School Business Manager

Role Summary

The School Business Manager plays a key role in ensuring the effective, sustainable and compliant operation of LAMP. Working closely with the Directors and Senior Leadership Team, the postholder leads on day\-to\-day financial management and supports longer\-term financial and business planning.

The role combines strategic oversight with practical delivery. The postholder will develop and maintain effective financial systems, provide leaders with clear and accurate financial information, oversee purchasing and contracts, support payroll and HR processes, and help ensure that LAMP makes effective use of its resources.

The School Business Manager will understand the particular financial and operational context of a specialist Alternative Provision and will support LAMP's continued development while ensuring that decisions remain financially sustainable.

As with all LAMP roles, the postholder models the CARES values (Community, Acceptance, Respect, Exploration and Self\-expression).

Financial Management \& Budgeting

• Lead the day\-to\-day management of LAMP's finances, maintaining accurate and effective financial systems.


• Prepare, monitor and regularly update annual budgets and longer\-term financial forecasts.


• Produce clear management accounts and financial reports for Directors and Senior Leadership Team.


• Monitor income and expenditure against budgets, identifying significant variances and emerging financial pressures.


• Support leaders to understand the financial implications of staffing, pay, curriculum and operational decisions.


• Maintain effective cash\-flow forecasting and support the organisation to plan expenditure sustainably.


• Support year\-end accounts and liaise with accountants, auditors and other external financial professionals.


• Maintain appropriate financial controls and ensure transactions are properly authorised and recorded.

• Manage invoicing and payment processes relating to student placements and other LAMP services.


• Monitor outstanding income and follow up unpaid invoices appropriately.


• Reconcile payments received against invoices and maintain accurate records of funding arrangements.


• Work with Local Authorities and other commissioners to resolve financial and invoicing queries.


• Maintain clear records of placement costs, agreed funding and changes to student packages.


• Support the development of LAMP's pricing model and provide financial analysis to inform annual fee reviews.

• Coordinate payroll information and liaise with payroll providers to ensure accurate and timely payment of staff.


• Maintain accurate records relating to salaries, pensions, additional hours, overtime and other payments.


• Support leaders with staffing cost projections and workforce planning.


• Provide financial modelling to support pay reviews, recruitment decisions and proposed changes to staffing structures.


• Support the administration of employment contracts and changes to terms and conditions.


• Work alongside the People \& Culture Lead and other senior leaders to ensure HR and payroll information is accurate and appropriately maintained.

• Coordinate purchasing and procurement processes across LAMP.


• Obtain and compare quotations where appropriate and support leaders to achieve good value for money.


• Maintain oversight of significant contracts, subscriptions and recurring expenditure.


• Maintain a contracts and renewal schedule to ensure services are reviewed before renewal.


• Support negotiations with suppliers and service providers.


• Develop proportionate purchasing and authorisation processes which provide effective financial control without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.


• Identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve efficiency and make better use of organisational resources.

• Provide Directors and Senior Leadership Team with accurate financial information to support effective decision\-making.


• Contribute to annual and longer\-term business planning.


• Produce financial modelling and scenario planning for proposed developments, including staffing changes, new courses, premises and capital expenditure.


• Support LAMP's continued growth and development by assessing the affordability and sustainability of proposals.


• Identify emerging financial and operational risks and ensure these are communicated appropriately to senior leaders.


• Contribute to the development of systems and processes that strengthen organisational resilience and accountability.

• Ensure financial processes comply with relevant legal, regulatory and organisational requirements.


• Maintain appropriate financial policies, procedures and records.


• Support Directors in meeting their financial and governance responsibilities.


• Provide financial evidence and documentation required for audits, commissioning arrangements, inspections and regulatory processes.


• Support LAMP's preparations for future registration and inspection requirements where these relate to finance, governance and business operations.


• Ensure financial and business records are retained securely and managed in accordance with GDPR and LAMP policies.

• Understand that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and act promptly on any safeguarding concerns in accordance with LAMP procedures.


• Ensure financial and business decisions take appropriate account of student welfare, accessibility and the needs of LAMP's autistic and neurodivergent community.


• Maintain appropriate confidentiality when handling financial, staffing and student information.


• Build positive and professional relationships with staff, families, commissioners, suppliers and external professionals.


• Contribute to a supportive, collaborative and solutions\-focused organisational culture.

• Follow all LAMP policies including safeguarding, equality, health \& safety, finance and GDPR.


• Maintain up\-to\-date knowledge of relevant school/business finance requirements and good practice and undertake appropriate CPD and professional development.


• Attend meetings, INSET and training as required.


• Undertake other duties reasonably requested by Directors or senior leaders which are consistent with the level and purpose of the role.

Benefits:

• Additional leave


• Casual dress


• Company events


• Company pension


• Enhanced maternity leave


• Enhanced paternity leave


• Flexitime


• Free parking


• On\-site parking


• Sick pay


• Work from home

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