with legislation, regulation and codes of practice requirements.

7 To identify, obtain, monitor and effectively and efficiently use school physical resources.

8 To manage a school project and monitor its effectiveness.

9 To manage and develop effective partnerships and relationships with all school community users.

P03

As above plus

1. Develop processes within the school whereby governors can effectively meet their responsibilities.

2. To identify potential risks in relation to achieving strategic objectives and make effective contingency plans.

3. To plan, lead and implement change across own areas of responsibility.

4. Lead and monitor the quality and progress of work across whole-school teams.

5. To manage and monitor contracts, tenders and agreements for the provision of support services.

6. To manage school budgets and maintain accurate financial information to assist effective monitoring and achieve school goals.

7. To maximise income through lettings and extended services provision.

8. To plan long-term financial budgets considering value for money, school improvement plan priorities and trends affecting future school budgets.

9. To manage existing school technology systems.

10. To lead on all health and safety issues within the school.

11. To identify, plan and monitor the use of required school physical resources

12. To manage effective school business processes to deliver school requirements.

13. To ensure production of effective school marketing literature and monitor and evaluate its impact.

14. To pro-actively engage with and develop partnership initiatives with other schools, services, education institutions and local businesses to further school community services.

15. To manage, monitor and review consistent data and benchmarks to ensure school performance targets are met.

P04

As above plus

1. To role model exemplary time management and work-life principles.

2. To monitor compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements across extended services.

3. To negotiate, manage and monitor contracts, tenders and agreements for the provision of support services.

4. Lead and monitor the progress of work across extended schools and multi-agency teams.

5. Strategically leads and monitors the financial requirements across extended schools and multi-agency teams.

6. To proactively seek and manage additional finance streams, including fundraising, bids and asset management processes.

7. To lead on all health and safety issues within the school, ensuring that health and safety is prioritised across extended school services, informing the school’s strategy, planning and decision making.

8. To strategically lead extended school business processes.

9. To develop and review a framework for marketing school services to a range of audiences.

10. To lead on using data and benchmarking to monitor school performance across extended schools.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job Title: School Business Manager

Grade: Scale P01 – P04

Important Information for Applicants

The criteria listed in this Person Specification are divided into essential and desirable requirements for the role. Where the Method of Assessment is stated to be the Application Form, your application must demonstrate clearly and concisely how you meet each of the essential criteria. Meeting the desirable criteria is advantageous and may be considered in the selection process. If you do not fully address the essential criteria, or if we do not consider that you meet them, you will not be shortlisted. Please provide specific examples wherever possible.

CRITERIA

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT

Education & Qualification

P01 – P02

Relevant administrative or business-related qualification

P03

Studying for /willing to study for Diploma in School Management

P04

Diploma/Advanced Diploma in School Management

Application Form / Interview / Certificate / Test

Application Form / Interview / Certificate / Test

Application Form / Interview / Certificate / Test

Experience

P01 – P02

Experience of managing staff

In-depth knowledge of Health & safety risk, issues, and legislation in relation to education.

Knowledge of asset management processes.

Understanding of tracking systems, analysing data and benchmark systems.

P03

As above plus

Experience of managing staff and demonstrates knowledge of managing staff in a variety of settings.

P04

As above plus

Experience in senior leadership roles, contributing to strategic planning and school improvement; experience managing extended school services, multi-agency teams, and additional funding streams

Experience in fundraising, grant writing, and partnership development

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

(Desirable but not essential)

Knowledge

P01

Awareness of current and emerging trends in education policy nationally and locally

Demonstrates understanding of managing staff

Knowledge of school budgetary systems and how to monitor them effectively.

Knowledge and understanding of financial management principles and good practice, including audit requirements.

Understands the importance of teamwork and teambuilding techniques.

Knowledge of education sector-specific legislation, regulation, guidelines and codes of practice relevant to the post.

P02

As above plus

In-depth knowledge of Health & Safety in schools; knowledge of asset management processes; understanding of tracking systems and data benchmarking

P03

As above plus

Understanding of ways to prepare, manage and monitor budgetary systems that ensure value for money.

P04

As above plus

Demonstrates a good knowledge of strategic management in schools and school improvement planning

Understanding of effective principles for fundraising and grant writing.

Knowledge and understanding of project management tools and techniques commonly used within the education sector.

Knowledge and understanding of marketing strategies

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

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Application Form/ Interview

Skills and abilities

P01

Able to apply time management, planning and delegation tools effectively

Demonstrates a problem-solving approach to all areas of work.

Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, governors, parents, local authority and other stakeholders.

Able to access, analyse and interpret information.

P02

As above plus

Ability to supervise and develop small teams

P03

As above plus

Able to demonstrate creative thinking.

Able to use data and benchmarking to set targets to monitor whole school performance.

P04

As above plus

Able to lead multi-disciplinary teams

Ability to develop school-wide processes and extended services

Ability to negotiate and manage external partnerships and funding streams

Application Form/ Interview

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Application Form/ Interview

Personal style and behaviour

1. Demonstrates a strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people

2. Maintains appropriate professional boundaries with children, parents, and colleagues

3. Demonstrates integrity, discretion, and the ability to maintain confidentiality at all times

4. Demonstrates a positive, professional, and customer-focused approach, acting as a key ambassador for the school

5. Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of work

6. Willingness to work flexibly and respond positively to the changing needs of the school

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

Application Form/ Interview

What the school offers its staff

We can offer

• A warm, diverse and friendly school
• A Growth –Mindset ethos
• A strong supportive leadership team
• Oportunities for CPD
• Happy well- mannered children

Commitment to safeguarding

Grange Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We have many policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection and Anti–Bulling Policies which can be viewed in the policies section on our website.