EXPLORING SCHOOL HEADS' FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP IN BAGUIO CITY: UNLOCKING PROFICIENCY

This study looked into the financial practices used by school heads in public elementary schools in Baguio City, Philippines. It specifically looked at the relationship between the understanding levels of ten school heads and their gender, experience, educational background, and attendance at accounting and financial management courses. The research employed a qualitative methodology at the Baguio City, mainly utilizing interviews as a means of data collection, with other methods including observation and analysis. Manual analysis was done on the phenomenological qualitative data that came from in-depth interviews and were backed up by documentation. The findings demonstrate that there is a substantial relationship between the level of accounting and financial management skills and participation in financial training sessions, educational background, and past experience as a school head. However, the knowledge of accounting and financial management in schools is not greatly influenced by variables like gender, prior teaching experience, or prior assistant teaching experience. It is noted that most school heads and accounting clerks handle financial concerns on behalf of the school; most teachers and school clerks are not directly involved in these affairs.