School Business Manager

Protocol Education Ltd; Bristol; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational organization is seeking a skilled School Business Manager to join their team in Bristol. The role involves financial management, HR oversight, and strategic leadership to support the school’s goals. Ideal candidates will have experience in business management and strong organizational skills. This temporary position offers competitive salary and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive leadership team

Competitive salary and benefits

Qualifications

• Proven experience in business management or related leadership role.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Confidence in budget setting and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead on financial management and ensure budgets are accurate.
• Oversee HR, payroll, and recruitment processes.
• Manage health and safety, compliance, and estates.

Skills

Business management

Financial reporting

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Solutions-focused mindset

Job description

Overview

Are you a strategic thinker with a head for numbers and a heart for education? We’re looking for a School Business Manager to join our leadership team and play a key role in shaping the future of our school.

What you’ll do

• Lead on financial management, ensuring budgets are accurate, efficient, and aligned with the school’s priorities.
• Oversee HR, payroll, and recruitment processes to support our brilliant staff team.
• Manage estates, health and safety, and compliance—keeping our school safe, secure, and well-resourced.
• Work alongside the Headteacher and SLT, contributing to the wider strategic development of the school.
• Build strong relationships with staff, governors, external partners, and the local authority.

Strategic leadership

The Strategic School Business Manager works as part of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), supporting the Headteacher in ensuring that the school meets its educational aims. They will:

• Provide professional leadership and management of administrative staff in partnership with class-based practitioners, to enhance effectiveness and raise standards of learning and achievement.
• Promote the highest standards of business ethos within the administrative function of the school, ensuring the most effective use of resources in support of learning objectives.
• Take responsibility for Financial Resource Management, Administration, MIS/ICT, HR, Facilities & Property Management, and Health & Safety Management.

We are an inclusive, flexible team that prioritises a positive work-life balance. Our collaborative environment values diversity and fosters a supportive atmosphere, ensuring that every team member feels valued and empowered. We are committed to providing flexibility that promotes both personal well-being and professional growth.

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience in business management, finance, or a related leadership role (school experience desirable, but not essential).
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Confidence in budget setting, financial reporting, and compliance.
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset—you’ll be someone who makes things happen.
• A team player who thrives in a busy school environment and is motivated by making a difference.

What we offer

• A supportive and forward-thinking leadership team.
• Opportunities for professional development and training.
• A vibrant school community where every role contributes to pupil success.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.

Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance “Keeping Children Safe in Education”; this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.

We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service.

Full assistance provided. For details of our privacy policy, please see the Protocol Education website.