School Business Manager (SBM)

Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent (All-Year-Round)

Start Date: Immediate / ASAP or January Start

A vibrant, forward-thinking secondary school and Sixth Form in Leeds is seeking an articulate, strategically minded, and commercially adept School Business Manager (SBM) to lead its non-pedagogical operations. This pivotal executive support role is ideal for an experienced school business leader, finance director, or senior operations manager looking to drive financial sustainability, modern infrastructure, and operational excellence across a dynamic educational community in West Yorkshire.

About the Role

As the School Business Manager, you will serve as a core member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), reporting directly to the Headteacher and Governing Body. You will hold strategic responsibility for financial management, human resources operations, estate and facilities oversight, health and safety compliance, income generation, and administrative support services. Your strategic foresight will ensure resources are maximized to directly support educational outcomes and institutional growth.

• Environment: A highly regarded Leeds secondary school recognized for academic ambition, strong community integration, and a commitment to modernizing school infrastructure

• Culture: A collaborative, professional leadership framework where financial stewardship, operational integrity, innovation, and staff wellbeing are central priorities

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Management & Strategy: Oversee the school’s multi-million-pound budget, executing robust financial planning, multi-year forecasting, audit preparation, monthly management accounting, and value-for-money procurement routines.

• Estates, Health & Safety, and Facilities: Lead the site management team to maintain and develop the school estate; oversee capital build projects, health and safety compliance, COSHH, fire safety, contractor management, and environmental sustainability programs.

• Human Resources & Payroll Supervision: Work alongside central HR providers to manage staff contracting, payroll verification, safer recruitment compliance, Single Central Record (SCR) integrity, and employment law adherence.

• Income Generation & Commercial Development: Identify and secure external funding opportunities, grant applications, commercial lettings, and strategic partnerships to diversify revenue streams.

• Operational Leadership: Direct non-teaching support teams—including finance officers, administrative staff, IT support, catering, and site premises teams—fostering a culture of accountability and professional service.

Requirements

• Professional qualification in School Business Management (e.g., Level 4/5/6 Diploma in SBM / DSBM / CSBM) or a recognized accounting/business leadership credential (e.g., ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, CSCA, or degree equivalent).

• Demonstrable track record of successful financial and operational leadership, preferably within a secondary school, multi-academy trust (MAT), further education setting, or complex public/corporate sector organization.

• Extensive knowledge of school financial regulations, ESFA funding frameworks, public procurement policies, and statutory health and safety standards.

• Exceptional strategic vision, quantitative reasoning, and project management capabilities, with the ability to lead multi-disciplinary operational teams effectively.

• Outstanding communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with an approachable and decisive executive presence.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Senior Support Staff Leadership Scale (commensurate with qualifications and operational leadership experience).

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), generous annual leave entitlement, structured executive CPD and coaching, and access to comprehensive employee wellbeing and healthcare programs.

How to Apply

If you are a strategic operational leader ready to shape the business and financial future of a thriving secondary school in Leeds, we welcome your application. Please submit your application and CV as soon as possible for consideration.