School Business Manager

Overview and Responsibilities

School Business Manager

Location: Horsham, West Sussex

Contract Type: Permanent, full-time, full year

Hours: 40 hours per week

Salary: £43,000 - £47,000 per annum, depending on experience

Aurora Vincent House School

We are a new SEND secondary school in the heart of Horsham, West Sussex for young people who are predominantly autistic aged 11-19, opened in September 2025. We support a range of young people who have faced challenges in mainstream education, and support them through therapy, education and wellbeing to thrive now and in the future. As part of our next stage of development, we are looking to hire an experienced school business manager to join the senior leadership of the school.

The Role:

This position is a key role within our Senior Leadership Team with the responsibility of ensuring the smooth, efficient and economical running of each of the support departments (including Finance, Administration, HR, Facilities and Site Maintenance, Health and Safety, Housekeeping and Catering) to keep our school is safe, compliant, financially sound and delivering great outcomes for our young people within our budget.

Please note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of Vincent House School when required, Please see the link below for our full job description:

Job Description - School Business Manager

Skills and Qualifications

Successful candidates are likely to demonstrate:

• Previous School Business Manager experience preferred
• The ability to organise and effectively communicate with senior stakeholders and multiple operational teams.
• The ability to manage and deliver multiple projects of all sizes collaboratively
• A keen willingness to learn and an enthusiasm to be involved in all aspects of school life.
• A supportive, approachable, flexible and solution focused mindset.
• Previous experience of working in a similar setting is advantageous but not a requirement. You must though be dedicated to understanding and learning about Autism and a range of special education needs.

We offer:

• A rare opportunity for you to create and grow a school as a senior leader. You will be integral to ensuring the success of a provision that will change the lives of many young people and their families within the community.
• Support for you within the school and the Aurora Group to be innovative and autonomous with a network of other SBMs to collaborate with.
• You will be fully involved in ensuring the building of, and development of the facilities are appropriate for the purpose of Vincent House School.
• It is an exciting time to be part of Aurora and this is a unique career opportunity to make your mark on our growing services.

Benefits and Additional Information

What's on Offer at Aurora?

We believe in supporting you as much as we support the children and young people in our care. Here's a snapshot of the fantastic benefits waiting for you:

Grow with Us - Training & Development

Learning never stops at Aurora! We offer a wide range of training programmes and career development opportunities to help you build your skills and reach your goals.

Save Money on Everyday Essentials

With the rising cost of living, our Perkbox app helps you stretch your money further:

• Discounts on groceries, phone plans, internet, dining out, gym memberships & more
• Access to our Cycle to Work and Car Scheme

Access Wagestream - a financial wellbeing app that helps you track earnings, save, get expert money advice, and even access part of your pay early when needed

Competitive Pay & Reward

We regularly benchmark our pay and benefits to stay ahead of the curve. You'll enjoy:

• Enhanced Annual Leave
• Company Sick Pay
• Enhanced Pension
• Life Assurance

24/7 GP Access - For You & Your Household

Need a doctor? No problem. Book a phone or video appointment anytime, day or night. This service covers everyone in your household.

UK Health Cash Plan

Cover everyday healthcare costs like dental and optician bills. You and your children are included in the scheme, and you can upgrade to add your partner too!

Employee Assistance Programme

Your wellbeing matters. Get confidential support on a wide range of issues, including:

• Freephone counselling (available 24/7)
• Online tools and resources

Refer a Friend - Earn £1,000!

Know someone who'd be a great fit? Refer them and get rewarded!( Terms apply)

How to Apply:

For candidates that haven't worked in this sector before please be aware that for regulatory reasons the application process is far more detailed and thorough compared to other sectors.

Please complete the online application form in full, including all employment and education details, and provide a personal statement that makes us keen to speak to you.

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unle