About this role
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.