School business manager help

[MarshmallowValentine]

I have an interview for a SBM job and while I have lots of business management experience I haven't worked in a school before.
Part of the interview process is to give a presentation about how money could be saved going forward. I have some ideas but am not sure whether the school is responsible for these areas of expenditure or if it's the LA?

How can I find out? The school is classed as a community school which I believe means it's maintained by the LA

I'm thinking of HR cost, energy costs, security, cleaning, IT. Don't want to be banging on about potential cost savings when it's not a function delegated to the individual school!

TIA

Any help would be appreciated.

@MarshmallowValentine I am late to this thread, so might be too late but here goes:

This will give you an overview
secretheadteacher.org/2020/04/17/a-guide-to-school-finance/amp/

Use the hashtag SBM to search Twitter, there is a community of school business managers out there for support and it will give you some clues on current issues.

90% of costs for a school will be staffing. There are strict rules on this and where cutbacks could be made isn’t always as simple as other sectors.

Income generation is a big one, and due to covid has suffered. Ideas for this are always welcome.

Free course here at the bottom on school finance. It is for governors, but is useful for anyone new to the topic.

I am a volunteer chair of governors and have been on interviews for these posts. If you’re not experienced in schools, I would want to see that you have done some research.

If you don’t get it but would like to make a move into school business management, being a school governor is excellent CPD and prep. Search “inspiring governance” to sign up.

Thanks so much for your reply.

The interview was a few days ago and unfortunately I didn't get it. I didn't really expect to given my lack of school experience but I think I did mainly ok.

My presentation addressed much of what you have said here (particularly plenty of ideas re income generation as my experience is in business but not schools) but I missed a couple of areas I could have added. I'll add them next time.

I was a bit surprised that the interview panel seemed to ask questions related specifically to school finance when I had been candid (in my application) that I didn't have any experience there.

I had done my research, as far as I could, specifically re safeguarding/child protection.

In your opinion, do schools seem to favour people from within the school system over those from outside for these types of jobs? I know several former TAs and school receptionists that have become SBMs but fewer who have come from elsewhere.

Thanks again for the links, I will look at the course too.

To add:
I do have non school finance experience.

Sorry to hear you didn’t get it. It is a growing area, and people from outside of schools are being given the jobs as well as those who have come up from within schools.

The trouble with school interview panels that I have experienced is that they ask the same questions to all candidates for equality and safer recruitment purposes.

External candidates from outside schools bring in fresh perspective. There is a school business manager qualification that you can obtain which might help develop your school based knowledge. Being a governor can help too.

Thanks. I did look at Diploma in SBM but really need that be working in a school or sponsored by one to do it. It's not a cost thing - happy to pay - but you need a case-study.

Thanks again for your advice.

Merry Christmas