School operations business manager job

[Formular121]

I need help!!

I want to apply for a school operations manager I am a finance officer with some general admin management and looking through the job description I believe I could do all areas of the job however I’ve never worked within the education system before. What are the most importance aspects to know? I know communication/leadership is part of showing this at the interview, but will it go against me I’ve never worked within a school

and would I have an interview and tests or just an interview

Yes there will probably be some tests too.
Re education read up on the meaning of safeguarding and prevent. Standard interview questions are what do you understand by the terms safeguarding and prevent?

Also look for the details of the governance of the school on the website, if the minutes of the meetings are available give them a read. Also read the most recent ofsted report.

there might be an in tray exercise where you have to prioritise things that happen - or what to do in an emergency situation. generally anything to do with safeguarding will come out as the most important.

Just wondering if you were ever successful in gaining this role with no school based experience? Considering the same myself

yes i was - you just need to be clued up on school things (safe guarding, policies etc) and the rest is just transferrable skills.. good luck!

That’s really encouraging. I’ve been in social care a long time and lead in areas like safeguarding, h and s, compliance, hr functions, recruitment, bid writing, budget management etc. but never in a school and although I have a degree no relevant transferable qualifications.

ive been wondering about getting a basic financial qualification just to boost my applications?

I will go for them as I see them, I guess it’s a case of who else applies really!

hmmm qualification might not be necessary - experience could suffice but if you have spare time then I don't see the harm! You can probably find some free online courses with certificates to print too. if you apply for one and don't get it - ask for feedback and see if that has any relevance.
I say this but I did already have a finance qualification from a previous job so maybe that did help me get it..
Sounds like you have a lot of good experience in the bank ! :-)

Many of these jobs go to accountants these days. They are very money focussed. Safeguarding won’t be what they really want to know about. So I’d get familiar with school finance. Being a governor on a school finance committee would really help. Have they given an indication of skills they want as opposed to a job description? Many schools pay over £60,000 for this role and often it’s a key support to SLT. Primary schools pay less but it’s a key job so doing an in tray test won’t hack it.

I worked as a business manager in two schools, I've also interviewed for business managers and other school admin roles.

Unfortunately for you, schools do put enormous emphasis on school experience. Heads don't understand the role, as a general rule, so they need to know that the person coming in does. I don't think I'd have got either job if I hadn't first taken a role as a finance assistant in school.

Fwiw, I think school experience is the least important aspect and your other skills will be far more useful to the school.

The panel will be most interested (worried about) the finance aspect so make sure you have good answers on funding streams, budget setting and monitoring.

Also H&S management in schools.