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

   Implement a marketing plan for the school, which utilises the school website, signage, the prospectus, and communications with current and prospective parents

   Monitor developments in technology and consider how it can be used to enhance the school’s business processes, teaching and learning, and staff wellbeing

   As a member of the senior leadership team, attend all leadership team 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 balanced, 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

   Develop and implement 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 finance manager, delegating tasks to finance/office staff where appropriate

Human resources

   Manage the school’s payroll provision with the payroll provider

   Manage staff absence, recording absence, conducting back to work meetings and follow up as needed

   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 site 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

   Organise 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 data protection law, ensuring information security and confidentiality at all times

   Provide administrative support for the Headteacher and governing body

   Be the school’s data processor 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.