Strategic School Business Leader: Finance & Estates

Marchant Recruitment; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS

Generous annual leave

Executive CPD funding

Health & wellbeing programs

Job summary

Marchant Recruitment is assisting a high-performing Manchester secondary school in recruiting an inspirational School Business Manager. The role provides executive oversight of five operational domains—finance, HR, premises, health & safety, and administration—working with the Headteacher and Governing Body.

The successful candidate will lead strategic budgeting, capital projects, fundraising, and governance reporting, ensuring compliance with GDPR, safety standards, and statutory requirements;

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in business, finance, or operations (CSBM/DSBM, CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA or MBA).
• Proven track record of senior operational management and fiscal control, ideally within an educational setting.
• Deep knowledge of public sector financial management, procurement law, contract negotiation, and estate development.
• Outstanding leadership and people-management capabilities, with ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams.
• Exceptional negotiation, strategic thinking, and analytical skills, with ability to communicate financial data to governors/auditors.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Financial Management: formulate, manage budgets; forecasting, risk management, audit compliance.
• Estates, Premises & Capital Projects: lead facilities team, oversee expenditure, projects, procurement, sustainability initiatives.
• Commercial Strategy & Income Generation: identify external funding, grants, and lettings to maximize revenue.
• HR, Payroll & Operational Leadership: direct non-teaching operations, HR policies, payroll, contracts, workforce development.
• Governance & Regulatory Compliance: present reports to Board; ensure GDPR, safety and statutory frameworks.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial management

People management

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Education

CSBM/DSBM

CIPFA

ACCA

CIMA

MBA/Related degree

Job description

Marchant Recruitment is assisting a high-performing Manchester secondary school in recruiting an inspirational School Business Manager. The role provides executive oversight of five operational domains—finance, HR, premises, health & safety, and administration—working with the Headteacher and Governing Body.

The successful candidate will lead strategic budgeting, capital projects, fundraising, and governance reporting, ensuring compliance with GDPR, safety standards, and statutory requirements;