School Business Manager (SBM) | Solihull

The Opportunity

Are you a strategic leader with a sharp financial mind and the operational expertise to lead a school’s non-academic functions with precision?

We are seeking an accomplished School Business Manager (SBM) to join the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) of a highly regarded academy in Solihull . In an area known for its high educational standards and thriving professional sector, this school requires a versatile leader who can balance the complexities of multi-million-pound budgets with the day-to-day demands of site management, HR, and compliance. You will be the commercial heart of the school, ensuring that every resource is optimised to provide the best possible outcomes for students.

Core Responsibilities

• Financial Strategy & Oversight: Taking full accountability for the school’s financial health, including long-term integrated curriculum financial planning (ICFP), budget setting, and rigorous monitoring to ensure solvency and value for money.

• Operational Leadership: Directing the school’s support functions, including Estates, ICT, Catering, and Administration, ensuring all teams are aligned with the school’s strategic development plan.

• Human Resources Management: Overseeing the contractual and payroll elements of the workforce, managing recruitment processes, and ensuring strict adherence to employment law and safer recruitment practices.

• Health, Safety & Estates: Acting as the lead for health and safety compliance, managing large-scale capital building projects, and ensuring the premises are safe, secure, and inspiring.

• Income Generation: Proactively identifying and securing external funding through grant applications, community lettings, and commercial partnerships to enhance the school’s resources.

• Governance & Compliance: Providing detailed financial and operational reports to the Governing Body and Board of Trustees, ensuring the school meets all statutory requirements from the ESFA and DfE.

Why This School?

• Solihull’s Professional Landscape: Work in a prestigious West Midlands hub that offers a high quality of life and excellent connections to Birmingham and the wider region.

• Senior Strategic Influence: Join a collaborative SLT where the SBM is a valued partner in all major decision-making processes.

• Robust Support Structures: Benefit from an established team of Finance Assistants, Site Managers, and HR Administrators to help you execute your vision.

• Professional Growth: Access to executive-level CPD, including pathways toward Chief Operating Officer (COO) roles within Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs).

Candidate Profile

• Qualification: A degree in Business Management, Accountancy (ACCA/CIMA), or a specialist SBM qualification (Level 4 or above).

• Experience: Proven experience in a senior financial or operational role, ideally within an educational setting or a complex public sector organisation.

• Technical Skills: Exceptional proficiency in financial management software and a deep understanding of the Academies Financial Handbook.

• Character: A resilient, visionary leader with the ability to manage change, inspire diverse teams, and maintain a calm, professional focus under pressure.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please submit your CV today.