School Business Manager

Employer: London Borough Of Waltham Forest

Location: Handsworth Primary School,Handsfirst Avenue, Highams Park, London, E4 9PJ

Contract: Permanent

Working Pattern: Term Time

Closing Date: 31/10/2026 at 23:55

Reference: SCH/26/345015

SCHOOL BUSINESS MANAGER

Handsworth Primary School, London E4 9PJ

020 8527 5991

We are seeking to appoint an energetic, enthusiastic and experienced School Business Manager to lead the strategic and operational business functions of the school. Reporting to the Headteacher, as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will line manage the Admin, Finance and Premises teams, and contribute to the continued development of Handsworth Primary, a multicultural, two-form entry primary school in Highams Park, Waltham Forest.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the school’s financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, procurement and income generation
• Managing human resources, including payroll, recruitment, appraisal and staff wellbeing, working with the school’s HR provider
• Overseeing administration, data management, compliance and statutory reporting to the DfE, LA and governors
• Managing health and safety and the school premises, ensuring a safe environment for all
• Leading, developing and line managing the Admin, Finance and Premises teams

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Has strategic leadership and line management experience, ideally within a school or similarly complex organisation
• Has significant experience of financial and human resource management
• Has excellent communication, negotiating and influencing skills, confidently advising the Headteacher and Governors
• Is proactive and solutions-focused
• Holds the Certificate or Diploma in School Business Management, or an equivalent qualification

At Handsworth, we are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and opposing all forms of discrimination in relation to all protected characteristics outlined in the Equality Act. We foster positive attitudes and good relationships, creating a shared sense of cohesion and belonging. We invest in training for all our staff and base our practices on evidence and the outcomes of our continuous learning. We are committed to embedding anti-racist practice in everything we do.

Visits to the school are welcome by appointment on 020 8527 5991.

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment will be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children. You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Offer of employment is subject to a satisfactory Reference and Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure and Health Declaration

Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both, service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives: - Promoting equality of opportunity - Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage - Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels. - Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all. Respecting Diversity is a core Council value. To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy