One important effect of increasing localized autonomy, authority, responsibility, and accountability has been a growing yet understated recognition that effective business management is an essential component of educational leadership. The education business is expanding and becoming more complex and requires propitious oversight. As a result, school business managers are being quietly yet rapidly thrust into the spotlight. These managers are responsible for fiscal management; strategy and governance; human resource functions; compliance, accountability, and legal oversight; and management of buildings, facilities, and resources. In addition, business managers oversee the work of frontline education support staff and their ongoing professional learning and development and manage extended services and relationships with suppliers, parents, the community, and professionals from other agencies. School business management necessitates simultaneous "big picture" and fine detail insights and oversight, multitasking, and high-level drive, commitment, and energy in environments that present untold interruptions and unexpected events. Furthermore, business managers increasingly assume responsibility for many tasks that were traditionally the preserve of teachers or educational leaders: pastoral care; teaching assistance; management of the work of integration and multicultural aides, chaplains, and well-being workers; organization of excursions, camps, and breakfast programs; and coordination and organization of casual relief [substitute] teachers.