We wrote this article with support from our associate education expert Jo Marchant, and former school business manager (SBM) and experienced finance specialist Laura Williams.
Make sure you really understand your SBM’s role
The SBM role will vary significantly depending on your setting, school size and support staff structure. Even if you were clear on the SBM’s responsibilities at a previous school, it may be very different at your current one.
Discuss with your SBM how their day-to-day responsibilities compare to their job description, identifying pain points and high-workload areas you can address together. Make sure you both clearly understand the SBM's tasks and responsibilities.
Clarify where the SBM can:
- Make decisions independently
- Advise the SLT
- Defer to others
Use the school business management competency framework and professional standards from the Institute for School Business Leaders (ISBL) to map out