Bursar - Grade 7

Overview

Hours: 35 hours per week ( 5 days: Monday - Friday 8:45am - 3:45pm) or 28 hours per week (4 days 8:45am - 3:45pm - days to be negotiated)

Salary: Grade 7 FTE £31,537 - £34,434 - (actual £25,740 - £28,104 (5 days) or £20,592 - £22,483 (4 days))

Contract: Permanent

Contract: 39 week contract (school term times)

DBS check: Enhanced

Closing date: 12:00pm noon Friday 30th January 2026

Interviews: Tuesday 3rd February 2026

Starting date: Monday 23rd February 2026

Chelford CE Primary School is a successful, rural school serving the thriving village of Chelford, set within the heart of the Cheshire countryside between Knutsford and Macclesfield. We are delighted to offer the opportunity for an enthusiastic, highly-motivated and creative person to play a vital role in supporting the School vision and assisting the School’s continued growth and development.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the efficient and secure management of the School’s finances, procurement, aspects of HR, premises and administration on a day-to-day basis, reporting to and working in liaison with the Headteacher and Governors. The role will also involve managing the Management Information System (Arbor), to include completing the termly census, annual school workforce census and Health and Safety duties as detailed below.

Although it is desirable for applicants to have had previous relevant experience in an education setting, it is not essential and therefore applications will be welcomed from those who can offer appropriate skills and experience outside education.

The post requires good organisational skills, the ability to think strategically and someone who is empathetic towards education and learning. We are looking to appoint someone who is a strong communicator; who can demonstrate excellent numeracy and literacy skills; who can problem solve, and who has leadership qualities. The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate commitment to the School’s vision and ethos, show integrity, self- awareness, excellent interpersonal skills, a good sense of humour and flexibility to work within a small school community.

The role is offered for 5 days or 4 days, depending on the candidate’s preference. A five-day post equates to 35 hours per week on a 39-week contract (Monday - Friday); a four-day post is 28 hours per week on a 39-week contract.

Chelford CE Primary School is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. The appointment will only be confirmed after successful DBS checks and relevant safeguarding checks have been carried out.

Role and responsibilities

Front door: To manage the front door of the school, offering a professional, polite and personable presence, consistent with the values of the school.
Finance: To manage matters relating to school finances and to make recommendations to the Headteacher and Governors.
Human Resources: To be responsible for the School’s Human Resources management and administration.
Human Resources: To lead appraisals, manage and coordinate non-teaching staff.
Premises and Health and Safety: To manage the School premises and compliance with Health and Safety regulations.
Adapt to challenges that may arise on the instruction and direction of the Headteacher.

Front door

The jobholder will:

Provide a warm welcome to all visitors to school. As the 'first contact' of the school, a polite, friendly and personable tone is essential. This includes welcoming families for class / school concerts, performances and presentations.
Ensure that emails are accessed, forwarded or responded to on a daily basis and in a timely manner.
Deal with telephone calls and voicemails ensuring messages are delivered on time and accurately.
Deal with face-to-face enquiries guaranteeing excellent service at all times.
Ensure that all necessary Safeguarding / Health and Safety checks are completed for all visitors.
Provide hospitality for visitors to the School.
Carry out general photocopying and laminating duties as required.
Ensure that the stationery store is always tidy and to replenish low stock.
Receive goods and other items (including pupils’ personal possessions) and ensure they reach the correct destination.
Liaising between families and wrap-around care provision regarding bookings if required.
Ensuring effective and timely communications, including consents and payments, are in place through the School's MIS Arbor.
Manage the school diary ensuring preparations for upcoming events are in place e.g. arranging staff cover for planned absence, communicating events to parents, ordering supplies, preparing resources.

Financial Policy and Strategic Planning

The jobholder will:

Be responsible for the management and administration of the School’s finances using the accounting software used by Cheshire East Council - Unit 4.
Be responsible preparing and formulating the school budget to enable the Governing Body to make accurate management decisions.
Arrange best value insurance to cover all areas of school operations, including operation of the school minibus.
Be responsible for raising orders and processing invoices within the School finance system under guidance from the Headteacher.
Manage and administer the School’s bank account, reconciling bank statements and maintaining accurate records. Reporting all spending directly to the Headteacher on a monthly basis.
Assist the Headteacher in implementing ‘value for money’ and ‘best value’ and planning the future needs of the School by upholding business-like work practices and adhering to the School's Manual of Internal Financial Procedures.
Assist the Headteacher with the preparation of documentation required for Finance Meetings.
Assist the Headteacher in preparing annual statements such as the Pupil Premium Strategy and Sports Funding Strategy for publication.
Arrange payment and collect monies relating to school meals. Ensure accurate records relating to school meals are maintained.
Assist Headteacher and Governors in submitting financial audits such as the School’s Financial Value Standard SFVS.
Liaise with teachers to cost and book visitors and trips ensuring best value for money.
Ensure that provisions provided by school as part of the Pupil Premium grant - music lessons, extra-curricular clubs etc... are reconciled in a timely manner and records maintained.
To produce communication to parents/carers with regard to all educational visits.
To manage and reconcile all funds in relation to school visits.
To manage the bookings, invoicing and payments associated with the leasing of the School minibus.
Manage and reconcile the online payment system and monitor payments to ensure that debts are not accumulated.
Collect, count and bank any cash received, maintain an accurate record to ensure that all monies are accounted for.
Chase up any outstanding debts.
Ensure the school fund account is audited on an annual basis.
To liaise with the Headteacher and Governors to maximise income - for example, through leasing of premises, photocopying etc...
Support the Headteacher in completing the termly census.
Ensure that all payments are managed accurately through Arbor.
Liaise with the PTA Treasurer to ensure funds are managed between the PTA and school budget in a professional and timely manner.
Oversee the free school milk and free school fruit schemes and manage pupil entitlement.
Ensure that all goods disposed of are removed from the Asset Register in line with the School Disposal Policy.
Ensure all goods received are dispatched to the correct member of staff and ensure that all valuable goods received are added to the Asset Register.

Health and Safety and Premises Management

The jobholder will:

Ensure that all cyclical Health and Safety maintenance checks are completed in liaison with School site staff.
Assist with the day-to-day management of Health and Safety, including risk assessments and preparation with annual Health and Safety inspections.
Ensure that appropriately-qualified tradespeople are appointed to carry out works as necessary.
Ensure the annual maintenance of equipment and systems is completed in a timely manner. To collate all records in preparation of Health and Safety / Compliance audits.
Liaise with building control, project managers, architects regarding building projects.
Ensure all medical kits are replenished and supplies are available.
Ensure risk assessments for all school visits and trips are completed and submitted via the Evolve portal in a timely manner.
To manage contracts and agreements for leasing of School premises, including liaising with solicitors where necessary.

Human Resources

The jobholder will:

Ensure that all pre-employment checks are undertaken and all documents checked and recorded.
Ensure that the Single Central Record is correct and kept up to date.
Ensure that all absences and extra hours/overtime are correctly recorded and claims are submitted on time.
Book courses for staff as required by the Headteacher.
Support the Headteacher in ensuring that all HR policies are up to date and compliant.
Ensure that staff declaration of pecuniary interest forms are completed annually (including any new staff).
Lead induction for new staff, trainee teachers and volunteers.
Complete the School’s Workforce Census.
Ensure that staff’s HR paper and electronic files are accurate and up to date.
Distribute HR policy documentation to staff and keep records acknowledging the contents of relevant policies, (including Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, Whistleblowing Policy, Pay and Conditions Policy, Staff Discipline, Conduct and Grievance Policy) have been understood.
Manage and supervise the performance of non-teaching School staff (caretaker, mid-day assistants).
Coordinate timetables and working hours for non-teaching staff in collaboration with the Headteacher.
Oversee administration of recruitment processes for all staff.

Safeguarding:

The jobholder will:

In liaison with Headteacher, ensure that all School staff and Governors have received Basic Awareness Training on a three-year cycle and records are stored securely. For staff working in Early Years, this will be every two-years.
Distribute Safeguarding policy documentation to staff and keep records acknowledging the contents of relevant policies, (including Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and Keeping Children Safe in Education document) have been understood.

Managing Continuing Professional Development:

The jobholder will:

In liaison with external providers, complete the administration for training courses held for all staff.
Undertake CPD relating to all aspects of duties and responsibilities.

Additional responsibilities:

Working in a small school such as Chelford provides opportunities for the successful candidate to take an active part across wider school operations. This role also includes monitoring and supervision of pupils at playtimes and supporting pupils in the dining room. These roles are arranged on a timetabled basis.

Personal Qualities

Our pupils are looking forward to working with a bursar who will:

always be pleased to see them
make them feel happy, safe and valued
is happy to help
will help to keep them safe and help to resolve disagreements at playtime in a caring manner

Our Headteacher and School Governors are looking for a teacher who:

shows excellence and professionalism in all that they do
works with diligence and efficiency and takes pride in their work
can communicate effectively - in person, telephone and through email
is able to work with initiative, manage their own time effectively and be proactive in identifying and responding to the needs of the school
is adaptable and flexible and willing to support colleagues, children and families
provide a warm welcome to our visitors
can liaise with outside agencies, services and organisations
show empathy and understanding to help support families

Our staff are looking for a colleague who:

is kind, caring and supportive
possesses a good sense of humour and excellent teamwork ethic
liaise with agencies, such as HR, on their behalf
can advise of matters relating to HR, pay, pensions etc....
can support with IT systems
ensures that resources and equipment are replenished and well-maintained
support and assist with unexpected events and challenges that may arise

Salary & Benefits

Salary: Grade 7 FTE £31,537 - £34,434 - (actual £25,740 - £28,104 (5 days) or £20,592 - £22,483 (4 days))

Location

Chelford Primary School
Oak Road
Chelford
Macclesfield
SK119AY

Supporting documents

Deadline and how to apply

Applications should be emailed to Andy Brady (Headteacher) at head@chelford.cheshire.sch.uk and include a completed Cheshire East application form and covering letter to outline your suitability for the role. To download the application form and job information pack visit the School website: https://www.chelford.cheshire.sch.uk/Vacancies/