School Business Manager | Ambitious & Inclusive Primary School | Islington

CORE PURPOSE

We are seeking an astute, strategic School Business Manager (SBM) to lead the operational, financial, and administrative performance of our school. Working closely with the Headteacher and Governing Body, the successful candidate will oversee financial management, estates and facilities, human resources, health and safety, and procurement, ensuring resources are optimized to support exceptional educational outcomes.

THE SCHOOL

Situated within a vibrant Inner London campus featuring modern learning facilities, creative outdoor spaces, and dedicated community rooms, this energetic primary school serves over 350 pupils. The school combines high academic ambition with a warm, inclusive ethos. The business and operations function serves as the strategic backbone of the school, bringing together office administration, site maintenance, and finance personnel into a unified team. Utilizing modern cloud-based financial software and digital asset management tools, the SBM will lead a smooth operational setup that keeps the school compliant, financially sustainable, and fully equipped for learning.

KEY TASKS & DAILY OPERATIONS

• Financial Strategy & Budgeting: Manage the school’s budget, lead financial planning, oversee payroll, perform monthly bank reconciliations, and prepare statutory audit reports for the Governing Body.

• Estates & Facilities Management: Lead the site premises team, overseeing building maintenance, health and safety compliance, cleaning contracts, and capital improvement projects across the campus.

• Human Resources & Payroll: Oversee staff recruitment procedures, maintain the Single Central Record (SCR), manage HR contracts, and liaise with centralized payroll providers.

• Procurement & Contract Management: Negotiate and manage external service-level agreements (SLAs), catering services, ICT infrastructure contracts, and supplier relationships to ensure maximum value for money.

• Health & Safety Leadership: Serve as the designated Health and Safety Lead, managing risk assessments, fire safety compliance, and site security routines.

PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

• Qualifications: Level 4–6 Diploma in School Business Management (CSBM/DSBM) or a recognized qualification in accountancy, business administration, or finance.

• Experience: Proven track record in financial management, HR, premises management, or business operations—ideally within an educational setting, academy trust, or public sector organization.

• Skills: Strong financial acumen, proficiency with school finance software (e.g., SIMS, FMS, Access Education, or Sage), excellent leadership capabilities, and clear strategic decision-making.

REGIONAL CONTEXT

• Local Area & Community: Based in the centrally located Inner London borough of Islington, the school serves an ambitious, diverse, and culturally rich community. The borough blends historic squares, thriving high streets like Upper Street and Angel, world-class arts venues, and pleasant green spaces such as Highbury Fields.

• Transport & Commuting: Islington offers unrivalled transport accessibility, bounded by major arteries including the A1 (Archway Road/Hollywood Freeway) and A501 (City Road/Euston Road). Public transit links are exceptionally comprehensive, served by Northern line Underground routes (Angel, Archway), Victoria line stations (Highbury & Islington), London Overground corridors, and extensive Central London bus networks.

APPLICATION INTAKE

Please submit your current CV to begin the application process.