School Business Manager | Outstanding State Primary...

CORE PURPOSE

We require a highly strategic, commercially minded, and meticulous School Business Manager (SBM) to lead the financial management, operational infrastructure, and human resources functions of our outstanding state primary school. Operating as a pivotal member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the successful candidate will assume full accountability for the long-term sustainability of the school’s budget, regulatory compliance, contract procurement, and estate optimization, directly enabling our teaching staff to maintain an exemplary, world-class standard of primary education.

THE SCHOOL

Our primary school is a vibrant, oversubscribed, and officially designated 'Outstanding' community academy located in the London Borough of Camden. Renowned for achieving exceptional early childhood development metrics and Key Stage 2 outcomes well above national averages, we cultivate an environment where academic rigor blends seamlessly with holistic child pastoral care. The school's operational framework is characterized by a culture of absolute financial accountability, professional efficiency, and collaborative problem-solving. We operate a highly organized, supportive leadership structure that values commercial acumen, ensuring that administrative, site maintenance, and catering functions operate flawlessly to preserve an inspiring, safe, and modern learning campus for our pupils.

KEY TASKS & DAILY OPERATIONS

• Strategic Financial Control & Income Generation: Model, manage, and monitor the school’s multi-million-pound annual budget under the direction of the Headteacher and Governing Body, executing precise monthly variance analyses, 3-to-5-year financial forecasting, and robust internal audits while aggressively pursuing grant opportunities and premises hire revenue.

• Operational Procurement & Contract Management: Lead the tendering, negotiation, and contract management of all external service level agreements (SLAs)—including ICT infrastructure, commercial catering, cleaning, and utility providers—ensuring maximum cost-efficiency and absolute value for money.

• Estate Management & Statutory Compliance: Supervise the site maintenance team to guarantee total compliance with Health and Safety executive legislation, including routine tracking of asbestos registers, water hygiene, fire protection systems, and comprehensive risk assessments across the entire early years and primary footprint.

• Human Resources & Safer Recruitment: Oversee the school's administrative and personnel operations, maintaining the Single Central Record (SCR) to flawless safeguarding standards, managing payroll variations, coordinating contracts, and administering the performance management framework for all support staff.

• SLT Advisory & Governance Reporting: Prepare and present authoritative financial, structural, and compliance reports for full Governing Body meetings and local authority or trust executives, providing clear data-driven counsel to shape the school’s strategic development plan.

PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

• Qualifications: A degree-level qualification in Business Administration, Accountancy, or Human Resources, paired with a recognized professional credential in School Business Management (such as the Level 4/5 DSBM or CSBM) or a corporate financial qualification (ACCA, CIMA, or CIPFA).

• Operational Experience: A proven track record of successful financial and operational leadership at a senior level, explicitly within a primary school, secondary academy, or high-budget public sector education environment.

• Analytical & Collaborative Ethos: Exceptional quantitative precision, strong contractual negotiation skills, and a professional, diplomatic communication style required to manage diverse stakeholder relationships, lead internal support teams, and interface effectively with corporate suppliers and auditors.

REGIONAL CONTEXT

• An Exceptional Inner London Borough Driven by Innovation and Culture: Based in the highly dynamic and culturally rich London Borough of Camden, the school operates within a progressive, high-achieving educational climate. Positioned amidst historic neighbourhood streets, cutting-edge digital hubs, and world-renowned academic institutions, Camden boasts an incredibly diverse, ambitious, and tightly-knit community. This vibrant metropolitan landscape connects the financial and physical management of our school campus directly to high standards of urban resource efficiency, creative community collaboration, and sustainable operational growth at the heart of the capital.

• Connectivity & Infrastructure: The campus benefits from unparalleled central London and regional transport infrastructure, making commuting exceptionally straightforward. Public transit connectivity is seamless, utilizing an dense network of Transport for London (TfL) bus routes alongside high-frequency connections across the London Underground network (via both the Northern and Piccadilly Lines). Furthermore, the school sits within easy reach of the major international and domestic rail hubs at King's Cross, St Pancras International, and Euston, linking the campus effortlessly to local neighbourhoods, the home counties, and the wider UK.

APPLICATION INTAKE

Please submit your current CV to begin the application process.