School Business Manager

Location: Canterbury, Kent

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £50,000 – £60,000 per annum (Depending on experience)

Setting: Secondary School

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced, high-caliber School Business Manager (SBM) to lead the non-instructional operations of a highly regarded secondary school in Canterbury.

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), you will have strategic and operational responsibility for financial management, human resources, estate management, health and safety, and administrative systems. This role demands a combination of robust commercial acumen, outstanding leadership skills, and the capability to optimize resources to directly support the educational outcomes of the school.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Management

• Act as the chief financial adviser to the Headteacher and Governing Body, overseeing a significant secondary school budget.

• Deliver accurate long-term financial forecasting, monthly monitoring reports, and ensure compliance with the Academies Financial Handbook / local authority financial regulations.

• Oversee procurement strategies, driving efficiency through robust contract management and service level agreement (SLA) reviews.

• Proactively identify and secure additional income streams, including grant funding, bids, and community facility lettings.

Operations & Capital Projects

• Line-manage the Site Manager and premises team, ensuring the campus is secure, safe, and impeccably maintained.

• Provide strategic oversight for school expansion, capital building projects, and planned preventative maintenance (PPM) programs.

• Act as the school’s leading authority on Health & Safety, ensuring absolute compliance with statutory testing, fire regulations, and risk management protocols.

HR Leadership & Support Services

• Lead and inspire the school’s large support staff workforce, including finance, HR, administration, technical, and premises teams.

• Oversee the operational HR function, ensuring compliant recruitment practices, payroll verification, and performance management.

• Maintain absolute accuracy of the Single Central Record (SCR) in strict accordance with safer recruitment and safeguarding guidelines.

Governance & Compliance

• Prepare comprehensive operational briefings and financial analyses for full Governing Body and committee meetings.

• Ensure the school fulfills all legal obligations required by the Department for Education (DfE), ESFA, and local data protection regulations (GDPR).

Required Criteria

• Experience: Proven track record as a School Business Manager or Senior Operations/Finance Lead, ideally within a secondary school or multi-academy trust (MAT) setting.

• Qualifications: A relevant professional qualification in school business management (e.g., CSBM/DSBM) or a recognized accounting/business degree (ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, or equivalent).

• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency with school financial software and Management Information Systems (such as Arbor, SIMS, or Bromcom).

• Leadership Style: A collaborative, resilient leader with exceptional communication skills and a solution-focused approach to complex operational challenges.

What the School Offers

• A dynamic, welcoming, and collaborative senior leadership environment.

• Access to structured continuous professional development (CPD) pathways.

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and a strong commitment to staff wellbeing.

To Apply

Please submit your current CV to proceed with your application for this position.