School Business Manager
Also advertised as: Academy Business Manager, Bursar, Business Manager, Finance and Operations Manager, School Business Manager, School Operations Manager
Runs the finances, premises and administration behind a school's day-to-day operation.
What the job involves
School business managers oversee budgets, payroll, premises and procurement so that teaching staff can focus on pupils. You report to the headteacher and governors on financial performance and manage support staff such as caretakers and administrators. The role suits people from finance, office management or public sector administration backgrounds.
Typical responsibilities
- Manage the school budget and financial reporting
- Oversee premises, health and safety and contracts
- Line manage administrative and site staff
- Support HR processes including recruitment
- Advise governors on financial planning
Common employers
- Primary and secondary schools
- Academy trusts
- Multi-academy trust central teams
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£28,000 – £34,000 a year
With experience
£40,000 – £55,000 a year
Typical hours
37 hours, term-time plus some weeks
Working environment
Office based within a school
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Budgeting
- Procurement
- Line management
- Health and safety awareness
- Stakeholder reporting
Transferable skills you may already have
- Office management
- Financial administration
- Project coordination
Requirements employers ask for
- Budgeting
- Procurement
- Line management
- Health and safety awareness
- Stakeholder reporting
- Enhanced DBS check
- Enhanced DBS check
Useful but not essential
- Office management
- Financial administration
- Project coordination
- School Business Professional qualification
- Accountancy or business qualification
Helpful qualifications
- School Business Professional qualification
- Accountancy or business qualification
Licences and checks
- Enhanced DBS check
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- School Business Professional (Level 4)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Business studies
- Related subject: Accounting
Where this career can lead
next
Trust Finance Director
next
Chief Operating Officer (Academy Trust)
next
Local Authority Finance Officer
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Broad, varied responsibilities
- Tangible influence on school resources
- Transferable to trust-level roles
What people find hard
- Budgets are frequently tight
- Accountable for decisions outside your direct control
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a school business manager?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. preferred
- How much does a school business manager earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £28,000 to £34,000 a year, rising towards £55,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Office management, Financial administration, Project coordination.
Related careers
Teaching Assistant
Supports pupils' learning in the classroom, often working closely with those who need extra help.
Primary School Teacher
Plans and teaches the full curriculum to a class of primary-aged children.
Secondary School Teacher
Plans and delivers lessons to pupils aged 11 to 18 in a specialist subject.
Special Educational Needs Coordinator
Coordinates support for pupils with additional learning needs across a school.
Education Welfare Officer
Works with families and schools to tackle poor school attendance and safeguarding concerns.
Further Education Tutor
Teaches vocational or academic subjects to students aged 16 and over in colleges and training providers.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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