business manager - freshwater creek steiner school.

Freshwater Creek Steiner School is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Business Manager to join our senior leadership team. This part-time role (24-32 hours per week) is crucial to the success of our school, overseeing finance, administration, human resources, and operational management. The Business Manager works collaboratively with the Head of School, leaders from Early Childhood, Primary School, College of Teachers, and the School Council. A willingness to support the ethos and values of FWCSS is essential.

About the Role:

The Business Manager is accountable to the Head of School and the School Council, providing reports on finance, administration, and operations. This role involves leading end-of-year reporting, audits, budget setting, forecasting, and financial strategic planning. You will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with financial policies and procedures, managing IT systems related to finance, and submitting statutory reports.

Key responsibilities include:

• Financial Oversight: Managing accounts, payroll, fee collection, debtor management, government grants, and acquittals. Leading financial risk management, capital works, projects, and school community initiatives.
• Administration Team Leadership: Overseeing administration staff, reviewing systems and performance.
• IT Management: Managing school-wide IT systems, including hardware and software purchases.
• Marketing & Communications: Overseeing school marketing, promotion, and communications in collaboration with the admin team and Leadership.
• Project Management: Overseeing school projects related to the Master Plan, compliance, or community initiatives, including reporting for grant-funded projects.
• Human Resources: Ensuring staff contracts, pay rates, and entitlements comply with the FWCSS Agreement and National Employment Standards. Preparing contracts and maintaining compliance documents.
• Asset, Building, and Grounds Maintenance: Working with the Operations Manager to plan and budget annual maintenance, and overseeing the Operations Manager to ensure assets, grounds, and buildings are maintained to appropriate standards. Contributing to contractor selection.
• Compliance: Overseeing OH&S and ensuring compliance with ACECQA, VRQA, Worksafe, and other statutory authorities. Managing Workcover claims.
• Communication: Maintaining clear and positive communication in accordance with FWCSS values with individuals, families, staff, School Council, and external bodies.

Essential Requirements:

• Tertiary level qualifications in Business, Finance, Accounting, Management, Commerce, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated understanding of business leadership, including financial management and oversight, strategic planning, team management, and operational decision-making.
• Proven ability to prioritize and organize tasks and projects effectively.
• Excellent understanding and experience of managing finances using current Financial IT systems (MYOB preferred).
• Sound understanding of OHS, risk management, and compliance.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong negotiating skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to work independently and in a team, including building and supervising small teams.
• Demonstrable understanding of relevant policy and/or legislation pertaining to education in Victoria (e.g., Student Welfare, Child Safety, Bullying, anti-discrimination).
• Sound knowledge and confidence in using IT systems relevant to school management, including financial management software (MYOB preferred) and Microsoft Office suite.
• Current National Police Check and Employee Working with Children Check (or willingness to obtain)
• Capacity to attend out-of-hours meetings.
  
  

Desirable Attributes:

• An active interest in Steiner education and its contemporary expression
• Experience working in a school environment or similar
• Experience with student database systems
• Imaginative approach to problem-solving and community initiatives
• Flexibility in relation to work hours
• An interest in personal development and growth
• Personal commitment to sustainability and protection of the natural environment

To Apply:

Please submit your CV and a single page Cover Letter addressing the key selection criteria listed above. Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted as they are received. Applications for this position will close Friday August 8th 2025.

Eden Govus - Recruitment Consultant
eden.govus@randstad.com.au 0411126251
12 Shorts Pl, Geelong VIC 3220

REGVIC2410