School Business Manager

The Methodist Church in Britain; North Berwick; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Planned handover

Supportive leadership team

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Thatto Heath Community Primary School in St Helens is seeking a proactive School Business Manager to oversee finance, HR/payroll, procurement, and compliance within a three-form-entry primary. The role requires delivering clear financial reporting to the Headteacher and governors, managing a substantial budget and ensuring value for money across contracts and services.

The current manager will stay on for 2.5 days a week, providing a structured handover.

Qualifications

• Significant financial and/or business management experience.
• Experience leading HR and payroll administration.
• Strong procurement, contracts and value-for-money understanding.
• Knowledge of compliance, data protection, health and safety.
• Excellent IT skills across financial and management information systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead finance and budget management, including monitoring a substantial school budget.
• Present clear financial information to the Headteacher, senior leaders and governors.
• Lead HR and payroll administration, including recruitment, contracts, absence and personnel records.
• Lead procurement, contracts and financial controls, securing value for money.
• Lead health and safety, compliance, data protection and risk management.
• Oversee school premises, contractors and services.
• Lead school administration and operational staff.
• Give professional advice and accurate information to the Headteacher and governors.
• Ensure school resources are used effectively to secure the best outcomes for children.
• Work alongside the current Business Manager during the handover to learn the school's systems.

Skills

Financial management

Budget management

HR payroll administration

Procurement

Health and safety

Compliance

Administration

Management information systems

Job description

This is a leadership post as School Business Manager at Thatto Heath Community Primary School, a three-form-entry primary within the schools department of St Helens Borough Council. The role covers finance and budget management, HR and payroll administration, procurement, premises, health and safety, compliance and school administration, advising the Headteacher and governors. The current manager stays on for 2.5 days a week, giving the successful candidate a planned handover over the transition. An enhanced DBS check is required.

What the job involves

• Lead finance and budget management, including managing and monitoring a substantial school budget
• Present clear financial information to the Headteacher, senior leaders and governors
• Lead HR and payroll administration, including recruitment, contracts, absence and personnel records
• Lead procurement, contracts and financial controls, securing value for money
• Lead health and safety, compliance, data protection and risk management
• Oversee school premises, contractors and services
• Lead school administration and operational functions
• Lead and support administrative and operational staff
• Give professional advice and accurate information to the Headteacher and governors
• Ensure school resources are used effectively to secure the best outcomes for children
• Work alongside the current Business Manager during the handover to learn the school's systems

What’s required

Experience

• Significant financial and/or business management experience

Skills & knowledge

• Managing and monitoring a substantial budget and presenting clear financial information
• Understanding of financial controls, procurement, contracts and value for money
• Understanding of HR administration, including payroll, absence and personnel records
• Understanding of compliance, data protection, health and safety and risk management
• Supporting the management of premises, contractors and services
• Excellent IT skills across financial, administrative and management information systems

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS check
• Satisfactory references
• Identity and right-to-work checks

Other

• Excellent organisational skills and managing competing priorities and deadlines
• Leading and supporting administrative and operational staff
• Professional, sensitive communication with staff, governors, parents, agencies and suppliers
• Discretion, integrity and a clear understanding of confidentiality
• Solution-focused, resilient and calm in a busy school environment
• Shared commitment to inclusion, safeguarding and putting children at the heart of decisions

Nice to have

• Experience within a school or education setting

What’s offered

• Planned handover and ongoing support from the current Business Manager
• Welcoming, ambitious and inclusive school community
• Supportive Headteacher, senior leadership team and governing body
• Committed and experienced staff team
• Varied and influential role within the school's leadership
• Opportunities for professional development and growth
• Opportunity to make a genuine difference to the running and future development of the school