The Cluster School Business Manager (SBM) is a strategic business, finance, and operational lead overseeing a cluster of two or More primary academies within the Trust. Working in close partnership with Executive Principals, Headteachers, and the Trust Executive Team, the Cluster SBM holds overall responsibility for driving financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance across their assigned cluster.
This role balances strategic leadership with practical operational oversightâensuring robust financial governance, efficient HR processes, compliant facilities management, and seamless day-to-day business operations so that academy leadership teams can focus on delivering exceptional educational outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
1. Financial Management & Governance
Lead financial planning, budget setting, and monitoring across the cluster in line with Trust financial regulations and the Academies Financial Handbook.
Oversee routine, lower-level transactional processing carried out by site teams (purchase orders, invoice matching, basic ledger input, supplier payments) ensuring high accuracy and timeliness.
Prepare high-quality monthly management accounts, variance analysis, and cash flow forecasts for the Trust Finance Director and local governing bodies.
Identify cost-saving initiatives, economies of scale across the cluster, and commercial income generation opportunities (e.g., lettings, grant funding).
2. HR & Compliance
Oversee candidate application flow, recruitment logistics, candidate paperwork, and onboarding processes across cluster schools.
Ensure absolute compliance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) by managing pre-employment checks, DBS processing, and holding ultimate accountability for the accuracy of each schoolâs Single Central Record (SCR).
Oversee local payroll submission, staff absence reporting, and contract administration in partnership with central Trust HR.
3. Site, Health & Safety, and Operations
Oversee facilities management, premises maintenance, health & safety compliance, and emergency planning across all cluster sites.
Manage third-party service contracts (catering, cleaning, IT support, grounds maintenance) ensuring high performance and value for money.
Lead risk management processes across the cluster, maintaining local risk registers and statutory audit readiness.
4. Leadership & Team Management
Directly manage and develop local administrative, finance, premises, and operational support staff across the cluster.
Drive operational consistency, process standardization, and continuous improvement across all schools in the cluster.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential: Degree in Business, Finance, Administration, or relevant professional qualification (e.g., CSBM/DSBM, CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA).
Desirable: Health & Safety qualification (e.g., IOSH or NEBOSH).
Experience & Knowledge
Essential:
Proven track record in financial management, budgeting, and financial reporting.
Experience managing operational compliance, including HR procedures, pre-employment checks, and SCR maintenance.
Experience leading and developing multi-disciplinary teams across operational/admin functions.
Considered Candidate Profiles:
Experienced School Business Managers seeking multi-school / cluster leadership opportunities.
Secondary School Office/Business Managers looking to transition into a primary cluster lead role.
Strong Corporate / Commercial Administrators or Finance Leads with transferable finance, HR, and compliance capabilities.
Key Skills & Attributes
Strong analytical, numerical, and financial planning skills.
Excellent organizational capabilities with the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple sites.
Deep commitment to safeguarding, statutory compliance, and high ethical standards.
Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills to work collaboratively with Headteachers, Trust leadership, and site staff.âŚThe Cluster School Business Manager (SBM) is a strategic business, finance, and operational lead overseeing a cluster of two or More primary academies within the Trust. Working in close partnership with Executive Principals, Headteachers, and the Trust Executive Team, the Cluster SBM holds overall responsibility for driving financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance across their assigned cluster.
This role balances strategic leadership with practical operational oversightâensuring robust financial governance, efficient HR processes, compliant facilities management, and seamless day-to-day business operations so that academy leadership teams can focus on delivering exceptional educational outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
1. Financial Management & Governance
Lead financial planning, budget setting, and monitoring across the cluster in line with Trust financial regulations and the Academies Financial Handbook.
Oversee routine, lower-level transactional processing carried out by site teams (purchase orders, invoice matching, basic ledger input, supplier payments) ensuring high accuracy and timeliness.
Prepare high-quality monthly management accounts, variance analysis, and cash flow forecasts for the Trust Finance Director and local governing bodies.
Identify cost-saving initiatives, economies of scale across the cluster, and commercial income generation opportunities (e.g., lettings, grant funding).
2. HR & Compliance
Oversee candidate application flow, recruitment logistics, candidate paperwork, and onboarding processes across cluster schools.
Ensure absolute compliance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) by managing pre-employment checks, DBS processing, and holding ultimate accountability for the accuracy of each schoolâs Single Central Record (SCR).
Oversee local payroll submission, staff absence reporting, and contract administration in partnership with central Trust HR.
3. Site, Health & Safety, and Operations
Oversee facilities management, premises maintenance, health & safety compliance, and emergency planning across all cluster sites.
Manage third-party service contracts (catering, cleaning, IT support, grounds maintenance) ensuring high performance and value for money.
Lead risk management processes across the cluster, maintaining local risk registers and statutory audit readiness.
4. Leadership & Team Management
Directly manage and develop local administrative, finance, premises, and operational support staff across the cluster.
Drive operational consistency, process standardization, and continuous improvement across all schools in the cluster.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential: Degree in Business, Finance, Administration, or relevant professional qualification (e.g., CSBM/DSBM, CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA).
Desirable: Health & Safety qualification (e.g., IOSH or NEBOSH).
Experience & Knowledge
Essential:
Proven track record in financial management, budgeting, and financial reporting.
Experience managing operational compliance, including HR procedures, pre-employment checks, and SCR maintenance.
Experience leading and developing multi-disciplinary teams across operational/admin functions.
Considered Candidate Profiles:
Experienced School Business Managers seeking multi-school / cluster leadership opportunities.
Secondary School Office/Business Managers looking to transition into a primary cluster lead role.
Strong Corporate / Commercial Administrators or Finance Leads with transferable finance, HR, and compliance capabilities.
Key Skills & Attributes
Strong analytical, numerical, and financial planning skills.
Excellent organizational capabilities with the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple sites.
Deep commitment to safeguarding, statutory compliance, and high ethical standards.
Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills to work collaboratively with Headteachers, Trust leadership, and site staff.WWWWWâŚ