Business and Operations Manager; Maternity Cover

Temporary Maternity Cover – Business and Operations Manager

This is a temporary maternity cover post. As a member of the School's Leadership Team, to work collaboratively with colleagues in School, across the Trust and external partners, to ensure the effective and efficient provision of support services. To deliver on key strategic and operational responsibilities, including working with colleagues on the strategic planning, organisation and delivery of financial and budgetary management, human resources and school administration, and health & safety and estate management;

ensuring that the site, premises, and associated services, are developed to meet the educational aims, objectives, and the changing needs of the school. Working with the Headteacher and Trust central team colleagues, the Business and Operations Manager will line manage local school business operations teams to ensure that Trust policy and procedures are robustly and compliantly adhered to.

• Finance and Business Management
  • Work with the Headteacher, Trust central services team, and Governors to prepare a realistic and balanced annual school budget in accordance with Trust requirements and accompanying capital plans.
  • Use the agreed budget to actively monitor and control performance to achieve value for money.
  • Collate and review budget bids from subject leaders, assess outcomes met, advise staff on budgetary allocations, and prepare plans, explanatory papers and appropriate reports as required.
  • Identify and report significant financial variances and find solutions to resolve underlying issues.
  • Work with the central services team on monthly management accounts, including financial forecasts and explanations of variances to budget.
  • Support preparation of the financial information for external reporting as required by the Trust.
  • Ensure effective operation of the Trust's financial control procedures within the school, addressing and reporting issues promptly, adhering to the Trust Financial Scheme of Delegation, Trust Financial Procedures Manual, and the ESFA Academies Handbook.
  • Support budget holders and SLT in understanding budgetary information and respond to queries.
  • Liaise with the central services team regarding financial queries relating to the school.
  • Manage and monitor the effective use and security of the school's assets.
  • Lead and direct the school's income‑generation, including identifying and developing new funding streams and writing bids to secure extra funding.
  • Liaise and provide information required by internal and external auditors.
  • Lead implementation of recommendations.
  • Monitor all maintenance contracts for the school to ensure efficiency and value for money and prepare tender documents for renewal or change of contract.
  • Ensure leasing arrangements are effectively monitored and managed in accordance with Trust guidelines and requirements.
• Human Resources Operations
  • Work and liaise with the Trust's HR Team regarding personnel matters, undertake and oversee school‑level HR administration, and implement Trust policies in relation to safer recruitment, DBS procedures, sickness absence and payroll.
  • Ensure the School's Information System (SIMS) and Single Central Record are accurate and up to date, and oversee the implementation of the Visitor Management Policy.
  • Supervise designated colleagues, undertake performance management, and support performance management across the school through collation and monitoring of performance reviews and information.
  • In liaison with the Headteacher, oversee contracts and hours of work of all staff in school and advise the Headteacher accordingly.
  • Recruit, manage and train any Apprentices as required.
  • Work with the Trust Central Services on HR matters regarding terms and conditions of employment, and refer employee relations casework to the team.
  • Disseminate Trust HR policies to all staff and monitor adherence.
  • Attend all business operations related meetings, contribute and report as required.
• Site Management
  • Provide oversight of maintenance and upkeep of the school buildings, site and grounds, and line‑manage the site premises team and lettings personnel.
  • Ensure all activities of the…