Providing NBOA member schools with a comprehensive, trustworthy resource outlining best practices for independent school business office policies and procedures has been an important goal of the association for several years. Time and again, the question arises: If not NBOA, then who is positioned to take on such fundamental—and critically important—work for independent schools?

That question is now answered with the release of Business Office Policies and Procedures, available exclusively to NBOA member schools. This expertly curated resource serves as a true one‑stop shop for business leaders who are developing a school‑specific business office manual or strengthening an existing one.

Designed with practicality in mind, the resource includes:

• A PDF with extensive notes highlighting key considerations for thoughtful customization
• A downloadable Word document that business offices can easily edit and adapt to their school’s context
• A policy checklist to help ensure schools are addressing best practices across all areas of business administration

In addition, the resource hub houses a robust repository of dozens of supplemental sample policies and procedures across ten functional areas—from contributions and endowment management to tuition, payroll, technology, and more. Taken together, these materials help schools ensure alignment with best practices while saving significant time otherwise spent recreating policies from scratch.

This work reflects the power of the NBOA community. Sincere thanks are due to the members of the NBOA Controllers Council (2023–2025) and to the business partners who provided careful, thorough, and expert review of the content: Armanino, CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), Forvis Mazars, and PKF O’Connor Davies. Their collective expertise helped bring this essential resource to fruition.

Human Resources Policy Guidance: A Critical Companion Resource

Building on this momentum, NBOA will shortly release Human Resources Policy Guidance for Independent Schools, developed to support HR professionals as well as business officers with HR responsibilities.

This companion resource outlines best practices across key areas, including hiring, compensation and benefits, performance management, leave administration, and more. Like the business office policies resource, it reflects multiple rounds of thoughtful development and review, grounded in the realities of independent school operations.

Together, these resources underscore NBOA’s role as the professional home and go‑to resource for business and HR leaders in independent schools—providing practical guidance, reducing risk, and helping schools focus their time and energy on advancing their missions.

For more information and to download these resources, visit: 

https://www.nboa.org/resources/financial/business-office-policies