Business Manager

Reporting and scope

Reports to the Executive Director / CEO, a Head of School / Principal, or in a local union to the executive board and membership (where the Business Manager is often the elected top officer). Authority usually covers finance and administration across the organization.

Core responsibilities

• Keeps the books, pays bills and runs payroll or supervises those who do
• Prepares the budget and monthly financial reports for the board
• Manages contracts, insurance, vendors and purchasing
• Supports the annual audit and the Form 990 or union LM report filing
• Oversees office administration and facilities
• In a union, negotiates and enforces collective bargaining agreements

How it differs

The CFO / Head of Finance and Director of Finance lead a finance function with strategic and board-facing authority; the Business Manager is typically a hands-on generalist. In a local union the elected Business Manager is the chief officer, closer to Executive Director / CEO, and a Labor / Union Representative services members under that officer.

By organization size

The title is most common in small schools, churches and local unions, where one person covers all business functions. As organizations grow, the work splits into finance, HR and operations roles and the title fades or moves to a unit level.