School Business Manager

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced high-calibre School Business Manager (SBM) to provide financial leadership for a highly regarded secondary school in Rochester. You will have operational and strategic responsibility for financial management, human resources, estate management, health and safety, and administrative systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a confidential and professional financial service preparing monthly reports, action plans, and accounts to the Headteacher and Governors.
• Ensure that all financial reports are completed to a high standard for all auditing purposes and for LA/DfE/Gov returns.
• Work with external service provider on monthly payroll routines to ensure payments are accurate.
• Oversee the Purchase Ledger function ensuring all suppliers invoices are paid in a timely manner.
• Manage external lettings, liaising with external companies seeking to utilise our facilities. Ensure sales invoices are sent and paid in a timely manner.
• Scrutinise premises, catering, and ICT budgets to ensure best value practices through robust contract and SLA management.
• Provide strategic oversight on large capital projects and planned maintenance programmes.

• Proactively identify and secure additional income streams, including grant funding bids and encouraging facility lettings by the local community.

• Line-manage the Premises Manager and team to deliver the required maintenance, health and safety, and security of our school buildings, facilities and site.

Person Specification

Essential Skills

• Excellent mathematical/accounting skills with experience as a School Business Manager or Senior Finance Lead ideally within a secondary school or multi-academy trust (MAT) setting.
• Ability to work independently under time pressure, make decisions, and show initiative when problem solving.
• Experience of managing staff.
• Experience of lettings management, risk assessments, etc.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and requirements.
• Experience of maintaining accurate and up-to-date administration, reports and records.

• Flexibility, resilience, adaptability and commitment to work as part of a team.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.

Desirable Skills:

• Proficiency with school financial and budgeting software and Management Information Systems, ideally with FMS, Access Education, and SIMS.

• Experience of generating income through letting of facilities.
• Relevant managerial and operational qualifications.