School Business Manager

Full Time 52 Weeks Per Year

£42,000-£50,000 (Depending on Experience)

Who we are:
Impact North West Schools Ltd is a rapidly growing independent special school based in Birkenhead.
Our mission is to deliver excellent teaching through research-backed pedagogy, fostering a safe environment where high expectations and positive, trusting relationships ensure every child is known, resilient, and equipped with strong character.

We are proud to be:
Rated “Good” by Ofsted
Recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Inclusion Quality Mark
Awarded the Silver Accreditation by Investors in People

These achievements reflect our commitment to high standards, innovation and a positive culture where everyone is supported to succeed.

The Role - Business Manager
The School Business Manager is accountable to the Headteacher. They will serve on the School’s Leadership Team and will be instrumental in developing and supporting the strategic management of the school and in providing vision, leadership, and direction for the school, ensuring that the school meets its educational aims.

The School Business Manager promotes the highest standards of business ethos within the administrative and financial functions of the school and strategically ensures the most effective use of resources in support of the school’s learning objectives

Duties & Responsibilities - Business Manager
Leadership and Strategy
To make decisions and take responsibility as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, attending SLT and Governor meetings in line with school requirements.
To contribute to the strategic development of the school.
To evaluate information and consult with SLT and Governors to prepare a realistic and balanced budget linked to the Strategic School Improvement Plan.
To develop collaborative partnerships with other schools and organisations.
Implement and contribute to school-wide changes and allocate resources in line with the school improvement plan, putting policies and procedures in place and communicating them to all staff.
Liaise with all external bodies and agencies such as the Department for Education, the Disclosure and Barring Service, and the Teaching Regulation Agency.

Financial Management
To plan and submit the proposed budget to the Headteacher and Governors for approval and to liaise with the Headteacher on the financial planning process, including 3-year projections
To manage, and be responsible for, the administration of the school Budget financial systems
To manage, and be responsible for, the negotiation of all contracts relevant to the efficient and effective administration of School business, ensuring that the school is receiving value for money and to be responsible for the procurement of services through arranging competitive tendering, including but not limited to fire burglar alarms, window cleaning and grounds maintenance.
To lead and be responsible for bid writing and seeking external funding.
To manage, and be responsible for, the collection of all monies received in the school office, issuing of receipts and banking of monies as and when required.
Ensure safekeeping of the school’s assets, maintaining and updating the asset register, performing physical checks, and ensuring any disposals are completed responsibly.

Administration Management
To manage the school office and to be responsible for the leadership and management of the administrative staff, providing support and guidance and delegating responsibilities as appropriate.
To lead recruitment, performance management, appraisal, training, and development for all administrative staff.
To manage, and be responsible for, the services provided by the site staff and IT Provider, providing support and guidance, training, and performance management appraisals and to manage all payroll issues, holiday cover and related issues.
Be responsible for ensuring the Single Central Record is maintained and compliant.

General Compliance and GDPR
Manage the school’s compliance with statutory obligations under GDPR and the Freedom of Information Act, 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.
Act as the schools internal DPO, taking responsibility for monitoring compliance and advising the school community on GDPR.
To understand data breaches, the reporting procedures, and timescales for reporting.
Ensure that data protection and risk management are an important and regular part of school culture.

HR Management

To manage, and be responsible for, the administration of all staff salaries and wages for the school.
Manage the school’s payroll provision with the payroll provider and ensure that staff and consultants are paid in accordance with their contracts.
To manage, and be responsible for, the recording and monitoring of hours worked by non-contract and sessional staff and the processing of relevant pay claims.
To manage, and be responsible for, the recording and monitoring all staff absences, including sickness
Ensure that recruitment, appraisal, disciplinary and grievance policies are administered in accordance with employment law

Facilities Management and Health and Safety
To manage, and be responsible for, the completion and processing of returns to the Local Authority and DFE.
To manage, and be responsible for, the Health and Safety management of the school, ensuring legislative requirements are met, including the management of Asbestos.
To prepare costings with regard to all aspects of Facilities Management for the Headteacher and to attend Governors meetings
Liaise with and provide information to the Local Authority and relevant authoritative agencies e.g. HSE as required and stipulated by law.
Act as the schools Educational Visits Co-ordinator and ensuring all paperwork and submissions are completed in a timely manner.
Ensure the Health & Safety policy is implemented at all times, put into practice and is subject to review and assessment at regular intervals or as situations change.
Enable regular consultation with people on Health & Safety issues.
Ensure systems are in place to enable the identification of hazards and risk assessments.
Ensure systems are in place for effective monitoring, measuring and reporting of Health & Safety issues to the Senior Leadership Team, Governors and where appropriate the Health & Safety Executive.
Be fully committed to working together in relation to safeguarding children and young people.

The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role, as directed by the headteacher.

What We Are Looking For - Business Manager
Qualifications and training
Good honours Degree or relevant qualification
Finance qualification or similar accreditation is desirable
A relevant professional management qualification
Experience of work as a School Business Manager in a school or similar organisation.

Experience
Administrative experience including the management and operation of administration systems and procedures, including audits.
Experience of managing budgets and financial reporting systems.
Experience of managing different teams.
Use of IT including Microsoft Office, also to analyse data.
Experience of leadership of a team
Commitment to personal / professional development.
Working knowledge of facilities management.
Working knowledge of Health and Safety legislation.
An understanding of procurement, contracts, risk assessment, health and safety and traded services in organisations.
Experience of working effectively with a wide range of external partners.
Knowledge and understanding of Child Protection and Safeguarding legislation.
Knowledge of managing personnel procedures

Skills
Excellent organisation skills
High level communication skills
Excellent time management skills
Ability to organise own work load and priorities on day to day basis using own initiative
An ability to consult and share decision making with the senior leadership

Personal qualities
High standards of professionalism with regards to confidentiality and discretion
A total commitment to equal opportunities
Highly motivated, positive and self –reliant
Empathy with the schools core aims and values

Safer Recruitment:
Impact North West Schools (INWS) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its school. INWS complies with the statutory legislative requirements and guidance that seeks to protect children including ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’. In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. As part of our pre-employment due diligence, we will undertake general online searches for all shortlisted candidates. This will include social media websites and video platforms. Online searches will only examine data that is publicly available.
Job descriptions and persons specifications make reference to safeguarding and child protection and all posts are subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service certificate (DBS).

Equal Opportunities

INWS recognises the value of, and seeks to achieve, a diverse workforce which includes people from all backgrounds.
INWS takes positive steps to create an employment culture in which people feel confident of being treated with fairness, dignity and tolerance irrespective of their individual differences.

This commitment extends beyond the relationship between and conduct of employees and potential employees, to the whole community.
INWS is committed to the elimination of unlawful discrimination and to the promotion of good relations between all.

Closing Date for applications:14th October 2026
Proposed interviews to commence w/c 19th October 2026

We welcome any questions and so invite you to contact our HR manager to arrange an informal conversation or school visit with our Proprietor. To arrange, please contact schooloffice@impactnorthwestschools.org.uk