Job description

We are seeking to recruit a School Business Manager, to lead, set the direction for and manage the School Business support team. They will oversee the delivery of business support services (finance and HR), for all students and academic staff within the School of Education, Communication and Society; providing high level support to the Head of School and Head of School Administration in achieving the School’s strategic and operational aims. The post-holder also takes a lead role in managing the financial arrangements for the School’s Initial Teacher Training (PGCE) programmes.   

The successful candidate will be a member of a friendly and vibrant professional services team within the School of Education, Communication and Society in the Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy.  The role holder will manage a Senior Business Support Officer. 

The successful applicant will have significant experience in managing financial and human resources and will share our wider commitment to social justice and service to society. 

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract 

This is a full-time  post -100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

• To manage, lead and develop the School’s business support team and function with responsibility for its service provision  
• To produce policy, procedures and guidelines on business support processes across the School, working with key colleagues in the School (e.g Research, Comms, Technical Services, Education teams) and in liaison with the Faculty and University. 
• To manage the School’s financial resources and budgets in compliance with relevant policies and regulations. This includes: providing advice to the Head of School, Head of School Administration and other colleagues on financial matters; monitoring performance against targets and key performance indicators to produce reports as necessary; providing financial advice and guidance across the School in the development of income generating activities such as consultancy, short courses and executive education, and supporting contracts and service agreements  
• To manage and support the financial and audit requirements relating to the School’s delivery of its Initial Teaching Training (ITT) PGCE courses, including: leading and supporting the processes relating to the School’s annual audit cycle e.g. with external auditors and the Department for Education, ensuring completion of audit requirements, liaising with key stakeholders to ensure effective completion of all tasks in the School e.g. PGCE team, academics and across the College e.g. Finance, Analytics, Admissions, and the Department for Education; assessing teacher trainees for bursary/scholarship eligibility and setting up/processing required payments and managing all income and expenditure effectively and ensuring compliance with the DfE funding agreements; leading on the processing of payments to partner School’s for hosting placements:; working with colleagues to complete related statutory data returns through HESA, and supporting the management of related funding awards from the Department for Education. 
• To lead and manage all processes relating to the employment for School hourly paid staff e.g. Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), Hourly Paid Lecturers (HPLs) and Guest Lecturers,  including responsibility for the annual planning processes, recruitment, induction and payment processes 
• To oversee the School’s financial processing including purchasing, invoicing, and expenses claims, and paying people for work completed.  
• To take responsibility for the provision and/or dissemination of relevant Faculty and School-level policy and procedures, in accordance with College regulations. 
• To oversee the School’s recruitment processes, including preparing business cases, obtaining approval for posts, job packs, arranging advertising, interviews and induction, liaising with key School staff and the Human Resources Department as necessary. 
• To support the Head of School, Head of School Administration in implementing HR processes across the School, such as induction, probation, promotions, performance development review, recognition pay, etc. 
• To work across the School to ensure compliance with HR regulations and policies (such as monitoring staff on visas, overseeing recruitment processes, employment of bought-in staff, managing fixed-term contract expiry dates, etc.), liaising with the HR directorate and providing guidance as necessary. 
• To manage the process of recording and reporting the School’s academic workload data including making sure it is entered into Simitive. 
• To provide support to the Head of School and Head of School Administration in planning academic workloads and future staff recruitment. 
• To contribute to development of Business function processes across the Faculty as requested e.g. contributing to Faculty Business Network meetings, taking on Faculty-roles in relation to key business areas as requested.  
• To support the Technical Services Manager in compiling cases for resourcing of major estates projects within the School e.g purchasing major laboratory items furnishing and IT equipment. 
• Work closely with the Technical Services Manager on all issues relating Health and Safety compliance. 
• To deputise on behalf of the Head of School Administration and for other Professional Services Function Leads within the School as requested/required. 

Essential criteria  

1.      Educated to degree level or equivalent experience 

2.      Excellent working knowledge and familiarisation with the universities policies and procedures including financial regulations 

3.      Proven ability to provide financial advice to Senior Management, in managing multiple budgets and the provision of budget monitoring information. 

4.      Highly proficient IT skills (databases, Excel, Word and PowerPoint) 

5.      Excellent communication skills with a proven ability to quickly build effective working relationships with key stakeholders 

6.      Demonstrable project management skills 

7.      Experience of leading and managing HR processes and procedures 

8.      Experience of working in an administrative environment within the HE sector 

9.      Demonstrable experience of strategic planning and policy development 

10.    High level ability to persuade and negotiate 

Desirable criteria

1.      Experience of working in a regulated environment with restricted external funding.