Business Manager

Executive Position! Variety in Management Functions and Rewarding Benefits!

This excellent opportunity has arisen within this private Christian school, for a personable Business Manager with strategic leadership and business/financial operations management to be a part of this school’s inclusive, and caring community. This role is truly varied and offers excellent benefits!

Joining the executive leadership/management team, this well-established school has 220 students and 32 staff members. The role reports directly to the Principal and indirectly to the School Board. As part of the senior executive management team, the incumbent is responsible for the strategic leadership, business intelligence, sound business/financial management, and infrastructure of the school for growth sustainability. Also, cultivating the desired culture, building local community, successful performance management of non-teaching Support Services personnel, and building strong internal and external stakeholder relationships.
Although the school is an associated member of a national network, it is independent in its management and decision-making. The school has current expansion plans to facilitate growth. The location of the school is about 30 minutes drive, north of the Adelaide CBD.

The ideal candidate will naturally be a person of integrity, warm-natured, relational, transparent, team-oriented, and community-focused. An effective manager of people and resources, sharp business acumen, innovative approach, and an excellent communicator. An ability to build unsurpassed service standards and happy teams who desire to contribute to the growth of the school is vital.

The Business Manager is directly managing 8 and overseeing another 9 staff in the non-teaching Support Services departments. This leader fosters a relational, customer-centric, and growth culture. The ability to help staff see the bigger picture and how their contribution is vital to the growth of the school.

The Support Services departments include Business/Finance, ICT (contracted), Property and Facilities, Grounds & Garden, LSOs, and Transport. Other key responsibilities will include Project Management, Human Resources, Risks & Compliance. In addition, co-oversee Learning Support Officers, Marketing, and Canteen. Some functionality of responsibilities will include teaching personnel.

Reporting to the Principal, some key responsibilities are:  

• Strategic leadership, development, and monitoring of a 10-year business plan.
• Deliver the desired culture and key outcomes of the School.
• Support, and advise the Principal and School Board in business operational and fiscal management decisions.
• Provide monthly financials, data analysis, budget preparation & forecasts, cash flow reporting, and business matters at Board Meetings for sound decision making.
• Insightful analysis from data analytics to uncover valuable insights into financials, identify process improvements that can increase efficiency, and better manage risks.
• Predictive analytics in using existing data to identify trends, more accurate planning, and forecasting.
• Set up, monitor, and report key business metrics on the School’s performance and operational health.
• Ensure the business/financial systems are robust, secure, and compliant to support the current and future activities of the school.
• Develop non-teaching Support Services teams in delivering exceptional customer-centric services and targeted KPIs.
• Assess, evaluate, and streamline the business/financial systems and processes, to reduce cost and increase performance.
• Maintain robust financial procedures and framework controls in the annual audit process and subsequent reporting.
• Project Manage capital works and other ad hoc projects to specific deadlines.
• Implement effective risks mitigation strategies.
• Ensure all departments are adhering to the best practices, policies, and procedures.
• Ensure all records and data management storage are transparent and secure.
• Negotiate with suppliers and renew contracts.
• Deliver Human Resources functions to non-teaching personnel.
• Ensure all risks & compliance standards, data management, systems, and processes are up to audit and legislative standards.
• Work closely with the Principal on industrial awards matters and Enterprise Agreement.
• Co-oversee creative marketing to increase brand awareness and enrolments.
• Attend after-hours meetings and functions.

An attractive benefit is the bi-monthly Leadership Meetings at Head Office, where brilliant minds can come together to contribute, share and learn from each other, with counterparts from other schools within this national network. On top of this, there is available support from the Business Director and Business Analyst at Head Office. Also, all accrued benefits are transferable to another role (within the national network), and an additional 4% of the annual salary cash component p.a., is available for training and development. An attractive remuneration package is on offer with a 5-year contract tenure and 5 weeks annual leave.

Candidates with proven strategic and operational management experience within complex business environments, and successful business/financial management are essential. Ideally, the candidate will have either a CPA/CA, MBA, or other Business and Finance qualifications. Management experience within the commercial, not-for-profit, or education sector is ideal. Any knowledge of governance would be an advantage.

Strong computer skills in MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint are crucial.

This role commences in July but could be earlier if desired. Please submit your covering letter and resume with all relevant experience quoting Ref: TB8473BM.

For a confidential phone enquiry:
Contact Theresa
Bunyon Recruitment
Tel: 08 8238 3490 (Reception)