Business & Finance Manager

Keep the wheels turning in a busy, friendly school. If you like variety, autonomy, and being the go-to person who keeps everything running smoothly, this could suit you down to the ground.

What’s the role?

We’re looking for someone to step into the shoes of the long-serving Business & Finance Manager, who’s moving on after 13 years. This is a hands-on, senior role in an academy, part finance lead, part business manager, and a touch of everything else.

You’ll report directly to the Headteacher and sit on the senior leadership team. You’ll be responsible for the school’s finances and budgets, but also oversee HR, premises, audits, insurances, contracts, and more. No two days are the same, one morning you might be presenting management accounts to trustees, the next chasing down a facilities issue in a classroom or negotiating cleaning contracts.

It’s fast-paced, sometimes a bit chaotic, but very rewarding. You’ll have an experienced office team reporting to you, and the autonomy to shape how things are done.

What you’ll do

• Lead on all financial matters: monthly management accounts, budgeting, forecasting, payroll, VAT returns, and audits.
• Present reports and budgets to the Headteacher and trustees.
• Keep the school running day-to-day: HR admin, recruitment, contracts, DBS checks, staff queries.
• Oversee premises management, from repairs to health & safety.
• Manage tenders, contracts, insurances, and service level agreements.
• Make sure the school stays compliant with all relevant legislation, guidance, and deadlines.
• Be a calm, approachable presence, staff (and parents) will regularly pop in with questions.

What you’ll need

• Solid finance experience, including month-end procedures, budgets, and VAT.
• The confidence to work with senior leaders and trustees.
• A practical, organised approach, able to juggle competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• A people person: approachable, calm under pressure, happy to be interrupted.
• Some experience with HR, audits, or premises is helpful, but we can teach you the specifics.
• Ideally you’ll know Sage and Excel, or be comfortable picking up new systems.
• You don’t need to be fully qualified experience counts more here.

About them

They are a successful academy that feels more like a family than a business. The outgoing manager says she “loved every minute” of her time here, it’s varied, it’s busy, and the team genuinely care about each other. On offer is a great local government pension, flexible working where possible, and plenty of support to settle in.

How to apply

If this sounds like your kind of role, send over whatever CV or details you have to hand, or give us a call, no need for a formal cover letter. We’re interviewing as soon as we find the right people, so don’t hang about

Harris Lord are acting as the recruitment agency for this vacancy.