The profession is an enticing and exciting career option, offering significant responsibility and varied roles. Many colleagues have evolved into a school business management role following work force reform in schools and education. Devolvement of responsibility in schools has enabled many professionals to expand their existing school support roles and develop and attain significant management and leadership positions.
Many other professionals move into the profession from alternative career backgrounds. We have many colleagues who have made the transition from the private sector from financial, banking, leadership, management, IT, premises and HR roles.
There are a plethora of titles used in schools relating to school business management; School Business Managers, Bursars, Finance Officers, Office Managers, Directors of Finance, Heads of School Support Staff, Administrators, Secretaries to name but a few. Roles, job descriptions, levels of responsibility and salaries also vary from school to school. Many professionals are integral members of school leadership teams although this is not the case in all schools. School Business Managers typically work through all school holidays being employed on normal contracts of employment.
The role of a school business management professional will typically include:
School business management posts are often advertised in the local press. Many schools advertise for permanent and temporary positions on the Jobs section of the NASBM website. View each advert in detail. Some posts will require specific experience and school business management qualifications (see the Qualifications and Development Pathways section) but many will not and therefore will be open to candidates currently working outside of education.
NASBM runs a one-day workshop for those considering a career as a school business manager, bursar or school support staff manager. Click here to find out more about the So You Think You Want To Be A School Business Manager workshop.
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