Reports to: Headteacher
Salary scale: Grade 9 scp 27-34
Alfred Salter Primary school is a friendly, vibrant and inclusive school in a rapidly changing area of London. We pride ourselves on being a school that offers pupils a well-rounded, creative and truly enjoyable education. We have excellent transport links and are a few minutes walk from Canada Water station.
We are seeking to appoint a motivated and passionate School Business Manager to join our team.
If you have superb communication and organisational skills and are up for the challenges that working in a busy, vibrant primary school may bring and also have the skills to work with a wide range of people across our wonderful community. We would love to hear from you.
We wish to appoint a well-qualified, enthusiastic and highly motivated strategic thinker as our next Business Manager. You need to be an exceptional leader who can ensure that financial and administrative procedures, human resources, personnel systems, catering, premises and health & safety all effectively support Alfred Salter Primary School to maintain and develop its high quality provision.
The Business Manager will work as part of the Senior Leadership Team, supporting the Headteacher by managing the strategy and operational aspects of the school, thereby ensuring that the school fulfils its educational aims and excellent outcomes.
A visit to the school is welcomed.
Purpose of the job
- To be the school’s leading non-teaching support staff professional working as part of the Leadership Team to assist the Headteacher in her duty to ensure that the school meets its key priorities.
- To promote the highest standards of business ethos within the administrative function of the school and ensure the most effective use of resources in support of the school’s key objectives.
- To be responsible for the Financial Resource Management, Administration Management, Management Information and ICT, Human Resource Management, Facility and Property Management and Health and Safety Management of the School, in liaison with and under the leadership of the Headteacher.
- Manage the school’s accounting function taking responsibility for FMSiS, ensuring that the school adheres to required financial regulations, processes and procedures and be accountable for Consistent Financial Standards.
- To assist in providing administrative support for internal and external customers.
- To undertake general administrational duties within the school office to support in the smooth day to day running of the school.
Key roles and responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
- Attend relevant Leadership Team and Governing Body meetings.
- Provide advice and support in relation the strategic decision making within the school’s Leadership Team.
- Plan and manage change in accordance with the school development / strategic plan.
- To work jointly with the Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher, to lead and manage all non-teaching support staff, in particular office and site staff.
- To liaise and coordinate between teams, departments and stakeholders where necessary.
- Undertake any other duties that are commensurate with the role.
Administration management
- Manage the whole school administrative functions of the school including the administrative IT facilities, school reception, reprographics, records and telephones.
- Design and maintain and manage administrative systems that deliver outcomes based on the school’s aims and goals.
- Define responsibilities, information and support for staff and other stakeholders.
- Develop process measures that are affordable and that will enable value for money decisions for those managing resources.
- Use data analysis, evaluation and reporting systems to maximum effect by ensuring systems are streamlined to maximise efficiency and avoid duplication.
- Benchmark systems and information to assess trends and make appropriate recommendations.
- Prepare information for publications and returns for the DfE, LA and other agencies and stakeholders within statutory guidelines.
- To be responsible for obtaining the necessary licences and permissions and ensuring their relevance and timeliness.
- Provide for the preparation and production of all the schools records and publications.
- Ensure the school management information system (Arbor) is kept up to date with pupil data, in particular data on attendance and behaviour.
- Maintain confidential pupil records and ensure that the holding of and access to student data meets with data protection law, school and Local Authority Policy.
- Manage the admissions process.
- Coordinate communication with parents e.g. letters home, text messages, emails, telephone calls etc.
Financial resource management
- To be responsible for the Financial Resource Management in the school, liaising with the Headteacher and Southwark Schools’ Finance.
- To evaluate information and consult with the Headteacher and Governors to prepare a realistic and balanced budget.
- To submit the proposed budget to the Headteacher and Governors for approval and to assist the overall financial planning process.
- Use the agreed budget to actively monitor and control performance to achieve value for money.
- Identify and inform the Headteacher and Governors of the causes of significant variance and take prompt corrective action.
- Propose revisions to the budget if necessary, in response to significant or unforeseen developments.
- Provide ongoing budgetary information to relevant people.
- Advise the Headteacher and Governors if fraudulent activities are suspected or uncovered.
- Maintain a strategic financial plan that will indicate the trends and requirements of the school development plan and will forecast future year budgets.
- Identify additional finances required to fund the school’s proposed activities.
- Present timely and fully costed proposals, recommendations or bids.
- Put formal finance agreements in place with suitable providers for agreed amounts, at agreed times and appropriate agreed costs and repayment schedules.
- Monitor the effectiveness and implementation of agreements.
- To report to the LA with timely and relevant financial information and best value procedures.
- To manage procurement and be responsible for securing relevant sponsorship.
- Maintain an Assets Register and inventory.
- Manage the School Fund.
- Ensure the school adheres to all financial regulations.
- Identify the need for, select and manage the ordering of supplies and equipment for the school including the issuing of invoices and ensuring settlement of accounts.
- Ensure the proper collection, reconciliation and banking of any monies received by the school.
- Raise orders and process invoices using the Schools Financial Management System (Arbor Finance).
- Ensure the Schools Financial Value standard (SFVS) is completed and revised annually according to agreed timescales.
Human Resources management
Under the direction of the Headteacher:
- Be responsible for operational human resources relating to all payroll, pensions and HMRC.
- Manage recruitment, performance management, appraisal and development for all non-teaching support staff in conjunction with the Headteacher.
- Support the Headteacher in ensuring people have a clear understanding of the policies and procedures and the importance of putting them into practice.
- Seek and make use of specialist expertise in relation to HR issues.
- Provide support and advice to the Headteacher in evaluating the school’s strategic objectives and obtain information for workforce planning.
- Monitor staff absence and advise the Headteacher when trigger points have been hit. Manage and conduct Return to Work Meetings for support staff when necessary.
- Maintain confidential staff records and ensure that the holding of and access to staff and student data meets with data protection law, school and Local Authority Policy.
- Ensure that the Single Central Register is up to date and oversee the processing of all DBS and all other safer recruitment vetting and barring checks and other pre-employment checks.
- Liaise with the Headteacher on personnel issues and be responsible for school personnel and training administration and records.
Management Information Systems, Communication Systems and IT
In collaboration with the Headteacher and IT support services:
- Support the Leadership Team in considering approaches for existing use and future plans for technology systems in school ensuring best value for money.
- Consult with relevant people to introduce new technology or improve existing technology for different purposes.
- Oversee the management of the school reception desk and the office communications systems.
- Ensure service providers have and carry out robust systems to monitor and report on the performance of technology within the school.
- Ensure resources, support and training are provided to enable work
- colleagues to make the best use of available IT including assessment systems.
- Ensure contingency plans are in place in the case of technology failure.
- Ensure data collection systems providing information to stakeholders are streamlined to maximise efficiency of the data supplied.
Facility and Property Management
In collaboration with the Headteacher and Premises Manager:
- Ensure the supervision of relevant planning and construction processes is undertaken in line with contractual obligations.
- Ensure the safe maintenance and security operation of all school premises.
- Oversee the maintenance of the school site including the purchase and repair of all furniture and fittings.
- Ensure the continuing availability of utilities, site services and equipment.
- Follow sound practices in estate management and grounds maintenance.
- Monitor, assess and review contractual obligations for outsourced school services.
- Ensure there is a safe and secure environment for the stakeholders of the school.
- Ensure ancillary services e.g. catering, cleaning, etc., are monitored and managed effectively.
- Manage the letting of school premises to external organisations, for the development of the extended services and local community requirements.
- Seek professional advice on insurance and advise the Leadership Team on appropriate insurances for the school and implement and manage such schemes accordingly.
- To keep up to date with new legislation relating to the school building and site and its necessary implementation.
Health and Safety
In collaboration with the Headteacher and Premises Manager:
- Act as the school’s Health and Safety Coordinator and Fire Officer.
- Oversee the regular fire practices and alarm tests in accordance with requirements and ensure that appropriate records are maintained.
- Ensure the school’s Health and Safety Policy Statement is clearly communicated and available as required.
- Ensure the Health and Safety Policy is implemented and is subject to review and assessment at regular intervals or as situations change.
- Enable regular consultation with people on health and safety issues.
- Ensure systems are in place to enable the identification of hazards and that risk assessments are carried out as necessary.
- Ensure systems are in place for effective monitoring, measuring and reporting of health and safety issues to the Leadership Team.
- Oversee the school’s security systems.
- Assist with the development of policies and procedures relating to, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection.
- Ensure that all health and safety risk assessments are in place and reviewed regularly.
- Ensure that School’s Emergency Plan is current and timely and oversee the implementation of this amongst all staff members.
Person specification
Essential Attributes
Education / Qualifications
- Educated to A Level standard.
- A commitment to ongoing professional development.
- Numerate and literate comensurate to the role.
Experience
- Experience in Financial Management and management of change.
- Experience in managing budgets.
- Experience of the following software: Arbor, Arbor Finance, SBS, payroll systems, or equivalents.
- Creating and maintaining efficient administrative procedures.
- Management in business or education setting, including financial aspects.
- Successful income generation.
Skills, knowledge and aptitude
- Organisational skills.
- Proactive in finding solutions to problems.
- Ability to prioritise workload.
- Patience and determination.
- Accuracy and attention to detail.
- ICT skills appropriate for financial management.
- Initiative and self-motivation.
- Negotiation skills.
- Problem solving skills.
- Knowledge of financial regulations relevant to a school.
- Financial management skills, and the ability to provide financial forecasting and planning.
- Experience of preparing and presenting financial reports.
- Budget management and accountancy procedures.
- Has an understanding of personnel issues and their link to financial management, including recruitment, retention, wages and salary issues.
- Data Protection Act.
- Understanding of child protection and safeguarding.
- Health and Safety Legislation.
- Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships.
- Well-developed communication skills, both written and oral.
- Ability to empathise with and motivate staff.
- Ability to lead and manage others.
- Able to work effectively in a confidential and professional manner.
Personal Qualities
- A can-do approach and positive attitude to innovation and change.
- Flexibility, creativity and ability to think laterally.
- Flexible and responsive to change.
- Willingness to self-improve / attend training.
- Commitment to high standards, best value and continuous improvement.
- A good understanding of school life and the desire to improve the workload of both teaching and support staff.
- A strong commitment to educational issues.
- Resilience and capacity for hard work.
- Good sense of humour and team spirit.
Desirable attributes
Education and qualifications
- Certificate of School Business Management - National College of School Leadership, or equivalent.
- IOSH, COSHH qualifications.
Experience
- Delivering training or briefing sessions.
- A proven track record of leadership and management.
Skills, knowledge and aptitude
- Understanding the importance of the role and its contribution to the school.
Life at Alfred Salter Primary School
CPD opportunities
- We are very forward thinking in developing our staff and consider individual needs when organising training.
- We provide excellent training on inset days and offer a wide variety of options on each day. We encourage staff to further their qualifications and skills which will equip them for their role.
- We have regular TeachMeets where staff have the opportunity to share good practice and ideas.
Career Progression
We like to see our pupils and staff flourish and succeed. Opportunities for management are offered through interim positions where there is a vacancy. Many of our staff have gained promotion after taking on a role of responsibility. We have a number of staff enrolled in National Leadership training programmes.
Benefits of working at Alfred Salter Primary School
We offer staff:
- An interest free loan for travel season tickets
- Cycle to work scheme
- Membership of the Chartered College of Teaching
- A laptop for Teachers and Senior Leaders
- A commitment to manage workloads and promote work / life balance.
How to apply
You can apply on the TES website, which you can reach by clicking the 'Apply now' button.
Please ensure that you complete all sections of the application. Completed applications should be sent to Lisa Sanders, PA to the Headteacher, at: [email protected].
We want to make sure you can put your best self forward in any application. If you require any adjustments during the application process, please get in touch to let us know at [email protected].
We encourage visits to the school, please contact the Headteacher, Elli Prestage, on 07740235557 for an informal chat and to arrange a time for you to visit us.
Early application is encouraged as we review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert earlier than the stated deadline .
Thank you again for your interest in Alfred Salter and in the post we have available. We look forward to receiving your application.
Safeguarding
Alfred Salter Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all children. We expect our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Our safer recruitment processes mean that the safety and welfare of the child is paramount at every stage of the process and therefore we adopt rigorous scrutiny in our pre-employment checking.
Applicants must be willing to undergo relevant suitability checks in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education Statutory Guidance, including Identity, Right To Work, Qualifications, Prohibition check, two References (which will be taken up prior to interview) and for the successful candidate, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
As part of your application, you will need to provide full details of your employment since leaving secondary education, starting with your current or most recent employment first and then by working backwards, including reasons for leaving.
Please also include any periods of voluntary work and/or training, providing reasons for any periods not in employment, education or training.