School Business Professional

School Business Professionals (SBPs) perform a role which is unique to schools, administering and managing the financial, site and support services within the school context. They provide essential support to school leadership teams, implementing their financial and business decisions.

SBPs may work in any school phase (primary, secondary, special) and in different school structures, such as single academy trusts, multi academy trusts (MATs), local authority-maintained schools and federations, etc. Consequently, they can work in very different settings with varying numbers of people that they report to, including the headteacher or School Business Director (SBD). Within this context, SBPs have a shared number of roles which shape their day-to-day activity to make this a homogeneous role in schools. The role typically includes:

• Drafting and monitoring the school budget, setting up financial controls and reporting on performance to ensure best value for money is achieved, managing payroll, maintaining accounts and financial reporting to the headteacher and governors

• Management of the school site to ensure that it provides a safe and suitable learning environment, procurement of goods and services to achieve best value and oversee contract management, e.g., staff, catering and maintenance contracts

• Identification of income generation opportunities on a small scale, supporting the SBD in larger opportunities

• Preparation of marketing materials and lead a range of marketing activities to add value and promote the school externally

• Responsibility for managing office and other support staff and for developing and maintaining effective administrative systems, e.g., student record-keeping systems; implementation of school HR processes

• Ensuring compliance with and implementation of safeguarding and health and safety policies so that all stakeholders work in a safe and healthy environment

SBPs interact with all school stakeholders regularly, to advise on and manage school business practices effectively. This requires them to understand educational issues as well as business management.

Their work is performed in the context of ensuring that public funds are used effectively. They must adhere to the principles of making the best use of school resources to enable all students achieve their potential, and to meet the aim of increasing social mobility for children and young people. SBPs must also understand that their role is of vital importance in relation to school governance and compliance. They must have a good understanding of educational policies and be able to implement change.

There is a range of job titles that this occupational profile relates to, including a School Business Manager, HR Manager, Finance Manager, Office Manager, School Administrator, Business Support Officer, Bursar, etc.