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Vision for Education are looking to appoint an experienced School Business Manager on behalf of a Secondary School in Gateshead. 

Purpose of Role                                               

The purpose of this role is to provide operational leadership and management to the Academy support service and its staff with the aim of ensuring an effective and efficient support service which is focussed on supporting the teaching, learning and personal development of our students.

This is a non-teaching role. The Academy Business Manager is a senior leader within the academy, working closely with the Principal as a member of the senior leadership team (SLT).

General Responsibilities 

The Academy Business Manager will:

Support and advise the Principal and Governing Body on financial and human resources matters so as to inform the academy’s development and planning, and ensure compliance with statutory obligations.
Create a culture of achievement and success within the support service through personal example and leadership.
Lead and manage change within the support service in consultation with stakeholders.
Encourage professional attitudes amongst all staff within the support service.
Ensure compliance within the support service with all academy policies and procedures.
Promote working practices within the support service which do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, religion, culture, age or disability.
Undertake any training relevant to the post.
Undertake effective performance management of support staff, promoting personal development.
Be responsible for the Single Central Record, ensuring it is kept up to date at all times, and
Liaise with external contractors and catering providers, maintaining excellent relations whilst securing best value for money and excellent service.
Lead the tendering and renegotiation process for major contracts.
Manage the academy’s Private Finance Initiative arrangements, liaising with Enjie, Pinnacle Schools and Gateshead Council to ensure good levels of compliance and service; monitor the monthly KPIs and re charges, ensuring any charges for damage are re-charged to parents.
To carry out break/lunchtime duties, along with other members of SLT.
Attendance at after school events as a member of the SLT on duty.
Perform any other duties required by the Principal and the Governing Body that are commensurate with the grading of the post.
Specific Responsibilities

The Academy Business Manager will: 

Support Service

Lead and manage all aspects of the support service activities ensuring all legal, statutory, academy policies and procedures are adhered to and all returns completed (e.g. PLASC).
Oversee the line management of all staff within the support service, including line managing key staff members directly.
Organise and manage personal development and continuing professional development of the support service staff to develop a ‘one team’ approach, identifying training needs and ensuring job descriptions are reviewed regularly.
Oversee the induction of new support staff to the academy.
Constantly look for ways to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the support service.
Exercise strategic responsibility for the content of the website.
General Office

Through effective line management of the Office Manager,

Be responsible for ensuring the safe collection of all monies, and that all financial procedures are adhered to.

Be responsible for all documentation and administration in relation to open evenings, parents’ evenings and transition arrangements.
Produce and maintain standard letters and reports for staff also provide clerical support for the whole academy, including data input (where necessary) onto the academy’s management information service.
Co-ordinate the administration of students’ reports, term dates and the student calendar.

Oversee the inputting of all orders, delivery notes, invoices, ensuring that regular quality checks are carried out to ensure efficient delivery of goods.
Finance

Through effective line management of finance and office staff,

Ensure that all legal, statutory, ESFA and Academy finance regulations are met.
Be responsible for ensuring the safe collection of all monies, and that all financial procedures are adhered to.

Lead, operate, maintain and develop the financial policies and procedures ensuring legal requirements and best practice are maintained.
Liaise with and be first point of contact for the auditors, facilitating their work and holding them to account.
Be responsible for the academy’s financial risk assessment and management processes, including the risk register.
Ensure the financial systems within the academy meet the relevant frameworks and legal requirements, follow good practice, have clear accountability and are closely monitored;
Constantly review ways of working to minimise waste and optimise efficiency.
Act as Chief Finance Officer, and support the Principal in their role as Chief Accounting Officer.
Be responsible for the completion and submission of all ESFA returns in an accurate and timely fashion.
Line manage the budget officer and oversee all financial monitoring in the academy, including monthly reporting to budget holders.
Oversee budgetary and financial planning, to facilitate effective budget planning in departments and support the Principal in the preparation of the annual budget for submission to governors for approval.
Be responsible for the monthly payroll submissions and liaise with the external payroll provider.
Act as a signatory on financial documents.
Act as the contact person for freedom of information and data subject access requests.
Be responsible for the approval of all orders and invoices processed through Agresso.
Advise the Principal on all financial matters.
Premises

To oversee the day to day responsibility for health and safety within the academy, liaising with the site manager to ensure all risk assessments and inductions are completed and all policies are relevant and up to date.
To be responsible for all lettings within the academy and all re-charges.
To have day to day responsibility for the operation smooth running of the academy and work with all parties linked to PFI and attend meetings.
To work with PFI project manager on the yearly life cycle works for the Academy.
Human Resources

Ensure human resources-related paperwork is processed accurately and promptly, overseeing the administrative processes associated with any staff changes.
Produce the Staff Handbook on an annual basis and review it prior to it being published.
Liaise with and be first point of contact for Human Resources Service Level Agreement provider.
To work with governors and admin staff to ensure all the academy policies are reviewed in line with the agreed schedule and submitted to the relevant committee then placed on the website.
Ensure all administrative work is completed and be the point of contact for the Teachers’ and Local Government pension schemes.
Administer and oversee all staff recruitment and induction processes, liaising with the Principal and other senior leaders, as appropriate.
Manage any sickness related absence processes required with the aim to minimise the number of days lost per employee.
Be the SLT contact for all absence requests, to coordinate the approval of any requests whilst overseeing the whole academy calendar to ensure adequate staffing levels on any given day.
Lead on, operate, maintain and develop the human resources policies and procedures ensuring legal requirements and best practice are maintained.
Ensure all new staff receive induction of HR related matters, e.g. sickness management procedures and leave of absence procedures.
Ensure all new staff are aware of the PFI requirements for hours and repairs