School Business Manager - Top Performing School - Reading

Location: Reading

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £47,000 – £57,000 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 Reading.

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 school's 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 school's multi-million-pound budget, ensuring maximum value for money, flawless internal controls, and compliance with all statutory financial frameworks.

• Lead the school’s 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 school's 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 school's 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.