School business professionals (sometimes known as bursars or finance directors) play a crucial strategic role in schools, making the most of the available resources to ensure teaching and learning get the financial support they need. They are often the senior financial and administrative manager in a school, and may lead a team of support staff.
What’s involved
School business professionals generally bring their professional expertise and experience to bear on a wide range of financial management issues including:
- Keeping accounts and reporting on the school’s financial position
- Advising the head teacher and governors in financial matters
- Assisting the head teacher on income generation and marketing the school
- Managing the procurement process, including service contracts, licences and insurance
- Recruiting, training and managing school support staff
- Managing facilities
- Responsibility for health and safety within the school
Skills and experience you'll need
- Experience in accounting and finance
- Excellent speaking and writing skills
- Organisational and time management skills
- The ability to handle large budgets
- People management
- IT skills
Entry requirements
You'll need a strong background in finance, management or similar to become a school business professional. An accountancy qualification is a very common requirement in this job.
You may have an advantage with a foundation degree or degree, or professional qualification in accountancy, business management, public administration or human resources.
You may be able to start as a school administrator or secretary. You'll usually need five GCSEs including maths and English. With experience, you could then apply for promotion to office manager or business manager.
Training and development
If you are already working as a school administrator you may wish to work towards the School Administration Foundation Certificate. This is a Level 3 equivalent (approximate to ‘A’ level standard) programme. The course is offered through a mix of face-to-face and distance learning. It may help you to increase your professional knowledge and prepare you for further study, such as the Level 4 Diploma in School Business Management (see below). Alternatively, you may find it useful to take other qualifications in accounting and/or management.
If you don't already work in a school but are looking to develop a career in school business management, the Aspiring School Business Manager programme may be for you. This course is fully online and does not require a support school. It is a good induction to the Level 4 Diploma in School Business Management (see below).
You may be able to boost your skills by taking qualifications in school business management which are awarded by the Institute of Leadership & Management and offered by a number of course providers.
Qualifications include:
- Level 3 Business Administrator (not specific to working in schools)
- Level 4 Diploma for School Business Managers (formerly CSBM)
- Level 4 School Business Professional Apprenticeship
- Level 5 Diploma for School Business Leaders (formerly DSBM)
- Level 6 Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship for Schools (CDMA) This is designed specifically for experienced, senior school business managers and those in, or aspiring to, executive and strategic finance or business roles in schools, academies and trusts.
- Level 7 Senior Leaders Masters Degree Apprenticeship
Visit the The Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) for more information about qualifications.
There is also information on the Government website.
You could progress in your career by moving to a larger school with a bigger budget.
Useful links
The Institute of School Business Leadership
Find out more about the role on the National Careers Service website.
Have a look at the business management role profiles under the administrative & management job family to find out more about the different levels you could work at.
The Department for Education (England) has developed a communications channel specifically for school business professionals. They will be sending occasional emails about the latest products and guidance for school resource management. Make sure you don’t miss out by signing up to their schools business professional contact list.
For information about Department for Education’s Deals for Schools which help save money on some of the things schools buy regularly, please click here.
For information about networks for School Business Managers, please click here.