School Business Manager – Hove – £39,862–£42,839 Pro Rata

School Business Manager – Hove Primary School

School Business Manager | Hove | Full-Time | Term-Time Only | £39,862–£42,839 Pro Rata

Are you an experienced School Business Manager, Finance Manager or Business Administration professional looking for a key leadership role within a welcoming and supportive primary school?

Engage Education is working with a happy, inclusive and well-established primary school in Hove that is looking for a highly motivated and organised School Business Manager to join its senior leadership team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a varied and influential role, overseeing the school’s finance, HR, health and safety, data protection, procurement and estate management, while leading a dedicated and experienced office team.

Why You’ll Love This Role

This isn’t simply an administrative position — you’ll play a key role in the strategic and operational running of the school, working closely with the Headteacher, Governors and wider leadership team.

You’ll be joining a school where:

• Staff genuinely support and look out for one another
• Professional development and staff wellbeing are valued
• You’ll be part of a strong and experienced office team
• Your expertise will directly contribute to the school’s continued development
• There is a strong focus on inclusion, community and achieving the best outcomes for every child
• You’ll have the opportunity to make a real impact as part of the school’s senior team

The school has been recognised for its positive staff culture, with recent inspection feedback highlighting that staff feel well-supported, morale is high and staff are proud to work at the school.

About the Role

As School Business Manager, you’ll oversee the key business and operational functions of the school, ensuring systems are effective, compliant and supporting the school’s wider priorities.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and managing the school’s finance and budget
• Preparing budgets, financial forecasts and reports
• Monitoring and reconciling income and expenditure
• Advising the Headteacher and Governors on financial matters
• Supporting strategic financial planning and resource allocation
• Managing procurement, suppliers and contracts
• Overseeing HR and personnel procedures
• Supporting health and safety compliance
• Leading on data protection and relevant policies
• Working closely with the Premises Manager on estate management
• Managing and developing the school’s office team
• Preparing reports and information for Governors and external agencies
• Ensuring school systems and processes remain effective and compliant
• Keeping up to date with relevant legislation and changes affecting schools
• Supporting longer-term planning around staffing, finances, resources and premises

You’ll Be Leading a Great Team

You’ll work alongside a strong and experienced team of school office staff, sharing the administrative and operational responsibilities across the school.

The school is looking for someone who can lead with dedication, professionalism and good humour — someone who can motivate their team, provide support and challenge when needed, and create a positive working environment.

You’ll also work closely with the Premises Manager, Headteacher and Governors, making this a highly collaborative role.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for an experienced and confident professional who can demonstrate:

• Experience in a School Business Manager or similar senior business role
• Strong experience in financial management and budget planning
• Experience managing and leading a team
• Excellent organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail
• Knowledge of HR, procurement, health & safety and premises management
• Ability to analyse financial information and provide clear advice
• Experience preparing reports for senior leaders and Governors
• Strong communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information appropriately
• A proactive approach to legislation, compliance and school procedures
• The ability to work strategically alongside a Headteacher and Governors
• Strong IT skills and confidence using relevant financial and school management systems

A qualification such as NVQ Level 4, degree level or equivalent in School Business Management, Business Administration, Finance or a related field is desirable.

Knowledge of Bromcom would also be advantageous.

The Person

Above all, the school is looking for someone who is:

Organised. Proactive. Approachable. Strategic. Collaborative.

You’ll need to be comfortable managing competing priorities, working to important deadlines and making decisions that have a genuine impact on the smooth running of the school.

You’ll also need to share the school’s commitment to inclusion, equality, safeguarding and creating a positive environment where every child can thrive.

Role Details

Role: School Business Manager
Location: Hove
Hours: 37 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday–Friday, term-time only
Contract: 39 weeks per year
Salary: £39,862–£42,839 pro rata
Paid Weeks: 45.05 weeks per year, inclusive of holiday entitlement
Start Date: To be confirmed
Training: Full induction and role-specific training provided

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All candidates will be required to undertake the appropriate Enhanced DBS and safeguarding checks, with full support provided throughout the process.

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