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More info
- You'll be the senior financial and administrative manager in a school
- You'll need excellent communication skills & the ability to lead teams
- You could move to a larger school with a bigger budget
As a school business manager you'll work closely with the headteacher to make sure the school's budget and resources are used in the most efficient way. A large part of your role will be financial management and accounting.
You'll advise the headteacher and governors on financial policy, plan how to spend and control the budget and reduce costs, order goods and services and pay suppliers and contractors, pay salaries, keep accounts for inspection, and report to the headteacher, governors, and local authority and government departments.
You may also be involved in marketing, the letting of premises for events, or bidding for funding for the school.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Recruiting, training and managing school support staff
- Managing school building maintenance
- Handling contracts and tenders for services
- Making sure school security and health and safety policies are followed
- Managing the school's administrative systems
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You'll usually work 37 hours a week, Monday to Friday. You'll be expected to attend meetings or school events in the evening. You'll be expected to take your holidays at times to suit the school.
You'll need
This role is ideal for someone with excellent communication skills, the ability to lead teams of staff in different departments, planning and decision making skills, the ability to manage large budgets, the ability to stay calm under pressure and meet strict deadlines, and IT skills.
You'll need to pass enhanced background checks for this role.
You could apply directly to become a school business manager if you have a strong background in finance, management or similar. An accountancy qualification may be needed for this job.
You'll usually need experience of motivating people, and experience of working in education will be an advantage.
You may be able to start as a school administrator or secretary. You'll usually need 5 GCSEs, including English and maths. With experience, you could apply for promotion to office manager or business manager.
If you're already working as a school administrator you could take a qualification like the ILM Level 4 Diploma in School Business Management or ILM Level 5 Diploma in School Business Leadership. Visit the Institute of School Business Leadership for more details about training and qualifications.
You can also start by doing a business administrator advanced apprenticeship or school business professional higher apprenticeship or complete a degree apprenticeship for managers and senior school leaders, depending on your experience.
You could also do a foundation degree or degree, or a professional qualification, in a related subject like accountancy, business management, public administration or human resources.
CAREER PROSPECTS
You could progress in your career by moving to a larger school with a bigger budget. You could also move into financial or educational management with a local authority.