Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in the post of Business and Finance Manager at St.Nicholas School.

St Nicholas is a school for students aged 4-19 years who have severe or profound learning difficulties, including autism and complex medical health care needs.

There are currently 11 classes of up to 9 students, arranged broadly by age and learning needs. The school takes an innovative approach to the curriculum to ensure appropriate challenge and relevance. Adaptations are made to both the content and learning experiences to meet students’ specific needs and provide learning pathways that ensure progress. The school experience regularly sees our students out and about in the community for independence and study.

We are committed to developing each individual pupil’s potential and self-esteem and are passionate about promoting effective communication and independence for each child. Our aim is to ensure that all pupils can excel and reach their full potential.

St Nicholas School is based on 3 sites in Chippenham. The majority of students are at the main site located just off the Malmesbury Road. Post-16 students are based in our6th form college on Cocklebury Road, Chippenham and our fully equipped bungalow for life skills learning in Long Ridings, just adjacent to the main school building.

We are looking for a Business and Finance Manager to start at the end April 2018, when our current Bursar leaves. We are looking forsomeone who can work effectively with the Senior Leadership Team, Governors and all stakeholder groups. The school staff are a dedicated team committed to providing an excellent education for all our pupils.

We warmly welcome visits to our school to meet the current Bursar, Liz Frobisher, and take a tour. If you would like to arrange a visit, please or call 01249 650435.

Kind regards

Ros Way

Headteacher

St.NicholasSchool is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful candidates will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring clearance

Business and Finance Manager Job Description

Job Title: Business and Finance Manager

Work Location: School Based

Reports To: Headteacher

Grade: Wiltshire Grade K Salary range £30,153 - £32,486 (pro-rata)

Hours of work: 32.5 hours per week, 40 weeks per year

Leads & Manages: Admin and Premises Team

Job Purpose

  1. The Business and Finance Manager is the school’s leading support staff professional and works as part of the Senior Leadership Team to assist the Headteacher in ensuring that the school meets its educational aims.
  2. The BFM is responsible for providing professional leadership and management of the administrative and premises teams.
  3. TheBFM promotes the highest standards of business ethos within the administrative function of the school and strategically ensures the most effective use of resources in support of the Strategic Improvement Plan.
  4. The BFM is responsible for: Financial Resource Management; Administration Management (including Management Information/ICT and Human Resource Management); Facility & Property Management (including Health & Safety Management)

General Duties

Leadership & Strategy

  1. Attend Leadership Team and Governing Body meetings as required.
  2. Negotiate and influence strategic decision making within the school’s Leadership Team
  3. Plan and manage change in accordance with the school improvement plan.
  4. To lead and manage School Administrative and Premises teams.
  5. Work with the MAT Strategy group to investigate Academisation

Financial Resource Management

  1. Evaluate information and consult with the Leadership Team and Governors to prepare a realistic and balanced budget for school activity
  2. Submit the proposed budget to the Headteacher and Governors for approval and lead the overall financial planning process
  3. Use the agreed budget to actively monitor and control monthly performance to achieve value for money
  4. To lead on financial compliance and prepare financial returns to the LA and other local and central government agencies as required (e.g. annual SFVS return; income and expenditure)
  5. Identify and inform the Headteacher and Governors of the causes of significant variance and take prompt corrective action
  6. Propose revisions to the budget if necessary, in response to significant or unforeseen developments
  7. Advise the Headteacher and Governors if fraudulent activities are suspected or uncovered
  8. Maintain a strategic financial plan that will indicate the trends and requirements of the strategic development plan and will forecast future year budgets
  9. Identify additional finance required to fund the school’s proposed activities
  10. Maximise income generation opportunities (e.g. lettings of premises, training offers etc.)
  11. Present timely and fully costed proposals, recommendations or bids
  12. Prepare tenders and Service Level Agreements as required
  13. Be responsible for the school funds, including maintaining the Charitable status of the school fund. Attend and report at the Fundraising Trustees meetings.
  14. Apply for, and monitor the spend of, Chippenham Borough Lands Charity grants.
  15. Use Capita FMS and HCSS software to produce budgets and forward forecasting budgets
  16. Monitor the effectiveness and implementation of agreements in accordance with Best Value frameworks

Administration Management

  1. Lead and manage the administrative and premises team
  2. To ensure that robust business continuity arrangements are in place
  3. Maintain administrative systems that deliver outcomes based on the school’s aims and goals
  4. Prepare information for publications and returns for the DfE, LA and other agencies and stakeholders within statutory guidelines (e.g. school census)

Management Information Systems & ICT

  1. Consult with relevant people to introduce new technology or improve existing technology for different purposes
  2. Ensure that the school has a strategy for using technology aligned to the overall vision and plans for the school whilst providing value for money
  3. Communicate the strategy and relevant policies, including GDPR for use of technology across the school
  4. Ensure resources, support and training are provided to enable work colleagues to make the best use of available ICT including teaching, learning and assessment systems
  5. Ensure contingency plans are in place in the case of technology failure

Human Resource Management

  1. Liaise with Wiltshire Council payroll services (current provider) for all school staff including the management of pension schemes and associated services.
  2. Work with the Personnel Officer to ensure that all recruitment, appraisal, staff development, grievance, disciplinary and change management policies and procedures comply with legal and regulatory requirements and are adhered to
  3. Manage recruitment, performance management, appraisal and development for all Administrative and Premisesstaff.
  4. Seek and make use of specialist expertise in relation to HR issues
  5. Be responsible for the monitoringthe maintenance and updating of the Single Central Record (including Volunteers) and confidential staff records

Facility & Property Management

  1. To co-ordinate, with the Premises Manager, the safe maintenance and security of the school site and buildings, the preparation of maintenance schedules and the efficient operation of all the facilities on the property, including the purchase and repair of all furniture and fittings
  2. Ensure the continuing availability of utilities, site services and equipment
  1. Monitor, assess and review contractual obligations for outsourced school services
  2. Seek professional advice on insurance where necessary and advise the SLT on appropriate insurances for the school and implement and manage such schemes accordingly

Health and Safety

  1. Ensure the school’s written health & safety policy statement is clearly and regularly communicated and available to all people
  2. Work with the Premises Manager to ensure that fire practices and alarm tests are planned and instigated, and records are well maintained.
  3. Work with the Premises Manager to ensure that premises related checks are undertaken, and recorded in line with legal requirements (e.g. ladders, water tests, emergency lighting etc.)
  4. Ensure systems are in place to enable the identification of hazards and risk assessments

St.Nicholas School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful candidates will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring clearance