Central Services Senior Administrator (The Sycamore Church of England Trust Wide Services)
Location: Bury, UK
Education Phase: Primary
Working Pattern: Part-Time
Contract Type: Permanent
Application Deadline: Monday, 1st September 2025
About us
It is a great privilege for me to lead The Sycamore Church of England Trust. Our aim is to be 'the trust of choice' for both faith based and community schools who share in our vision and values.
We have at the centre of our mission and purpose the belief that every child has a right to educational excellence through the provision of high-quality schooling. Our trust maintains a clear focus on collaboration, raising standards, encouraging innovation, and strengthening our distinctive ethos to ensure that we have a positive impact on the young people and in the diverse communities that we serve.
Our trust has a strong and unique identity where the values of inclusion, compassion, aspiration, resilience and excellence lie at the heart of everything we do. These values are embraced by our team of trustees, leaders, teachers, staff, parents, and children alike.
We place great importance on what we do and how we do it. Our values underpin our interactions with each other and strengthen our sense of family. Children are placed at the heart of everything we do. Our central team is committed to serving schools in a manner that enables them to be great schools, doing great things that enable every child to both flourish and succeed. If you would like any further information on our Trust, please do not hesitate to contact us
Trust Leader
The Sycamore CE Trust
Job Description
The Sycamore CE Trust are seeking to appoint a proactive and highly motivated Central Services Senior Administrator to join our Trust Central Team.
As the Central Services Senior Administrator, you will support various business projects, demonstrating the drive and initiative needed to complete varied and complex tasks. You will be at the core of our trust's operations, working closely with senior leaders and the Central Services Coordinator to support all functions, including Finance, HR, Teaching and Learning, and Operations. Your role will be crucial in prioritising tasks, meeting deadlines, ensuring compliance, and managing multiple workstreams in a fast-paced environment.
General Administration
* Provide an effective and efficient administrative support function within the Central Team, ensuring that all communications and correspondence are dealt with in an efficient and effective manner and taking initiative where appropriate to resolve administrative matters.
* Provide personal administrative and organisational support to the Trust Leader (TL), Director of Operations (DoO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), liaising with relevant parties to organise meetings and appointments etc.
* Plan and manage events such as growth events, meetings and conferences. This will include setting and promoting dates and the creation and production of high-quality resources. Attendance may be required at out-of-hour events to welcome and support guests.
* Provide administrative and organisational assistance to support the development and continual improvement of the services provided by the Trust Central Team. This will include collating information, preparing accurate letters and communications, entering and compiling data and information for the creation of a range of high-quality documentation and preparation or submission of data to meet statutory reporting deadlines.
* Support schools, as needed, in the implementation of trust wide processes, systems and procedures, aspiring for excellence in line with our Trust values.
Compliance
* Update appointed policies requiring review in a timely manner, ensuring these are shared appropriately and effectively with stakeholders and across platforms such as SharePoint and websites.
* Take part in, as directed, internal audits identifying areas for improvement, either addressing or escalating compliance concerns with all relevant legislation and statutory guidance.
* Maintain trust logs appropriately, keeping abreast of good practice and updating and sharing templates trust wide, as needed. ·
Marketing
* Assist with the marketing and branding of the Trust in line with current templates and blueprints.
* Update the websites and social media in line with the Trust values.
* Contribute to the creation of staff newsletters and CPD communications.
Finance
* Support with Trust led procurement activity to achieve value for money with support and guidance from the Trust’s CFO and/or DOO.
* To participate in an annual inventory check of all items in each respective school site.
* Monitor and record trust wide assets that are to be written off, ensuring reports are provided termly to the Chief Financial Officer.
* Complete all required actions to support the Trust’s monthly and year-end financial management timetable within stipulated deadlines.
* Ensure purchase orders and sales invoices are raised centrally on the Trust’s financial management system for approval by the relevant person and purchasing cards are reconciled monthly within the agreed deadline.
To maintain the trust-based contract and asset register
* Monitor and action communications sent to the Finance email for the trust
Human Resources
* Generate offer letters, acknowledgment of resignations, contracts and contractual changes letters using templates built into our new in-house system. These will be produced, checked and sent within a timely manner, escalating where necessary to the HR Operational Lead.
* Using current systems, generate monthly reports and upload this to the payroll portal within the required timeframe escalating any queries to the HR Operational Lead.
* Request DBS checks in line with our guidance for new starters and governance, escalating these to the HR Operational Lead where needed.
* Request pre-employment health checks for identified roles for new starters within the trust.
* Create identity badges using the Trust ID Badge Machine, software and templates.
* Send out exit interviews and arrange face to face interviews on behalf of the HR Operational Lead or Director of Operations, as needed.
* Maintain the trust single central record, identifying any issues to the Central Services Coordinator or the HR Operational Lead.
* Oversee completion of annual documentation for trustees and local governors, ensuring attendance records are accurately kept and our systems are fully utilised to streamline processes.
* Ensure that the trust and school websites contain all information which is required to meet statutory requirements, including the publication of information related to governance.
* Update GIAS with changes or updates to governance within specified timeframes to ensure compliance.
* Maintain records of signed meetings and membership lists of trustees, directing and supporting schools with relation to local academy committees.
ICT and Systems Management:
* Support schools, as needed, in the implementation of trust wide processes, systems and procedures, aspiring for excellence in line with our Trust values.
* Support the development of ICT systems, including the implementation of cyber security initiatives across the Trust.
* Participate in the creation of effective and streamlined processes, utilising systems, creating documentation and supporting staff as needed throughout implementation
All employees of The Sycamore CE Trust have a responsibility for, and must be committed to, safeguarding, and promoting the welfare of children and young people and for ensuring that they are protected from harm.
In addition, we expect all employees to:
* Be aware of, support and contribute to the ethos and values of the Trust.
* Recognise your own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to support and advise others.
* Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required.
* Familiarise themselves with, and adhere to, all relevant Trust Policies and Procedures
* Comply with the Trust’s Health and Safety requirements.
* Maintain high professional standards of attendance, punctuality, appearance, conduct and positive, courteous relations with all stakeholders.
· Additional To Note:
This is an outline job description only and the post holder will be expected to undertake duties commensurate within the range and grade of the post or any other reasonable duties as directed by the Trust. Duties may be subject to periodic review, in consultation with the postholder, to reflect the changing work composition of the Trust.
Working Hours: 32.5 hours per week, term time + 2 weeks (to be worked over 5 days with additional working to be worked in school closure as per business need). We will also consider full time/full year for the right candidate. Please express your preference in your application.
Base: Central Team Office (currently based at St John’s CE Primary School)
Grade: 8 £27711 - £30060 (actual salary £21,939 - £23,799 with pay award pending)
Contract: Permanent
Required From: 1st September 2025
We are looking for someone who has:
· Proven experience working in a varied, fast paced role, working within a busy operational team.
· Experience of providing exceptional administrative and strategic support.
· A proactive attitude to all tasks, demonstrating initiative and meticulous attention to detail.
· Excellent communication skills, being able to support a variety of stakeholders in person, online and through production of high-quality documentation.
· Fully embraces the iCare values of our Trust and the opportunities that working within our Trust offers.
In return we can offer:
· A collaborative and supportive trust wide team that values your contributions.
· Trust wide opportunities and CPD to develop your skills, experience, and professional development.
· The opportunity to make a positive impact across our school communities.
· Experience across all operational functions including Finance, HR, Operations and Teaching and Learning
· A Trust committed to the wellbeing of our staff with access to a full range of confidentially offered wellbeing services including counselling, free flu jabs, online GP appointments and physiotherapy.
Desired Criteria
* Qualification, or relevant training and experience for example, in Finance, HR, ICT.
* Willingness to participate in relevant training and development opportunities to continually improve your knowledge and skills.
* Have a high standard of education, literacy and numeracy (A-C/4+ Mathematics and English at GCSE or equivalent).
* Experience of general clerical/administrative/data inputting.
* Demonstrates initiative by understanding what is required and being proactive in the journey to completion.
* ICT literate and able to use a variety of Microsoft software, including Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point and information systems or databases.
* Attention to detail with the ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
* Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders (internal and external)
* Effective communicator with highly developed interpersonal skills.
* Ability to work effectively within a team environment, understanding the different roles and responsibilities within a school and trust.
* Maintains confidentiality and is able to remain impartial.
* Is resilient and responds well to pressure, deadlines, interruptions and conflicting demands.
* Is driven to continually develop and extend own working practices and understanding of systems and processes.
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