School Business Manager

Teaching Vacancies; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Emmaus Catholic Academy Trust seeks an exceptional leader to provide outstanding business support services to St. John’s RC Primary School and the wider community.

You will lead estates, finance, HR, and staff development, ensuring robust policies and systems are in place to support pupils and staff. The role focuses on strategic management, timely reporting to governance bodies, and collaboration with the CAT central team to maintain effective school operations and safeguarding compliance.

Qualifications

• Robust business acumen with outstanding leadership.
• Self-motivated, able to drive tasks and provide direction.
• Collaborative approach with colleagues, parents and stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of estates management, finance and HR administration.
• Experience or awareness of health and safety in schools.
• Knowledge of educational settings' culture and climate.
• Familiarity with PS Financials, Iris, Orovia, Evolve and IAM compliance would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership of all school support functions including estates, finance, HR and staff development.
• Provide timely, accurate reporting to the Headteacher and Local Governing Body.
• Manage the school’s support staff and payroll processes.
• Collaborate with the CAT central team on the school's support functions.
• Coordinate with central finance on budget monitoring and transactional processing.

Skills

Leadership

Business acumen

Strategic thinking

Team motivation

Estates management

Finance administration

HR administration

Health & safety

Systems knowledge

Tools

PS Financials

Iris

Orovia

Evolve

IAM compliance

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

The Directors of Emmaus CAT Trust Board, Local Governing Body and Senior Leadership Team of St. John’s RC Primary School wish to appoint a talented individual who is an exceptional leader, to provide outstanding business support services to pupils, teaching staff and the wider community.

Could this be you?

If it was you, you would be responsible for the following:

• Strategic leadership of all the support functions within school, to include but not limited to estates management, finance, HR and the training and development of staff, ensuring all policies, procedures and systems are in place.
• Provide business support with prompt and accurate reporting to the Headteacher and Local Governing Body
• Responsible for the management of support staff across the school.
• Responsible for management of the school’s support function in collaboration with the CATs central team.
• Work closely with the central finance team with regards to budget monitoring and transactional processing
• Responsible for the school’s HR function and processing for payroll

If so, we are looking for:

• Demonstrate a robust business acumen combined with outstanding leadership skills
• A strong self-motivator driven to achieve tasks, overcome challenges as well as providing direction for others
• Work positively and inclusively with colleagues, parents and all stakeholders
• Possess a good understanding of estate management, finance and HR administration
• Experienced in Health and Safety issues
• Understand the culture and climate of educational settings
• Working practice of the following systems would be beneficial; PS Financials, Iris, Orovia, Evolve and IAM compliant.

What the school offers its staff

As part of Emmaus Catholic Academy Trust, this is an exciting time to join us.

We are looking for a School Business Manager who shares our values, enjoys being part of a busy, friendly and ambitious school and wants to make a real difference. You can expect a varied and rewarding role, supportive colleagues and the opportunity to play an important part in the continued development and success of St John’s.

Further details about the role

Interviews: W/B 9th November 2026

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.