School Business Manager Brighton

Location: Brighton East Sussex

Job Type: Full-time Permanent

Salary:per annum (Depending on experience)

Setting: Secondary School

We are seeking an ambitious and highly capable School Business Manager (SBM) to join the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) at a progressive secondary school in the Brighton area.

In this critical leadership role you will take strategic and operational command 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.

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

• Lead the schools 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 site.

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

• Serve as the schools 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 schools 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.

• 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.

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

• Generous Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development (CPD) and regional networking.

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