School Business Manager

Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School; Darwin; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School seeks a dynamic School Business Manager to join the Executive Leadership Team. You will steer non‑teaching functions, supervise budgets, payroll, HR, and governance processes while aligning with the Principal and Catholic Education NT for long‑term financial sustainability.

You will lead strategic financial planning, reporting, and risk management, ensuring compliance and safeguarding throughout the school. Previous school experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• CPA, CA, or equivalent tertiary degree.
• Minimum 5 years of experience as a Business Manager or equivalent high‑level corporate services experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of financial planning, budgeting, and reporting.
• Demonstrated leadership with HR principles and team management.
• Capacity to contribute to strategic vision and financial sustainability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; proficient with Microsoft Office and financial software (ClAnywhere advantageous).
• Ability to obtain NT Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card).
• Experience working in a school environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee funding applications, assist with budget and cash flow strategies, and manage financial delegations.
• Manage school administration staff, end‑to‑end recruitment, payroll oversight, and HR administration.
• Oversee enrolment processes, census reporting, surveys, and support for the Advisory School Board.
• Oversee supplier relationships, procurement, and contract management.
• Manage facilities, ICT resources, and trading centre operations (Early Learning Centres, OSC, Canteen).
• Manage organisational risk, WHS compliance, and policy adherence.
• Contribute to strategic planning, financial strategies, and business plans.

Skills

Financial planning

Budgeting

Reporting

Strategic planning

Leadership

HR management

Communication

Education

CPA/CA or equivalent degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

ClAnywhere

Job description

Location: Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School

Applications Close: Friday 20 November, 2026

Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School is seeking a dynamic, strategic, and experienced School Business Manager to join our Executive Leadership Team.

Reporting directly to the Principal and working closely with the Catholic Education Head Office and Chief Financial Officer, the School Business Manager holds operational, strategic, and hands‑on responsibility for all non‑teaching functions of the school. You will play a vital role in ensuring our school achieves its educational goals while maintaining long‑term financial sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management: Oversee funding applications, assist the Finance Officer with budget and cash flow strategies, and manage financial delegations as directed by the Principal.

Human Resources & Payroll: Manage school administration staff, end‑to‑end recruitment (including HR Tech1 Onboarding and contracts), payroll oversight, and general HR administration.

School Administration & Governance: Oversee administrative systems, enrolment processes, departmental census/annual reporting, survey submissions, and support for the Advisory School Board.

Procurement & Contract Management: Oversee supplier relationships, ordering of goods and services, and contract management.

Facilities, ICT & Trading Activities: Manage school facilities, grounds, and ICT resources, alongside operational business management of trading centres (Early Learning Centres, Outside School Hours Care, and Canteen).

Compliance, Risk & WHS: Manage organisational risk management, occupational work health and safety (WHS), and compliance with legislation and departmental policies.

Strategic Planning: Contribute to the school's strategic vision, financial strategies, and business plans.

Qualifications: CPA, CA, or equivalent tertiary degree.

Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience as a Business Manager or equivalent high‑level corporate services experience.

Financial Expertise: Comprehensive knowledge of financial planning, budgeting, and reporting.

Leadership & HR: Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate teams, manage complex operational areas, and apply solid HR and Industrial Relations principles.

Strategic Acumen: Capacity to contribute to the school's strategic vision and financial sustainability.

Communication & Software Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office and financial software (experience with ClAnywhere is an advantage).

Clearances: Ability to obtain and maintain a valid NT Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card) via SAFE NT.

Ethos: Commitment to the values and ethos of Catholic education and child safeguarding

Previous experience working within a school environment

Safeguarding & Safety Commitment

Catholic Education Northern Territory is committed to a shared culture of safety, maintaining zero tolerance for any form of abuse or harm. All employees are required to abide by our comprehensive safeguarding policies to promote the safety and wellbeing of all children and adults at risk.

Applications Close: Friday 20 November, 2026

Welcome to Catholic Education in the Northern Territory, a network of schools built on our Christian values and on the history and traditions of this land across Australia's top end.

For more than one hundred years our schools have been proudly educating children and supporting families throughout the Northern Territory. Today we are contemporary learning communities with a culturally diverse student population and transformative leadership. Our schools are places of welcome and inclusion, they are places of community, and they are places of opportunity for both students and teachers.

Welcome to Catholic Education in the Northern Territory, a network of schools built on our Christian values and on the history and traditions of this land across Australia's top end.

For more than one hundred years our schools have been proudly educating children and supporting families throughout the Northern Territory. Today we are contemporary learning communities with a culturally diverse student population and transformative leadership. Our schools are places of welcome and inclusion, they are places of community, and they are places of opportunity for both students and teachers.