Are you a generalist or specialist SBM? Kevin Parker examines the changing role of school business managers and the advantages and challenges of each path
The role of the school business manager is one of the most demanding in education, balancing responsibilities across finance, HR, IT, procurement, facilities and more. As school business functions grow increasingly complex, SBMs often face a key decision: should they remain generalists, overseeing all non-teaching aspects, or specialise in one area like finance or HR? Both paths offer distinct advantages and challenges. This article explores the pros and cons of each approach and considers how these roles are viewed in multi-academy trusts.
The Generalist SBM: A Holistic Approach
A generalist SBM typically oversees all non-teaching areas of a school, from finance and HR to procurement and IT. The role requires flexibility, organisation and the ability to manage multiple, often conflicting priorities simultaneously.
Advantages of Being a Generalist
Broad Influence
Generalists have a comprehensive view of the school’s operations and often play a significant role in strategic decisions, such as budgeting, resource allocation and planning. Their influence extends across multiple areas, offering the chance to shape the school’s future in a variety of ways.
Job Satisfaction Through Variety
The variety of tasks keeps the role dynamic and engaging. No two days are the same, which can be fulfilling for those who thrive on change and diversity in their work. Generalists are often at the heart of problem-solving and decision-making across the school.
Career Mobility
The skills gained as a generalist SBM – finance, HR, procurement – are transferable to a range of industries and roles, providing flexibility for career advancement. This versatility can open doors in local government, private sector business management, or consultancy.
Challenges of Being a Generalist
Heavy Workload
Managing multiple areas often leads to an overwhelming workload. With limited resources, the pressure of juggling competing demands can lead to stress and burnout, particularly during peak periods like budget reviews or staffing changes.
Shallow Expertise
While generalists need a broad knowledge base, they may lack the depth required in specific fields like finance or HR. This can lead to potential oversights or errors, especially in technical areas where regulations and best practices are constantly evolving.
Career Development
Career progression as a generalist can be less straightforward. In larger institutions or MATs, more specialised roles may be favoured for senior leadership positions, limiting the career growth potential for those who do not specialise in one area.
The Specialist SBM: Deep Focus in One Area
Specialist SBMs, on the other hand, focus on one key area, such as finance, HR, or IT. They oversee their domain’s strategic direction, ensuring compliance and managing day-to-day operations within their area of expertise.
Advantages of Being a Specialist
Expertise and Authority
Specialists become subject matter experts in their field, which enhances their authority and decision-making capacity. Whether it’s managing the school’s budget, leading HR policy, or overseeing IT systems, specialists offer high-value insights based on their deep knowledge.
Clear Accountability
With a more defined role, specialists can focus on a specific area, which leads to clearer accountability and more measurable outcomes. For example, a finance manager can focus solely on budget management, allowing for improved financial planning and oversight.
Focused Career Development
Specialists can pursue CPD tailored to their chosen area, building a clear career trajectory within their domain. For instance, a finance manager can focus on gaining qualifications in accounting or financial management, leading to higher-level roles like director of finance.
Reduced Stress and Workload
Specialisation typically means less juggling of multiple departments. Specialists can concentrate on their area of expertise, which can lead to a more manageable workload and better work-life balance.
Challenges of Being a Specialist
Limited Influence Outside Your Domain
While specialists have considerable authority within their area, their influence outside it may be limited. A finance manager, for example, may not be involved in HR decisions, even though those decisions can impact the school’s financial health.
Narrower Career Path
Specialising in one area can restrict career mobility. If a specialist wants to move into a senior leadership role that involves overseeing multiple functions, they may need additional training or experience outside their area of focus.
Repetitive Tasks
Specialists often work within well-defined processes, which can lead to repetitive tasks. This may lead to job dissatisfaction for those who prefer variety and more diverse responsibilities.
Specialisation in Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs)
In the context of multi-academy trusts (MATs), the decision between generalist and specialist roles takes on new dimensions. MATs typically require more segmented roles to ensure the smooth operation of multiple schools, making specialisation the preferred model.
In larger MATs, roles like director of finance, head of HR, or IT director are often created to ensure each area receives the expertise it requires. The generalist SBM’s role in a MAT may shift more toward overseeing these specialists and ensuring alignment across the trust. This model offers the opportunity for greater efficiency and expertise in each area but can leave the generalist SBM with less direct control over specific functions.
For example, an SBM in a MAT might oversee the work of several finance managers and HR leads across multiple schools, focusing on high-level strategy and alignment. While this allows for a broader oversight, it also places a premium on coordination and communication between specialists.
Conclusion
Choosing between a generalist or specialist role as an SBM depends largely on your career aspirations, interests and the type of school or trust you work in. Generalist SBMs enjoy a dynamic and varied role, with influence across multiple areas, but may struggle with workload and career progression due to a lack of specialisation. On the other hand, specialists enjoy deep expertise, clearer accountability and more focused career development but may have limited influence outside their area and face a narrower career path.
In multi-academy trusts, the trend is moving towards greater specialisation, with generalists taking on more of a coordinating or strategic oversight role. Both paths offer distinct advantages, and the key to success is finding the balance that best suits your skills, ambitions and the needs of the organisation.
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