School Business Manager Exceptional School Cambridge

Location: Cambridge

Job Type: Full-time Permanent

Salary: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 thriving secondary school in Cambridge.

In this vital leadership role you will take full operational responsibility for the strategic management of all non-instructional functions across the school. You will lead on financial planning human resources health and safety compliance and estate management. The ideal candidate will combine strong commercial acumen with robust leadership skills ensuring the schools resources are optimized to fully support academic excellence and student outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Finance & Resource Management

• Act as the chief financial advisor to the Headteacher and Governing Body driving long-term financial planning and robust budget forecasting.

• Oversee the schools multi-million-pound budget ensuring maximum value for money flawless internal controls and compliance with all statutory financial frameworks.

• Lead the schools procurement strategy renegotiating service level agreements (SLAs) and contracts to maximize cost-efficiency.

• Identify and generate alternative revenue streams including the management of community lettings grant applications and local funding bids.

Premises Safety & Infrastructure

• Line-manage the Site Manager and facilities team to maintain a safe secure and stimulating physical learning environment.

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

• Serve as the schools leading authority on Health & Safety ensuring absolute compliance with statutory testing fire regulations and risk management protocols.

HR Leadership & Support Services

• Direct motivate and develop the schools comprehensive support staff teams including administration finance premises and IT support.

• Oversee the operational HR lifecycle ensuring compliant safer recruitment processes payroll coordination and staff contract management.

• Maintain the Single Central Record (SCR) with absolute accuracy 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: Exceptional familiarity with school financial packages and Management Information Systems (such as SIMS Arbor or Bromcom).

• Attributes: A resilient collaborative leader with excellent 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).

To Apply

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