School Business Manager

Northwood School, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 1QN

4 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026

• Closing date

  12 June 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  8 June 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time, full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £48,003.00 - £52,194.00 Annually (FTE) Hillingdon pay scale POB - Pro-rata'd for 40 weeks per year Outer London

School Business Manager job summary

You will lead the Finance and HR teams at the school whilst working closely with the Operations manager who overseas IT and Premises.

You will play a crucial strategic role as a member of the Leadership Group, driving the school’s ambition and vision to become recognised across London as an exceptional place of learning. Key to this will be the maximising the use of school resources whilst identifying areas of income generation. Alongside this we would like to develop links to local businesses and the community to aid us in our strategic goals.

As a relatively new position in the school there is a great deal of scope to make the role your own- creating and implementing projects that make a real difference. There is scope to discuss the terms and details of this role to fit in with the priorities of the school and the successful candidate skill set.

As such flexible and part time opportunities will be considered.

You will have the adaptability to want to grow and evolve with the school on the next stage of its journey.

You will report directly to the Head Teacher and will be expected to be capable of working independently and on your own initiative.

The Role:

Role Title: School Business Manager

Reporting To Headteacher

Hours: Term time + 10 days (37.5 Hours per week)

Part Time or Full Time Considered

Salary: NJC Scale POB

Duties and Responsibilities

The School Business Manager is managed by and directly accountable to the Head Teacher

Effective and diplomatic liaison and a team approach are crucial to the successful performance of the School Business Manager’s duties. The job description offers an indication of the main areas of responsibility of the post, but the successful candidate will be expected to perform any such duties and activities relating to the finances, HR, general administration, staff and estates as the Head Teacher and Governors may reasonably require.

As a member of the leadership group, the School Business Manager will make a significant contribution to the growth and development of the school. In particular, to be responsible and accountable for both the day to day management and strategic development of the school’s finances, HR, support staff and operations management.

The School Business Manager has responsibility for the Finance Officer, Office Manager and Admin staff.

They will work closely with the Operations Director to ensure we are getting the best possible service from contractors including cleaning and catering.

Specific Responsibilities

To be responsible for the management of the Financial Officer to support and maximise the effective use of resources to support teaching and learning including:

• The preparation and management of the school’s three year budget
• The implementation of sound financial procedures, budget monitoring, financial accounting and reporting systems
• To ensure that financial systems adhere to statutory audit requirements including the Academy Trust Handbook.
• Preparation of documentation and evidence to support the termly assurance inspections
• The development of financial operation and procurement manuals to assist and clarify budget holders responsibilities within the schools financial management system
• To be responsible for the development and management of income generation by identifying opportunities for additional funding and prepare and submit bids as required by Headteacher/Governors

Financial Leadership and Management

• Create and manage the school budget in partnership with the head teacher to meet school, local and national financial procedures, guidelines, and requirements. Provide specific expertise in long-term strategic financial planning and management.
• Oversee the finance officer in the production of timely management accounts, expenditure analysis, cash flow management reports and completion of all financial returns as required within deadlines. Report regularly to the Head Teacher & Governing Body for monitoring the School finances and any financial issues arising.
• To support the finance team in the identification of the causes of significant or potentially significant variances to the budget and recommend to the Headteacher prompt corrective action, to ensure financial goals, targets and budgets are met.
• Ensure the school makes the best possible use of resources through effective planning, considering all financial and other resource implications; develop a culture to achieve best value for money in all areas of expenditure; monitor costs of services and contracts to obtain maximum efficiency; benchmarking financial information for comparison and to assess trends in expenditure and make strategic recommendations.
• Management and monitoring of all aspects of the School’s finance system including Payroll, bank reconciliation, VAT and data transfer processes, payments out invoicing.
• Manage the tendering for all relevant service contracts; monitor all insurance policies, with a view to cost effectiveness; and ensuring that the school maximises its potential from all stakeholders.
• Manage relevant SLA/contracts in relation to the provision of services and presentation of recommendations as a result of ongoing monitoring and evaluation of contracts to SLT and Governing Body.
• Provide advice and resolution for payroll & pension related staff queries
• Liaise with the Trust to ensure financial and statistical returns for the DFE are produced and managed in accordance with agreed policies and timetables, including Schools Financial Value Standard (SVFS); maintain an up to date knowledge of statutory requirements in relation to Finance
• Oversee procedures for the banking and recording of income/monies
• Maintain and train staff on financial procedures to ensure that regulatory systems are in place and followed to adhere to the Academy Trust Handbook and Trust Policies.
• To co-operate, initiate and manage audit procedures as necessary for designated school accounts
• Resolve parent queries with regards to remissions and charging

Personnel

• To be responsible for strategic planning of human resources to ensure the delivery of service required to support teaching and learning including:
• To oversee the recruitment process and maintenance of required records
• To be responsible for ensuring compliance with all employment legislation and school policies including regular liaison with the independent HR Advisor.
• The preparation and management of personnel policies and procedures, including conditions of service, conduct and disciplinary procedures
• To support the improvement and development of HR processes and systems within the school.
• To ensure that all HR files are kept accurate and up-to-date in line with government guidelines.
• To work closely with SLT to lead and support with regard to HR issues/case work such as disciplinary or capability issues.
• Ensuring that managing Sickness Absence procedures within the school including referrals to Occupational Health are followed
• Carry out the annual School Workforce Census and submit in line with DofE guidance
• Support of the office manager in the day to day management of the Administration Team, including providing support and training on administrative systems.
• Be responsible for advising the Headteacher and Governors on all HR, employment and pay legislation.
• Conduct reviews of the school’s staffing structure to ensure effective deployment of staff and financial efficiency
• Conduct exit interviews of leavers and report on trends.
• Act as the school Data Protection Officer (DPO)
• Establish and maintain data protection practices which are consistent with all relevant statutory requirements.
• Monitor data management procedures and compliance within the school.
• Ensure that all queries from data subjects are dealt with within legal timeframes.
• Liaise with other organisations that process data on our behalf.
• Update and maintain the Data Security Policy in line with the latest industry guidance.
• Perform audits and determine whether we need to alter our procedures to comply with regulations.
• Arrange for training on GDPR compliance for employees.
• Follow up with changes in law and issue recommendations to ensure compliance.

Compliance

• Manage the school’s compliance with statutory obligations, and advise others on the relevant legal, regulatory and ethical requirements
• Track all school policies and ensure they are updated in accordance with the policy review schedule
• Monitor and update the risk register

Other duties (to be negotiated with the successful candidate)

• Responsible for the management of the following Administrative Employees:
• Finance Officer
• Office Manager
• Cover Supervisors
• School Trips Administrator
• Senior Administrator responsible for School Policies
• Managing day to day cover of staff including liaising with external agencies
• To act as Educational Visits Co-ordinator. Managing the school trip administrator to ensure the effective co-ordination, organisation and management of educational visits. Ensuring all Trust rules and regulations regarding all Academy trips are adhered to.
• Overseeing the social media presence of the school
• Supporting the running of school events such as school photos, open evenings and careers days
• The development of ongoing systematic professional development of the Finance Officer
• Design and implement systems for the performance management of support staff
• Oversight and checking of break and lunch duty rotas
• Play a full part in the life of the school community, support the school’s priorities and ethos, and encourage staff and students to follow this example.
• Promote equality as an integral part of the role and to treat everyone with fairness and dignity
• Undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility as may be required

Whilst every effort has been made to set out the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified

Interested applicants are welcomed to arrange an informal conversation about the post with the headteacher via the Heads PA, Simone Haigh: shaigh@nwschool.org.uk

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Northwood School

• School type: Academies, None, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1031 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Northwood School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/northwood-school-northwood

It is my pleasure to extend a very warm welcome to the Northwood School.

Northwood is a rapidly growing, popular, 11-18, fully-inclusive co-educational school where students make outstanding progress. In our recent Ofsted inspection, (October 2018) we were judged to be Outstanding. As a result of rapidly rising student numbers we are looking to increase our staff for next year. The school which is located in Northwood, North West London is easily accessible due to the area’s excellent transport links. The nearest tube station is Northwood Hills which is on the Metropolitan line.

We recently moved into a brand new, state of the art building with fantastic facilities for both our staff and students. We are a forward thinking, caring, and most important of all, happy school, where students of all abilities and social backgrounds achieve very well.

School location

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