School Business Manager

Job Summary

St Gregory's Catholic School is seeking a highly skilled and motivated School Business Manager to play a key strategic role in supporting our Catholic educational mission. Reporting directly to the Headteacher and working in close collaboration with Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership (KCSP), this is an exciting opportunity to lead on finance, estates, health & safety, and operational management across our thriving school community.

If you are an experienced, solution-focused professional with a strong background in financial planning and school operations, we would love to hear from you.

Key Responsibility Areas

Strategic Finance

• Working to Chief Financial & Operations Officer to help ensure school budgets align with the ongoing integrity of KCSP's accountabilities as a Catholic multi-academy trust (MAT).
• Play an active part in helping devise and ensure the implementation of KCSP's vision as a Catholic MAT.

• Financial Planning, Management, and Monitoring in respect of St Gregory's Catholic School:

• Prepare Three Year Financial Forecasts.

• Prepare the annual budget as part of three-year financial plans.

• Prepare the financial reports, estimates, and financial returns required by KCSP Central Office and the EFA.

• Ensure the effective operation of financial control within the school, and look to achieve value for money in all expenditure.

• Develop and update appropriate financial regulations and work with the Headteacher to ensure compliance.

• Promote best practice and ensure compliance with the financial processes and procedures set out in the policies of the Multi Academy Trust and Academies Financial Handbook.

• Devise appropriate accounting procedures to control, monitor, and disburse the school's budget.

• Oversee and ensure all significant control processes are completed each month.

Ensure preparation of monthly management accounts and periodic re-forecasts as required by KCSP Central Office.

• Monitor cash flow.

• Prepare financial appraisals of projects as necessary.

• Ensure Local Governance Committee meetings have high quality and all necessary information in order to discharge their duties effectively.

• Attend Local Governance Committee meetings as required and agreed with the Headteacher.

• Be responsible for the school's procurement and contract management, monitoring service agreements and contracts for effectiveness of delivery, and ensuring the school receives value for money.

• Compare financial performance against other schools.

• Ensure the school's compliance with the requirements of a school that is part of a MAT.

• Develop and maintain a Risk Register for the school.

• Develop and maintain a Business Continuity Plan for the school.

Estate Management

• Oversee the effective management and maintenance of the school's grounds and buildings.
• Oversee the effective planning, management, and delivery of significant building projects.
• In conjunction with the Headteacher, develop plans and processes to be adopted by the school which ensure the effective management and maintenance of the school's grounds and buildings.

Health & Safety

• Develop and update appropriate policies and procedures for adoption and lead implementation in the school to ensure compliance with the health and safety (H&S) policy and relevant legislation by the school.
• Support the Headteacher in the effective implementation of those policies.
• Be a key member of the school's Health & Safety Committee.
• Develop and update appropriate policies and procedures for adoption and implementation in the school relating to contractor safeguarding and all contractor activities.
• Ensure adequate funding is budgeted for H&S matters.
• Liaise with the H&S Executive (HSE) and emergency services as appropriate.

IT Systems

• Oversee the effective management of IT Network Support across and in the school.
• Support the provision of an effective IT infrastructure which meets the evolving needs of the school and aligns with any overall strategic position of the Trust.
• Develop and update financial, management accounting, and administrative systems in line with school and Trust requirements.
• Oversee ICT functions as appropriate to the school.

Payroll/HR

• Oversee the effective management of the payroll service and act as liaison with the external payroll provider (SPS), ensuring payroll audit trails adhere to guidance, and appropriate checking and authorisation is carried out each month.
• Ensure school HR records are consistent in SIMS (workforce census); SPS (payroll) and OROVIA (budget system).
• Deal with personnel matters relating to salary, pension, and HMRC enquiries.

Procurement

• Develop and update appropriate policies and procedures for adoption and implementation in the school concerning the buying and ordering of all school supplies and services.
• Monitor the operation of policies concerning buying and ordering, and prepare such reports as may be required.
• Ensure that contractual relationships with suppliers deliver best value and are consistent with Catholic ethos, values, and policy.

Audit Services

• Advise Governors and Headteacher on financial regulations implemented by KCSP and the ESFA.
• In conjunction with KCSP Central Office liaise with auditors and plan all audit arrangements.
• Implement audit recommendations.

Insurances

• In conjunction with KCSP Central Office make arrangements for appropriate insurance cover as required.
• Liaise with Insurance companies regarding claims and necessary inspections to preserve cover.
• Ensure all contractors engaged have appropriate insurance cover.

Asset Control

• Ensure accurate records are kept by the school of all assets via Parago.
• Develop and update appropriate policies and procedures for adoption and implementation in the school for the procurement, capitalisation, and disposal of all assets.
• Update, as part of one-year financial plans, an asset maintenance programme for the school.
• Prepare, as part of one-year financial plans, a detailed capital purchase programme for the school.
• Prepare bids to KCSP Central Office as necessary to access the MAT capital funding allocation.

Staff Management

• Provide line management for direct reports including all aspects of performance management.
• Provide leadership, motivation, support, and control of staff allocated to areas of responsibility, ensuring that appropriate standards of behaviour and performance are demonstrated.
• Support Headteacher with necessary information for teaching and support staff promotions and annual pay reviews.

Other areas

• Build and maintain strong relationships between the school and across KCSP.
• Attend public events as a member of the school Senior Leadership Teams (SLTs) as appropriate.
• Represent the school at KCSP finance forums, and KCC finance forums and EFA update meetings as required by KCSP's Chief Financial & Operations Officer.

Benefits of working at St Gregory's Catholic School

• A supportive and caring working environment for staff and students
• As part of KCSP (Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership), our staff have access to excellent training opportunities, access to formal qualifications as well as specialist courses and conferences.
• Generous Pension scheme for all staff (22.5% employer contribution)
• Access to our Fitness Suite
• Access to Kent Rewards which offers a range of local and national discounts in shops and health clubs, as well as discounts on travel, holidays, insurance and Kent Adult Education courses.
• Flu vaccination reimbursement
• Eye test subsidy
• Employee Assistance Programme which offers confidential, practical and emotional support including financial guidance, legal enquiries, counselling, and additional support services

You are welcome to contact HR at if you would like to visit the school before submitting an application.

For ease of applying, we are happy to accept applications directly from Kent Teach:

Should you be shortlisted for interview, additional information may be requested at that time.

Closing date for applications: Monday 8 December 2025 9am

Start date: January 2026

All applicants need to have the Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this role. This vacancy may close on or before the specified closing date depending on the volume of suitable applicants.

St Gregory's is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and this position is subject to satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. We are an equal opportunities employer.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £52,716.00-£60,246.00 per year

Benefits:

• Canteen
• Company pension
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site gym
• On-site parking
• Sick pay
• Store discount

Application question(s):

• Do you have experience managing budget and payroll for a business of over 100 headcount?

Education:

• A-Level or equivalent (required)

Experience:

• Finance: 3 years (required)
• management: 2 years (required)
• site management: 1 year (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 08/12/2025