School Business Manager in Leeds

Job title and organisation: School Business Manager - Westbrook Lane Primary School
Salary: SO2 Pt 26 Actual Salary £34,123.91
Hours: 37 per week (Term Time Only plus 10 days)
Contract: Permanent
Location: Westbrook Lane Primary School, Westbrook Lane, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5AH
Closing Date and Time: Thursday 26 November 2026 at 9am

Westbrook Lane Primary School is a welcoming, inclusive and community-focused school where our vision of "caring hearts, curious minds, confident individuals" is at the centre of everything we do. We are proud to provide a nurturing environment in which children feel safe, valued and inspired to learn, supported by strong relationships between children, staff and families.

Our School Business Manager is central to the life of our school. Working as part of the Leadership Team, the post holder leads and manages all non-teaching activity, support services and resources, so that our staff have the infrastructure and environment they need to deliver excellent teaching and learning.

The role spans finance, HR and payroll, premises, health and safety, administration and the promotion of our school within the community, ensuring that Westbrook Lane runs smoothly, safely and efficiently every day.

Our governors of Westbrook Lane are ambitious for the school and are seeking to appoint a School Business Manager who shares in our vision and will make the best possible use of the school's resources through effective forward planning and sound financial management.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking to appoint an organised, skilled and proactive School Business Manager who is committed to making a real difference to the lives of our children by ensuring our school is well resourced, safe and efficiently run. The successful candidate will share our commitment to our vision and will play a key role in the strategic leadership of the school.

The successful candidate will

• Hold the Level 4 Diploma in School Business Management (or willing to undertake), with in-depth knowledge of business management, office procedures and the financial regulations that apply to schools
• Be confident managing a school budget, including monitoring income and expenditure, producing forecasts and financial statements, preparing returns and liaising with auditors
• Have experience of procurement, contract management and bid or grant processes, and be keen to identify new sources of income for the school
• Be able to provide a high-quality HR and payroll service, including managing contracts, recruitment administration and statutory pre-employment checks
• Have the knowledge and confidence to lead on premises and health and safety, including risk assessments, emergency procedures and fire safety
• Have experience of supervising and developing staff, building a motivated and cohesive support team and carrying out appraisals
• Communicate clearly and sensitively with a wide range of people, and produce accurate reports and data analysis for the Leadership Team and Governing Body
• Be highly organised, able to prioritise competing demands and work on their own initiative to meet deadlines
• Be confident using Microsoft Office and systems such as Arbor, Payroll, FMS and SAM

Above all, we are looking for someone who will embrace our vision, bring energy and professionalism to the role, and help to create the best possible environment for our children and staff to thrive.

What We Offer

At Westbrook Lane Primary School, we are committed to supporting our staff to thrive professionally and personally within a caring and collaborative environment.

We can offer you

• A welcoming, inclusive school community where strong relationships underpin everything we do, and staff are valued and supported
• Enthusiastic, well-behaved children who are eager to learn and respond positively to high expectations
• A key role within the Leadership Team, with the opportunity to shape the strategic direction of the school's non-teaching provision
• A dedicated and supportive staff team who work collaboratively and share a commitment to continual improvement
• Strong leadership and governance, with a clear vision for the school and a genuine focus on staff wellbeing and workload
• Access to high-quality professional development and opportunities to develop your skills and career
• Positive partnerships with parents and the wider community who are highly supportive of the school

We are proud of our school and the environment we have created for both children and staff. We are looking for someone who will embrace our ethos and contribute positively to our continued journey of improvement and excellence.

Visits to the school are warmly welcomed, and we are offering the following times for a look around the school;

• Morning (9.30am) - Monday 16th November
• Afternoon (2.30pm) - Wednesday 18th November
• Evening (4.30pm) - Thursday 19th November

Please book a slot via Microsoft forms. The link can be accessed here.

Application packs are available;

• on the school website at Home | Westbrook Lane Primary School
• via email from helena.fishburn@westbrooklane.leeds.sch.uk

Closing date: Thursday 26th November at 9.00am

Shortlisting date: Thursday 26th November

Interviews: Thursday 3rd December

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointments made are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check & pre-employment checks. If shortlisted, you will be required to disclose relevant information regarding criminal history, and an on-line search will be conducted. This includes only information publicly available on-line. We promote equality, diversity and inclusion and want a workforce which reflects the population of Leeds.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children's barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

The above post is not a Leeds City Council vacancy and has been advertised on behalf of the relevant organisation. To apply please follow their application instructions.
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