A well-established primary school in Southwark is looking to appoint an experienced School Business Manager to join the senior leadership team from January 2026. The successful School Business Manager will take responsibility for budget-setting and monitoring, payroll and pensions oversight, procurement and premises management. This School Business Manager role in Southwark will be central to ensuring the school’s resources are deployed effectively so teachers can focus on teaching.

• School Business Manager required for a senior leadership role
• School Business Manager required to work within a busy primary school in Southwark
• School Business Manager to lead finance, operations and administration

The appointed School Business Manager will prepare management accounts, produce timely financial reports for governors, lead audits and manage contracts and suppliers. The School Business Manager will also take the lead on health & safety, site maintenance and capital projects, working closely with the headteacher and governors. A thorough handover and induction will be provided ahead of January 2026, and the School Business Manager will be expected to be in post and operational from January 2026 for the spring-term planning cycle.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual budget preparation, forecasting and monthly management accounts.
• Oversee payroll, pensions administration and staff-record systems.
• Manage procurement, supplier contracts and contract tendering to secure value for money.
• Ensure premises, health & safety and compliance requirements are met and documented.
• Produce clear management information for governors and advise senior leaders on financial strategy.

Person specification

• Proven experience in school finance or similar operational leadership, with demonstrable impact as a School Business Manager.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting and management-accounting skills and confident use of finance systems.
• Experience of payroll and pensions processes, contracts management and premises oversight.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, comfortable working with governors and external providers.
• Able to start in January 2026, to be based in Southwark, and to attend handover and planning sessions before January 2026.

This is a strategic School Business Manager opportunity in Southwark with scope to shape long-term financial planning and operational efficiency from January 2026.

To be considered for this School Business Manager position, please forward a CV as soon as possible.