Gawthorpe Community Academy

Gawthorpe Community Academy

Gawthorpe Community Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and expects all staff to share this commitment.
Job Title:Business Manager
Grade:G9/10 / Location: Gawthorpe Community Academy
Reporting to: Principal
Working hours: (37 hours)Full time, full year, Monday to Friday. Start and finish times to be worked flexibly to meet the needs of the academy in negotiation with the Principal.
Overall Purpose of the Post:
To be a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) participating in decision making and sharing collective responsibility for the leadership and management of the academy. To provide strategic vision and leadership in all aspects of financial management, premises related matters, commissioning, marketing and office management.

To be responsible for and manage the operation and delivery of support services within the academy assuming responsibility for the planning, development and monitoring of support services.

To act as the Finance Director for the Academy Trust (AT) in compliance with the Funding Agreement, Academies Financial Handbook and Academies Accounts Direction 2011/2012 to ensure the successful financial management of the AT and its day to day efficiency.
To lead, operate, maintain and develop the financial procedures and systems, in co-operation with the SLT and Governing Body ensuring compliance with statutory requirements.
To lead and manage the Administration Team and Premises Manager ensuring all appropriate records are maintained and compliance to statutory requirements.
To manage the catering and cleaning services ensuring they provide an efficient and effective service in accordance with the academy’s Best Value Policy and current legislation.
To lead on the commissioning of all contractual arrangements aligned to the academy’s Best Value Policy and current legislation.
Requirements for the post.
Essential / Desirable
Qualifications/ Training / Degree or equivalent qualification e.g. NCSL Diploma of School Business Management
Or
Equivalent in relevant discipline. / Degree of Master of Arts in Business
Knowledge / Excellent Numeracy/ Literacy Skills.
Full working knowledge of relevant polices/codes of practice/legislation.
Ability to interpret advice/statute and to devise policy/practice in the light of these.
Ability to management a multi-disciplinary team effectively.
Ability to self-evaluate learning needs and actively seek learning opportunities. / Knowledge of operational management of accounting software packages, e.g. – Corero, P S Financials, SIMs.
Experience / Significant experience of working in a business environment at a management level. / Experience of working within an educational setting.
Physical Skills / Excellent keyboard skills in the use of computerised systems, including ability to develop and adapt management information systems including financial management.
Competencies and other skills required / Ability to relate well to children and adults
Ability to persuade, motivate, negotiate and influence.
Key Outcomes/ Activities(What the job is expected to achieve)
The Business Director is responsible for the support service functions of the academy not directly linked to Teaching and Learning or pupil support. The post holder will lead the non-teaching team, providing strategic and corporate leadership for finance, human resources, estate, whole-academyadministration, catering and cleaning, commissioning and marketing.
Finance

• Be responsible for the effective management of financial administration procedures, including responsibility for compliance with financial regulations;

• To advise the Principal and Governors on financial policy and procedures;

• Establish, in conjunction with the Principal, an annual budget aligned to the budget planning cycle and financial strategy of the Governors;

• Prepare appraisals for particular projects and for the development and implementation of a business plan (long term financial strategy) for the future development of the academy;

• To provide detailed management accounts for Principal and Governors according to an agreed schedule, reporting immediately any exceptional problems;

• To use financial management information to identify areas of relevant spend, assess trends, and directly advise the Principal accordingly;

• To be responsible for the management of the academy accounting function, ensuring its efficient operation according to agreed procedures, and to maintain those procedures;

• To monitor all accounting procedures and resolve any problems;

• To support all budget holders with procedures that enable them to effectively monitor their budgets;

• Facilitate the Resources Committee meetings providing agendas, minutes and al supporting materials;

• To prepare all financial returns for the DfE, EFA and other central and local government agencies within statutory deadlines;

• Develop, plan and implement approved strategies relating to income generation within the ethos of the academy;

• To be the point of contact with central and other agencies with regard to grant applications, gifts and other donations;

• To be responsible for seeking professional advice on insurance and handling any claims which may arise;

• To negotiate and manage all contractual arrangements entered into by the academy;

• To prepare the final accounts for the academy auditors;

• To have a thorough understanding of the current trading performance of the subsidiary companies (Aspire Teaching School and Maypole Children’s Centre) through close partnership working to ensure compliance with Compliance withstatutory requirements.

Human Resources

• Commission appropriate HR and Payroll service level agreements be responsible for their effective operation;

• Line Management responsibilities of non-teaching support staff;

• To be responsible for the leadership of all HR matters relating to non-teaching support staff (including sickness management, capability and disciplinary procedures)

• Ensure CRB checks are undertaken and that staff records are kept confidential;

• To liaise with the HR provider to ensure that contracts of employment are issued correctly and co-ordinate the administration for staff recruitment;

• To be responsible for the creation and implementation of recruitment, induction, appraisal, supervision, training and mentoring systems for non-teaching support staff;

• Represent the non-teaching support staff at relevant meetings.

Facilities Management

• Be responsible for the management of Health and Safety issues (including policy development) specific to the academy having regard to pupils, staff, visitors and contractors and advising where required;

• Be responsible for the management of facilities including minor and major works;

• To compile a premises development plan and ensure its implementation and monitoring;

• To oversee the letting of the academy premises to outside organisations developing the facilities for out-of-academy use, with particular reference to the local community;

• To lead and manage risk assessment procedures and fire procedures in relation to the academy and advise Principal and Governors.

Administration

• To be responsible for the planning, development, design, organisation and monitoring of support service and whole academy management information systems, effective administration procedures and policies;

• Identify the need, and be responsible, for securing appropriate licences and insurance;

• Be responsible for devising marketing and promotion strategies for the academy;

• Determine the need for and arrange provision, analysis and evaluation of data and detailed reports and information;

• Be responsible for the submission of relevant information to SLT, the Governing Body and outside agencies e.g. DfE.

Responsibilities

• To apply the principles of Best Value to all areas of the academy;

• Comply with and assist with the development of policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person;

• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equal opportunities for all;

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the overall ethos/work/aims of the academy;

• Develop constructive relationships and communicate with other agencies/professionals;

• Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required;

• Recognise own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to advise and support others.

Other duties commensurate with the grade of the post as directed by the Principal.
The duties and responsibilities highlighted in this Job Specification are indicative and may vary over time. Post holders are expected to undertake other duties and responsibilities relevant to the nature, level and scope of the post and the grade has been established on this basis.
Responsibility for Resources
Employees (Supervision):
Management of the followingnon-teaching support staff:

• Secretary – Grade 6
• Receptionist and Administration Officer – Grade 4
• Premises Manager – Grade 5

Financial:
Management of Resources Budget£1,152,240 and budget holder for particular budgets such as Repairs and Maintenance.
The Business Manager (Finance Director) has sole management responsibility for implementing financial policies, financial processing and monitoring the budget.
Physical:
Management of facilities to cover all the buildings including fixtures and fittings, equipment, water, gas and electrical services and all the grounds including fencing, security lighting, entrances, banners, pathways and car parking areas.
Customers and Clients:
Pupils, Parents and Carers, Employees of GCA, Governors, Education Ossett Community Trust, Business Managers, Maypole Children’s Centre colleagues, Education Funding Agency, Auditors, Service providers, NCSL, WMDC.
Working Conditions:
Mainly office based with some remote working.
Characteristics of the post:
The ability to regularly attend meetings as required by the Principal.
Employees are encouraged to participate in training activities in order to enhance their own personal development.
The employment checks are required:

• Evidence of a satisfactory safeguarding check - Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure
• Evidence of entitlement to work in the U.K.
• Evidence of essential qualifications – see page 2 of this job specification
• Two satisfactory references
• Confirmation of medical fitness for employment
• Registration with appropriate bodies (where applicable)

The following employment checks are required for those positions which are based in an educational setting or working with vulnerable young people and adults:
Date completed:January 2013