Overview
The Business & Operations Manager is a senior leadership role designed to oversee the financial, administrative, and quality standards across all three Morning Star Nursery settings. This position acts as the Managing Director's primary support, ensuring the business is financially sound, legally compliant, and delivering a high standard of Early Years education to our 80 children.
35 hours a week, shifts may be 9am-5pm or 10am-6pm
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial & Funding Administration
- Parent Invoicing: Lead the monthly billing cycle and manage all parent account queries via the Blossom platform.
- Government Funding: Manage the submission and reconciliation of 15 and 30-hour government funding claims via the local authority portals.
- Expenditure Tracking: Monitor branch income and outgoings, including Kids Milk claims and nursery supply budgets.
- Debt Management: Proactively manage fee collections and ensure all accounts are settled in line with nursery policy.
HR, Recruitment & Compliance
- Safer Recruitment: Lead the vetting process for new hires, including "Right to Work" checks and qualification verification.
- DBS Oversight: Manage the centralized DBS Update Service records and maintain a flawless Single Central Record (SCR).
- Audit Readiness: Ensure all three branches remain 100% compliant with OFSTED administrative and health & safety requirements.
- Onboarding: Manage the administrative induction and HR files for all new staff members.
Quality Assurance & Communication
- Staff Observations: Use Early Years expertise to conduct regular room observations and audits to ensure curriculum excellence across all sites.
- Parent Partnership: Act as the primary liaison for the Parent Committee and lead professional nursery tours for prospective families.
- Internal Communications: Produce high-quality monthly newsletters for parents and staff.
- Meeting Governance: Organize and take professional minutes for staff and management meetings.
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
- Experience: Proven background in nursery administration, deputy management, or senior leadership.
- Qualifications: Minimum Level 3 in Early Years/Childcare OR Level 3 in Business Administration with significant experience in a childcare setting.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in Blossom, government funding portals, and Microsoft Office.
- Skills: Exceptional organizational skills, the ability to manage time across multiple sites, and a warm, professional communication style.
MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (FIRST 90 DAYS)
1. Financial & Funding Accuracy
- Zero Funding Gaps: 100% of 15 and 30-hour funding codes are validated and submitted before the Local Authority "headcount" deadlines.
- Blossom Accuracy: Monthly invoices are issued on time with a 0% error rate on standard billing.
- Debt Reduction: Maintain parent arrears at less than 3% of total monthly turnover.
2. HR & Compliance Health
- SCR Audit: The Single Central Record (SCR) is 100% complete for all staff across all 3 branches, with no missing DBS or Right to Work documents.
- Onboarding Speed: New starter paperwork (references, health checks, and contracts) is completed within 7 days of an offer being made.
3. Quality & Growth
- Observation Cycle: Each branch receives at least one formal "Room Observation" per month with written feedback provided to the MD.
- Tour Conversion: Maintain a 50% "Tour-to-Registration" rate (ensuring half the parents who tour the nursery sign up).
- Engagement: A high-quality parent newsletter is sent by the last Friday of every month.
Pay: £25,916.80-£29,120.00 per year
Application question(s):
Work Location: In person
