School Business Manager Canterbury, Kent

Location: Canterbury Kent

Job Type: Full-time Permanent

Salary:per annum (Depending on experience)

Setting: Secondary School

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.

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 schools 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 schools 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).

• 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.

• 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.

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