School Business Manager - Sowe Valley Primary School

Sowe Valley Primary School is a happy, oversubscribed, single-from entry school predominantly serving the local communities of Binley, Ernesford Grange, Willenhall and Stoke Aldermoor in Coventry.

We are a forward-thinking school, rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted. We would be very interested in hearing from candidates who have experience in:

• Finance

• Data protection compliance and GDPR

• Health and safety and premises management

• Human resources

• Contractor and supplier management

• Customer service

• Bromcom software (desirable)

We can offer you:

• The opportunity to work with fantastic children and families and make a significant contribution to the future of the school

• A supportive, friendly and hardworking environment

• Commitment to your own professional development

• A high level of job satisfaction and fulfilment

Visits to our school are strongly recommended and warmly welcomed. They can be arranged by contacting the school office on 02476 456063 or emailing admin@sowevalley.coventry.sch.uk

Completed applications should be returned to – admin@sowevalley.coventry.sch.uk

Closing Date: Tuesday 4th November 2025

Interview: Week beginning 10th November 2025

Sowe Valley is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks. All references will be taken up prior to interview.

Are you looking for a new challenge? Do you want to contribute and make a real difference to the lives of young children and their families? Do you work very hard, yet have fun at the same time? If so, we just might be what you are looking for and we would love to hear from you!

The Governors of Sowe Valley Primary School wish to appoint an enthusiastic School Business Manager to join our team of dedicated professionals and oversee our school’s administration including finance, HR, health and safety and premises.

The school business manager (SBM) is responsible for managing the strategy and operation of the business functions of our school, including financial management, health and safety, human resources, compliance and administration.

They will advise on and implement the day-to-day support that enables the school to operate effectively and efficiently, and that allows other members of the leadership team to focus on teaching and learning.

Duties and responsibilities

Leadership and strategy

• Be responsible for line-managing support staff, including carrying out long-term resource planning and managing recruitment, appraisal and professional development
• Under the direction of the headteacher, lead on all financial matters in school, to ensure the school’s successful financial performance and to ensure financial decisions are clearly linked to the school’s strategic goals
• Implement school-wide changes and allocate resources in line with the school improvement plan, putting policies and procedures in place and communicating them to staff
• Take all decisions in line with the vision and values of the school, and encourage others to do the same
• Implement a marketing plan for the school, which utilises the school website, signage, the prospectus, and communications with current and prospective parents/carers
• Monitor developments in technology and consider how it can be used to enhance the school’s business processes, teaching and learning, and staff wellbeing
• As a member of the senior leadership team (SLT), attend all SLT meetings and report to governors where appropriate

Financial management and fundraising

• In partnership with the headteacher, manage the school’s budget and ensure it is balanced, realistic, and represents an effective use of public funds
• Present the budget to the governing board
• Monitor the budget all year round, advising the headteacher where revisions or changes are needed
• Forecast future years’ budgets, based on the school’s estimated funding and trends in expenditure, to enable the headteacher to make strategic, long-term decisions
• Comply with financial reporting requirements and submit statutory returns
• Oversee school bank accounts on a day-to-day basis, ensuring money is banked, invoices are paid promptly, money owed is collected, and clear records are kept
• Develop and implement the school’s fundraising and income generation strategy, choosing fundraising priorities in line with the school improvement plan
• Lead on procurement processes, managing tenders where appropriate, conducting due diligence, benchmarking and evaluating suppliers, negotiating deals and ensuring value for money
• Manage the school’s lettings offer

Human resources

• To oversee the administration of all payroll and HR documentation including staff recruitment and the maintenance of staff records including contracts and pay statements Ensure that recruitment, appraisal, disciplinary and grievance policies are administered in accordance with employment law
• Advise on HR issues within school and liaise with the external HR provider

Health and safety

• With the headteacher and premises team, supervise the maintenance of the school site
• Manage the school’s compliance with health and safety regulations, and put in place processes and procedures to ensure the safety of all in the school
• Organise health and safety training for staff

Compliance

• Manage the school’s compliance with statutory obligations, and advise others on the relevant legal, regulatory and ethical requirements
• Track all school policies and ensure they are updated in accordance with the policy review schedule
• Monitor and update the risk register

Administration

• Keep records in accordance with the school’s record retention schedule and UK data protection law, ensuring information security and confidentiality at all times
• Provide administrative support for the headteacher and governing body
• Be the school’s data protection officer, taking responsibility for monitoring data protection compliance and advising the school community on data protection issues.

To be successful in the role, it is essential that you:

• are a team player, and happy to work independently, using your own initiative

• are an excellent communicator with a good standard of spoken English and very good interpersonal skills

• have a caring, fun and friendly nature

• bring a smile and high levels of optimism with them

• are pro-active, flexible and demonstrate initiative

Closing Date: Tuesday 4th November 2025

Interview: Week beginning 10th November 2025

Visits to the school are warmly welcomed

The School Business Manager will be required to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and follow school policies and the staff code of conduct.

Please note that this list of duties is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the school business manager will carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role, as directed by the headteacher.

Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check via the DBS.

Following recommendations from Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) for an additional pre employment check with effect 1 Sept 22, please note, an online search may form part of this recruitment process.