Start Date: ASAP (Immediate Start)

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: Paid to scale (Outer London Framework)

School Business Manager

A thriving Secondary Academy in the London Borough of Brent is seeking a professional and highly organised School Business Manager to join their senior operational leadership team. This is an excellent opportunity to work within a well-structured and supportive school environment where business leaders play a definitive role in the strategic financial health and administrative operations of the school.

The successful candidate will provide comprehensive operational leadership across all non-instructional frameworks, working directly alongside the Headteacher and Governing Body. Responsibilities will include managing the school's structural budgets, oversight of multi-year financial forecasting, managing service contracts, and updating compliance and risk tracking systems. You will also oversee human resources administration, manage payroll variations, and lead the administrative, premises, and ICT support teams.

You will lead communication with external local authority agencies, financial auditors, and Department for Education (DfE) bodies, ensuring that all data-handling, academic registries, and accounting procedures are processed professionally and confidentially at all times. Strong organisational skills are essential, as the role requires managing statutory account reporting and balancing complex resource allocations within a busy secondary academy framework.

The school is looking for someone who is proactive, reliable, and deeply experienced in school data systems, internal accounting controls, and employment regulations. Excellent IT capability, strong data literacy, and confidence managing dynamic capital budgets are important, alongside strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a high-performing academy community where operational management staff are highly valued and staff wellbeing, career progression, and professional development paths are prioritised.

School Information

This is an 11 to 18 well-established Academy in Brent with a strong commitment to academic progress, community inclusion, and operational excellence. The school serves a highly diverse, vibrant North West London community and is known for its supportive ethos, where positive relationships and high expectations underpin daily practice.

Students are respectful, motivated, and appreciative of their learning environment, creating a purposeful and collaborative atmosphere. The school offers a broad and balanced curriculum across modern, well-equipped academic buildings and specialized labs, preparing students thoroughly for higher education and competitive career paths.

Staff benefit from an open, collaborative professional culture, with forward-thinking leadership, shared operational best practice, and a targeted framework for continuous career progression.

Requirements

• Previous experience as a School Business Manager, Finance Director, or Senior Operations Manager within an educational setting

• Strong financial management skills with a proven track record in balancing complex school budgets

• Good IT and database management skills (experience with advanced school finance packages is required)

• Professional and proactive approach to statutory regulations, financial compliance, and data protection

• Degree or professional qualification in business administration, accountancy, or school business management (e.g., CSBM/DSBM)

Application

To apply, please send your CV as soon as possible.