What is the role of a School Business Manager?
School Business Managers are responsible for ensuring that daily school life runs smoothly, in both primary and secondary schools. Their main responsibility is creating and enforcing strategies which will benefit the school overall.
The main responsibilities of a School Business Manager include, but are not limited to:
- Managing the school’s finances.
- Forecasting and budgeting.
- Advising the headteacher and governors regarding financial policy.
- Completing administrative tasks.
- Overseeing the school’s procurement of supplies.
- Helping with HR tasks.
- Overseeing the maintenance and safety of the school’s facilities.
- Ensuring that the school is compliant with legal and safeguarding requirements.
Collaboration
School Business Managers must also cooperate with educational leaders to ensure a thriving educational setting for all students.
Financial Responsibilities
One of the main duties of a School Business Manager is to make strategic decisions which ensure financial stability, including implementing policies regarding purchases in order to create a sustainable economic atmosphere for the school.
Legal Responsibilities and HR Tasks
Legally, School Business Managers must ensure their school remains compliant with all regulations set out by governing bodies. Furthermore, School Business Managers provide assistance with HR tasks, such as recruitment and training, to create a more effective workforce.
Qualifications required to become a School Business Manager
In order to become a School Business Manager, you must possess a strong background in finance, business management, or similar, where you have developed and demonstrated a fundamental foundation of financial management principles. It may be beneficial to have previous work experience in an educational setting.
Professional qualifications, such as those offered by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) or the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) can be particularly valuable as they are designed specifically to formally develop the careers of non-teaching staff in schools and equip them with the operational skills required to be a successful School Business Manager.