School Business Manager

School Business Manager – to start in post ASAP.

The School and role:

Cotham Gardens Primary School (CGPS) has a unique, exciting opportunity for an experienced, highly skilled School Business Manager (SBM) to join our brilliant staffing team.

CGPS is a large, happy and vibrant 3-form entry Cooperative Academy school within a wonderfully diverse community. We are a Single Academy Trust (SAT), but are split over two sites and based within the Cotham area of Bristol city centre. 

The SBM will work with significant autonomy and is able, to a large extent, to make the role their own. They will however be supported by our exceptionally performing, highly skilled, and hard working office and premises teams. 

The SBM will be a key member of our Senior Leadership Team (SLT), and will work closely with our Head Teacher and SLT to provide advice and input into decisions. Our SLT takes a collaborative, consultative approach to leadership where key decisions are taken in consultation with other stakeholders including governors and the school co-op.

The Candidate:

The successful candidate should have a proven track record of strategic planning, decision-making and influencing at senior levels, including management and board level. The core of the role is effectively managing our resources for the improvement of school performance, and therefore a history of business leadership in an academy school, or equivalent management experience in private sector or other organisations is desirable.

Applicants need to be highly professional with excellent organisational and communication skills, be able to work efficiently both on their own and as a part of a team, and ideally hold a professional qualification in School Business Management or offer equivalent transferable skills, experience and qualifications.

The successful candidate will act as the Chief Financial Officer of the SAT, and should therefore have significant experience of managing budgets and financial reporting, including a good understanding of accruals accounting. The ideal candidate will also have experience of managing organisational risk and Human Resources, leading and managing administration and other staff, and working at a senior level of a complex organisation.

Salary and contract:

• Grade BG14, scale point 38 to 41 or £46,549 to £49,590 pro-rata

• In addition, we offer employer contributions to the Local Government Pension Scheme, currently 15.8%

• Optional parking permit scheme

The role is full time (37 hours per week, all year round) but we will also consider job shares, part-time hours and/or term time only for the right candidate. Well-being is a high priority for staff and students alike at our school. We are looking to find the right people for our school and can offer flexibility on our contracts. Please state your preference in the application form.

The role is permanent but if anyone was considering or preferred short fixed term contracts, we would be willing to discuss this too.

Visits to the school prior to application are possible by arrangement. Please telephone the school office to arrange a visit.

If you would like an informal chat about the school or role prior to application, please call the school office and ask to speak to Alex Bell - Headteacher or Shellie Barwick - Assistant School Business Manager. For further information about Cotham Gardens Primary School please go to the school website.

How to apply: Please complete the application form together with a letter of application explaining why you want to work at Cotham Gardens Primary School.

Closing date: 09.00am on Friday 10th February 2023

Shortlisting date: Friday 10th February 2023.

Interview date: TBC but expected to be in week commencing Monday 20th February 2023.