JOB DESCRIPTON
School Business Manager, Daventry Hill School
PURPOSE OF JOB
  • To give strategic vision and leadership in relevant areas to the Head of School / SLT
  • To lead, operate, maintain and develop the financial procedures and systems of the school, in co-operation with the SLT and Governors
  • To be responsible for the school site and its buildings, their maintenance, development and efficient use.
  • To function as line manager for all associate staff
  • To play a central role in the school’s Leadership Team
  • To ensure that the school is fully prepared to meet EFA/Ofsted financial criteria.
  • To liaise with relevant members of the Trust as required
  • To act as Responsible Officer

Reporting To: the Head of School
Responsible For: Support Staff Team members as agreed with the Head of School
GENERAL
  1. To lead and advise the Governors, Head of School and SLT on matters relating to finance, premises, infrastructure including ICT and FM, health & safety, environmental awareness and compliance.
  2. To attend Governing Body meetings and assist the Chair of the Finance and General Purposes sub-committee.
  3. To hold delegated responsibility for premises and financial decisions following appropriate discussions with the Head of School.
  4. To represent the Head of School as required in relevant fields of expertise.
  5. To play an appropriate part in the education of students.

Health & Safety

  1. To monitor, implement and review the school’s policy including risk assessment procedures.
  2. To advise teaching and support staff as appropriate.
  3. To report to the governing body on health & safety matters.
  4. To cooperate with the Fire Service on the installation and maintenance of equipment including the keeping of records and initiating regular fire practices.

Premises

Specific responsibilities include:
  1. Taking the lead on compiling, and implementing, the school Premises Development Plan, including energy conservation.
  2. Through regular contact with the premises staff ensuring the proper maintenance and repair of the school is carried out, and progress in repairs is monitored.
  3. Ensuring the appropriate placing and monitoring of all service contracts including but not restricted to functions such as cleaning and catering.
  4. Advising on all Health & Safety matters, including measures in the event of emergencies.
  5. Evaluate and advise on projects for the development of the school.
  6. To be responsible to the Head of School for the security, maintenance, heating, cleaning and other general site services within the premises.
  7. To deal with external agencies delivering services to the school and to deal with all aspects of tendering and bid preparation.
  8. To be responsible for management of letting of the school premises to outside organisations and school staff, the development of all school facilities for out of school use, with particular reference to the local community and community cohesion.
  9. The purchase, repair and maintenance of all furniture, equipment and fittings,
  10. To arrange for estimates for work, and monitor the work of on-site contractors.
  11. To ensure that best use is made of premises personnel and to be responsible for their allocation of hours.
  12. To promote sustainability awareness across the school including energy and water use and ensure that any relevant environmental requirements are adhered to.

Financial

The School Business Manager will be responsible specifically for:
  1. To operate school finances in accordance with the current version of the Academies Financial Handbook and any other EFA/DfE requirements
  2. Ensuring the school has appropriate financial systems and managing all aspects of the school’s financial systems (including voluntary funds such as PTA Fund) in accordance with these agreed policies and timetable; ensuring accurate financial records are maintained, and reporting on a regular basis to the Head of School and Governors.
  3. Completing all financial returns from the school to EFA as required
  4. To ensure that the financial transactions in the school are carried out in an appropriate manner and that all financial are observed.
  5. Preparation for approval by the governing body of annual estimates of income and expenditure.
  6. Keeping the Register of Interests for Governors and SLT up-to-date.
  7. Management of administrative MIS functions giving guidance to other users.
  8. Co-operate, initiate and manage audit procedures as required.
  9. Attend Governing Body Finance and relevant Committee meetings.
  10. Write bids for funding as agreed with the Head of School.
  11. Managing the tendering for all service contracts; monitoring all insurance policies, with a view to cost effectiveness; and ensuring that the school maximizes its potential.
  12. Submitting capital bids, monitoring and control of capital expenditure on buildings and grounds, placing of contracts, appointment and monitoring of contractors
  13. Promoting the school’s activities and premises with the objective of increasing letting income, within agreed policies.
  14. Supporting staff responsible for delegated budgets with procedures which enable them to monitor these budgets.

Administration and ICT

Specific responsibilities include:
  1. To coordinate planning for the effective provision of ICT resources at the school including hardware / software and the efficient running of the LAN/website.
  2. To manage the efficient and effective running of the general office as one of the school’s main points of public contact, as well as the centre of daily administration.
  3. To ensure inventories of equipment and stock are maintained; all statutory and statistical returns are completed as appropriate; the efficient running of the IT administration system.
  4. To ensure school transport requirements are met efficiently and effectively, with a view to both cost and safety.

Line Management Responsibilities

  1. Managing the staffing operation of the school office and all support staff.
  2. Motivating and facilitating support staff teamwork and good practice in order to achieve excellent standards of service delivery.
  3. Managing attendance and leave to ensure a continuous service throughout the year.
  4. Overseeing support staff career development including the performance management scheme, and reviewing training requirements.
  5. Monitoring the effectiveness of the support staff establishment to meet the needs of the school.
General
No job description can give a complete and exhaustive list of requirements, accordingly the postholder will be required to undertake such duties and worksuch hours as may reasonably be required from time to timeas detailed by the Head of School.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
School Business Manager, Daventry Hill School
Qualifications:
Essential: CSBM or DSBM or equivalent qualification.
Desirable: Accountancy qualification(s), or appropriate accountancy experience, with evidence of recent continuous professional development.
General:
The School Business Manager (SBM) will be experienced at workingin a finance role and will be prepared to lead, inspire and challenge. The SBM will have a track record of success in managing administrative functions. They will be a versatile thinker who can look forwards and outwards to develop innovative solutions and establish mutually beneficial collaborative links.
Essential / Desirable
Working knowledge/experience of:
Health and safety legislation particularly aspects relevant to a school environment
Premises, grounds and facilities management
How educational establishments, in particular academies and free schools, are funded
Interpreting government/DfE, EFA, EU documents relevant to a special school / free school context
ICT systems including MIS
Educational trends and developments
Asset and Risk Management
Procurement of goods and services
Current financial management standards in schoolsin the Academies Finance Handbook
School reporting mechanisms (to EFA/Ofsted)
Understanding of staffing issues in schools
Building, leading and sustaining effective complex working relationships
Sustainability in a school context / Acting as a Company Secretary
Experience of setting up school back-office systems
Personnel procedures, employment legislation
Successful fund raising activities
Completing successful funding bids
Preparing a wide range of statistical information in a variety of formats for varied audiences
Involvement in both short and long term projects including capital projects from finance and projectmanagement perspectives
Management and leadership of a staff team
Essential specific skills: / Desirable specific skills:
Effective management and leadership skills in achieving service quality
Ability to communicate effectively, negotiate and network through inter-personal, written, oral communication and presentation skills, with varied audiences e.g. teachers, parents, governors
Ability to prioritise work for both self and others and to meet and manage work to tight deadlines
Well developed analytical, strategic, planning and organisational skills
Ability to handle challenging situations, keeping calm under pressure
ICT skills in keeping with a school finance/office role
Problem solving skills
Tact and diplomacy
Integrity and reliability / Marketing and PR skills including social media
Web design