Briary Primary School

Job Description: School Business Manager

Grade: / Dependent on qualifications and experience
Responsible to: / Headteacher

Purpose of the Job:

Responsible for the planning, development, and delivery of the finance and facilities functions within the school.

Key duties and responsibilities:

1.  Provide strategic leadership and management of the school’s finances to ensure best value in accordance with KCC’s financial regulations.

2.  Be Responsible to the Headteacher/ Governing Body for the financial management of the school and for line management of staff who undertake financial duties

3.  Oversee, develop and implement financial procedures and oversee/undertake all financial transactions/activity within the school (e.g. orders, invoicing, banking and cash and accounting entries).

4.  Manage and monitor payroll information in partnership with the external payroll bureau, including monthly and end of year reconciliations and preparing relevant documentation not supplied by the payroll bureau.

5.  Manage the procurement process, including securing appropriate service contracts, licences and insurance

6.  Work with the Headteacher / senior staff to prepare the annual budgets and undertake financial planning being fully conversant with KCC process of budget setting, ensuring all funding due is received.

7.  Ensure adherence to financial regulations and provide advice on these to other staff and the senior leadership team.

8.  Undertake financial analysis on current and future variations in income, expenditure and trends to inform school-wide decision-making.

9.  Complete all required reporting to KCC and any other agencies as required.

10.  Manage all budgets, prepare regular management accounts, undertake variance analyses and provide advice on options to improve over-under spends.

11.  Arrange provision, analysis and evaluation of data and detailed reports and information to the senior leadership team, the Governing Body and outside agencies.

12.  Assist the Headteacher and governing body with income generation activities and in promoting and marketing the school.

13. Prepare and submit bids for funding from outside agencies under the direction of the Head teacher.

14. Maintain the school’s asset register in partnership with the ICT technician and ensure annual checks take place.

15.  Management of facilities, including premises and lettings. Preparing maintenance schedules and liaising with external contractors.

16.  Management of the caretaker and cleaners and their duties carried out in the school.

17.  Be responsible for health and safety issues within the school and how they impact on pupils, staff and visitors to the school undertaking all appropriate risk assessments.

18.  Keep abreast of upcoming changes and attend KCC financial management and Health and Safety training as appropriate.

19.  Attend SMT and governors meetings as required.

Footnote: This job description is provided to assist the job holder to know what his/her main duties are. It may be amended from time to time without change to the level of responsibility appropriate to the grade of post.

Person Specification: School Business Manager

The following outlines the criteria for this post.

Applicants should describe in their application how they meet these criteria.

CRITERIA
QUALIFICATIONS / ·  Relevant qualifications
·  Certificate of School Business Management (CSBM) or willing to undertake.
EXPERIENCE / ·  Significant experience in finance roles.
·  Current experience of FMS 6 and KCC Budget Planning Software would be a distinct advantage
·  Experience of premises management would be beneficial
SKILLS AND ABILITIES / ·  Analytical skills for business and financial management of school resources over the medium term, involving a range of complex issues, situations and problems.
·  Requires skills for the motivation of staff, negotiations with suppliers, advice to the governing body and liaising with external bodies; deals with sensitive issues e.g. contracts, HR.
·  Strong interpersonal and communication skills – written and verbal.
KNOWLEDGE / ·  Thorough technical knowledge of day to day financial administration processes and protocols.
·  Knowledge of KCC Financial Regulations and an understanding of other relevant school policies.
·  Sound working knowledge of site, personnel and office administration and processes.
·  Working knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and risk assessment.
·  High level IT skills.
·  Assured manner. High level customer service skills and professional ethos.
·  Good organisation & time management skills ability to manage priorities & meet deadlines whilst remaining methodical and giving attention to detail.
·  Initiative / proactive / ‘can do’ approach.

Job Matched to Finance Officer (ref: CFE / SPS / 10 / 01)

(August 2013 AL)