Job Description

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JOB DESCRIPTION -School Business Manager

1.0 JOB PURPOSE:

To lead the Multi Academy Trust's (MAT) day-to-day operations, improve operating procedures to improve efficiency and implement agreed strategies working with the Board of Trustees and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Also, to ensure that the establishments within the MAT, all adhere to their required deadlines for submission of returns and publication of statutory information.

2.0 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy and change

· Work collaboratively with the CEO and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

· Work alongside the CEO to implement the 3-year academy strategy business plans including setting and managing budgets, targets and outputs and reviewing progress against these.

· Support other members of the SLT in the development of functional strategies and plans.

· Work with the CEO and SLT to effectively manage change within the MAT.

· Work with the CEO, and other colleagues with relevant responsibilities, on the strategies for premises improvements and health and safety across the whole MAT.

· Work alongside senior colleagues in leading the facility management across the whole MAT, design specifications for new buildings, obtain tenders and planning permission, liaise with building contractors and architects to deliver building projects identified in the premise's strategy by working with the CEO, Estates Manager and leaders in schools.

· Support the Facilities Manager with MAT wide bid writing to secure external capital funding for building works.

· Support with facilitating the design of new initiatives with the SLT and implementation across the MAT.

Business planning and performance reporting

· Manage the annual and 3-year strategic business planning to produce effective budget for approval by the Board of Trustees.

· Manage the implementation and maintenance of strong strategic and operational financial planning processes and controls to safeguard the MAT's finances.

· Ensure that all necessary monitoring and evaluation of finance and performance is undertaken across the MAT and reported to the Local Governing Bodies (LGB) and Board of Trustees.

· Direct the production of the annual report and accounts, including the statement of financial activities, balance sheet and associated notes to the accounts.

Business Management

· Lead on effective risk management across the MAT, working closely with other SLT members and Heads of schools.

· Lead as the primary point of contact, inclusive of finance, Human Resources (HR), VAT, risk and legal departments to ensure MAT wide administration is efficient and effective.

· Develop relationships with suppliers and lead on supplier cost effectiveness projects.

· Lead the drive for efficiency throughout the MAT.

· Understand the effects and implications of government policies, legislation and directives and develop effective strategies for current initiatives and long-term educational trends and developments.

· Negotiate, manage and monitor contracts, tenders and agreements ensuring 'best value' at all times.

· Ensure appropriate levels of insurances are in place to fully capture the needs of all the establishments within the MAT.

Financial management and compliance

· Provide strategic oversight and guidance to the MAT Accounts Manager

· Oversee the day-to-day financial and operational management of the MAT, including budgeting, monitoring and risk management, ensuring all establishments with the MAT are strategically planning and delivering.

· Ensure that all financial regulations (specifically SORP), schemes of delegation and financial procedures are fully adhered to and reviewed and updated as required by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), Charity Commission, HMRC and other regulators

· Direct the preparation of budgets and monitoring in line with the Funding Agreements established between the MAT and the establishments within the MAT.

· Ensure the availability of timely financial information to the Board of Trustees, CEO and SLT and support the MAT Accounts Manager in the interpretation and reporting of financial information

· Act as Company Secretary for the MAT ensuring deadlines are met for all returns and publications.

· Lead the due diligence process for any future opportunities in terms of growth and expansion of the MAT.

· Manage the co-ordination of the internal and external audits and preparation of the statutory accounts for each establishment within the MAT and the preparation of the consolidated accounts for presentation to the Board of Trustees.

· Implement appropriate audit and control measures and maintain relationships with auditors and bankers.

· Line manage the Accounts Manager and the MAT Finance team to ensure efficient procedures are being followed in terms of MAT accounts and associated reports.

Human Resource (HR)

· Provide strategic oversight and guidance to the MAT HR Manager

· Line manage, and work alongside, the HR Manager to ensure that relevant HR policies are in place and adhered to.

· Provide leadership, guidance and advice on all HR matters including employment law issues.

· Work with the HR Manager, CEO and Executive Team to strategically plan the HR resource requirements for each establishment and manage the appointment of new staff.

· Prepare salary forecasts to demonstrate affordability and sustainability of staffing structures required.

· Lead the implementation of other HR processes as necessary eg payroll.

· Manage the professional development, appraisal and training for the support staff within the MAT central team.

Governance

· Attend, participate and present in Trust Board meetings.

· Liaise regularly with the Board of Trustees, attending meetings of the Board, meetings with the LGB and their sub committees as required and ensuring prompt and effective responses to issues emerging from meetings.

· Lead governance and Trust Board reporting process and deliver its outputs efficiently and to time.

· Work alongside the CEO to ensure that appropriate agendas are circulated and documents uploaded, so that meetings can be effective.

Marketing

· Support the promotion of the MAT to different audiences and raise the profile within the LA and local community.

· Initiate collaborative working with other schools.

Other Duties

· Any other reasonable tasks commensurate with the role to include before during and after school duties as member of SLT to ensure the smooth running of the MAT.

· Individuals have a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people they are responsible for or come into contact with.

· Ensure all tasks are carried out with due regard to Health and Safety.

· Undertake appropriate professional development including adhering to the principle of performance management.

· Adhere to the ethos of the MAT, promote the agreed vision and aims of the MAT and set an example of personal integrity and professionalism.

Supervision received:

Supervising Officer's Job Title: CEO

Level of supervision:

Plan own work to ensure the meeting of defined objectives

Supervision given: (includes those who are indirectly supervised)

MAT Estates Manager

MAT Accounts Manager

MAT HR Manager

Information about the School

Welcome to The Sweyne Park School, we are a larger than average mixed, 11-18 comprehensive school. The School became an academy on 1st April 2013 and opened its Sixth Form in September 2014.

Our school is a safe and happy environment and central to our school is a belief in respect - respect for yourself, respect for others and respect for the environment. We believe that our focus on respect leads to high expectations and excellent discipline, and this in turn leads to the highest possible achievement for each individual pupil. In December 2018 we were the first Secondary School in the East of England to achieve the prestigious Rights Respecting Gold Award.

At Sweyne Park we are determined to provide first class teaching and learning for all our pupils. This aim is supported by our commitment to recruiting and retaining the very best staff, and our nationally recognised programme of staff training. We do our utmost to ensure our pupils achieve strong examination results and progress on to high quality destinations. We provide a broad and balanced academic curriculum with a wide range of cultural, artistic, sporting and social opportunities. We are committed to very strong partnerships between home, school and community members. We believe that the whole community can contribute to motivating and supporting pupils’ progress. In October 2017, the Sweyne Park School and Glebe Primary formed a Multi-Academy Trust, the Rayleigh Schools Trust (“The RST”).