School Business Manager

Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £45,000 – £55,000 per annum (Depending on experience)

Setting: Secondary School

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly capable and strategically minded School Business Manager (SBM) to join the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) at a progressive secondary school in Bradford.

In this vital leadership role, you will take full operational responsibility for the strategic management of all non-instructional functions across the school. Working side-by-side with the Headteacher and Governing Body, you will hold ultimate accountability for financial sustainability, human resources, health and safety compliance, and estate management. The ideal candidate will bring strong commercial acumen and inspiring leadership to ensure school resources are fully optimized to support excellent educational outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Strategy

• Act as the chief financial advisor to the Headteacher and Governors, driving long-term financial planning, forecasting, and regular budget monitoring.

• Oversee the school's multi-million-pound budget, ensuring strict internal controls, maximum value for money, and compliance with all statutory financial frameworks.

• Lead the school’s procurement processes, negotiating high-value contracts and service level agreements (SLAs) to maximize efficiency.

• Proactively identify and secure alternative revenue streams, including community lettings, commercial partnerships, and grant applications.

Premises, Safety & Estate Management

• Line-manage the Site Manager and facilities team to ensure a safe, secure, and inspiring physical learning environment across the school campus.

• Oversee planned preventative maintenance (PPM) schedules, capital building improvements, and technical infrastructure projects.

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

HR & Support Staff Management

• Provide visionary leadership and management to the school's comprehensive support staff workforce, including finance, HR, administration, premises, and IT teams.

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

• Maintain the Single Central Record (SCR) with absolute precision to ensure flawless safeguarding compliance.

Governance & Compliance

• Prepare and present detailed financial and operational reports for full Governing Body and sub-committee meetings.

• Ensure the school meets all legal frameworks and data protection requirements set out by the Department for Education (DfE), local authorities, and GDPR guidelines.

Required Criteria

• Experience: Proven track record as a School Business Manager, Operations Manager, or Senior Finance Lead, ideally within a secondary school setting.

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

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

• Attributes: A resilient, collaborative leader with exceptional communication skills, capable of prioritizing a complex workload under pressure.

What the School Offers

• A highly supportive, collaborative, and forward-thinking Senior Leadership Team.

• Generous Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development (CPD) and networking within the West Yorkshire region.

To Apply

Please submit your current, up-to-date CV to be considered for this position.