Job Title: Chief Financial Officer

Wage/Hour Status: Exempt

Reports to: Deputy Superintendent of Finance & Operations

Pay Grade:  Admin/Prof 10

Dept./School: Business Services, Central Office

Work Calendar: 226 Days

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for oversight of all financial and business affairs of the district. Provides financial management leadership to achieve the district’s short- and long-term instructional and strategic planning goals while ensuring legally sound and effective management practices. The position directs and monitors the management and investment of all district funds and serves as chief financial advisor and budget advisor to the Superintendent and Board of Trustees. A strong understanding of school finance is required in order to foresee financial challenges, analyze the situation and provide visionary solutions.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, or other related field from an accredited university
• Master’s degree in business, accounting, or related field strongly preferred
• CPA preferred

 Experience:

• Minimum five years’ successful administrative experience in public school business services
• Minimum five years’ experience in a 4A, 5A, or 6A school district preferred

 Special Knowledge/Skills:

The ideal candidate will be:

• a creative visionary who is passionately focused on effecting change and has the ability to merge data and fact with intuition, imagination, and innovation in an effort to realize the possibilities rather than be content with the probabilities;
• a dedicated professional who creates a supportive environment by modeling and expecting autonomy and accountability; who exemplifies ethics; who accepts and values the differences of others, exhibits empathy, and who has a sense of human wisdom, courage and compassion;
• an effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills and an exceptional ability to build relationships, who is open minded and perceptive to the needs and expectations of students, campus and district staff, parents, and members of the community, and who, through the art of collaboration and creative problem solving, cultivates cohesiveness;
• an inspiring catalyst who motivates and empowers others to become leaders and risk takers, and who acknowledges expertise, celebrates successes, and honors the lives of others; and
• a life-long learner who perpetuates self-motivated learning, and effectively drives transformation with continuous monitoring, evaluating, and adjusting.

In addition, the candidate should have:

• Advanced technical knowledge of all areas of school finance, budgeting, accounting systems, and economics;
• Exceptional personal technology skills, including working knowledge of information / data processing systems and financial applications;
• Strong initiative and problem-solving ability; and
• Demonstrated effectiveness as a professional role model, and commitment to professional growth and life-long learning for self and all staff. 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Executive Level Leadership

1. Establish and maintain commitment to open, direct and transparent practices, procedures and communications in the Business Services arena.
2. Act as financial advisor to the Superintendent, and Board of Trustees and keep them informed of the financial condition of the district. Provide technical and financial expertise and make recommendations to ensure that financial resources are allocated for student achievement and employee compensation.
3. Communicate financial information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences including but not limited to the Board, committees, staff, parents, and the general public. Articulate the district’s vision and mission to the community and solicit support.
4. Assist the Superintendent, and the Board in developing the district’s short- and long-range financial priorities and establishing financial goals for strategic plans.
5. Advise the Superintendent of projected cost implications of requested program expansions or implementations and provide statistical data required for the proper study of such issues.
6. Provide technical and financial expertise and make recommendations to ensure that financial resources are allocated for student achievement and employee compensation.
7. Prepare recommendations and reports for the Superintendent and the Board including comprehensive financial data covering all aspects of facilities, operations and school finance, including relevant trends applicable to the district, and anticipated obligations.
8. Review all contracts, written agreements and negotiation documents as appropriate.
9. Anticipate problems, implement reforms, and identify opportunities for improving the quality of financial services and the effectiveness of financial procedures.

Fiscal and Business Management

1. Oversee complex technical financial work in the areas of budgeting, accounting, bonds, debt services, payroll, attendance, report generation and risk management.
2. Provide general supervision and direction for the development of the district budget by collecting, collating and formatting all requests from principals, directors and departments. Monitor budget variances and oversee budget adjustments.
3. Calculate and project property tax collections, state aid, and recapture.
4. Administer the general fund, debt service fund and child nutrition fund budgets and ensure that programs are cost effective and funds are managed prudently.
5. Coordinate and manage all matters related to the external auditing of all district funds and work cooperatively with the district’s independent and internal auditors in conducting periodic audits.
6. Oversee the management of the district’s property and liability insurance and provide support for the workers’ compensation and benefits program.
7. Oversee demographic studies as needed and provide leadership for long-range facility planning.
8. Maintain the district’s investment portfolio. Supervise and coordinate the investment of all available funds to the best interest of the district and ensure that these funds are adequately protected against loss at all times.
9. Ensure that all financial obligations of the school district (accounts payable, notes payable, bonded indebtedness, and payroll) are met on a timely basis.
10. Implement and maintain internal control procedures to ensure the safeguarding of assets and reliability of accounting data and to promote operational efficiency and ensure adherence to prescribed procedures

Department and Personnel Management

1. Develop short-term and long-range objectives for the district’s business operations.
2. Oversee and provide support for assigned departments, currently including: Business Services and PEIMS.
3. Select, train, evaluate, and supervise Business Services and director-level assigned staff and make recommendations relative to assignment, retention, discipline, and dismissal.
4. Define job performance expectations.
5. Provide staff development and training opportunities to ensure exemplary business operations.
6. Review and assist in revising job descriptions in coordination with Human Resources as needed.

Policy, Reports, and Law

1. Ensure preparation and integrity of all district general accounting records and related financial reports using accepted standards for school accounting as prescribed by the Texas Education Agency.
2. Supervise all district financial accounting and ensure the accounting system provides for the proper recording of all expenditures to conform to statutes and auditing requirements.
3. Compile, maintain, and file all physical and computerized reports, records, and other documents required, including, but not limited to:

• Preparing and evaluating monthly financial statements and related budget reports,
• Preparing quarterly and final reports for all federal funds and grants,
• Developing semi-annual financial information for submission of data to TEA,
• Preparing and publishing the annual financial report in compliance with state requirements and Association of School Business Officer (ASBO) standards.

4. Oversee the preparation of all necessary bid documents and specifications, and
    recommend bid awards based on adherence to stated requirements.
5. Implement the policies established by federal and state laws, State Board of
    Education rule, and local Board policy in the areas assigned.
6. Review and recommend appropriate policies, administrative regulations, and
    administrative practices for the areas supervised.

Communication and Community Relations

1. Communicate financial information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences including but not limited to the Board, committees, staff, parents, and the general public. Articulate the district’s vision and mission to the community and solicit support.
2. Serve as the district’s liaison in the administration of business matters, including with city, county, and state entities, as assigned by the Superintendent.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of political processes and their implications for the successful operation and financial well-being of the district.
4. Demonstrates through professional, ethical, and responsible actions and words responsiveness to staff, parent, and/or community concerns.

Organizational Culture

1. Foster collaboration, collegiality and a sense of team among staff members, and empower them to be actively involved in decision making.
2. Establish and maintain open communication and positive professional relationships with all staff members.
3. Deal sensitively and fairly with persons from diverse backgrounds.
4. Ensure effective two-way communication with the superintendent, district and campus administrators, staff, students, parents, and the community.
5. Serve as a bridge between the district and campuses in such a way that furthers the district-wide strategic plan.

Organizational Improvement

1. Identify, analyze, and apply research findings to promote continuous organizational improvement.
2. Actively participate in the district’s strategic planning process (both the Strategic Plan and annual District Improvement Plans.)
3. Develop and use information systems to maintain records to track progress on assigned district performance objectives.

Personal Learning and Professional Growth

1. Participate in professional learning to enhance job-related knowledge and skills, which may include maintaining membership in appropriate professional organizations.

Other

1. Attend board meetings and required district and campus meetings and events. Develop and deliver presentations as needed.
2. Maintain confidentiality regarding student and coworker information and as required by FERPA, and any other state/federal laws or district rules.
3. Model integrity and ethics in a manner exemplary of the Educator Code of Ethics.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervise multiple staff, including all Business Services staff, and assigned department directors.

MENTAL DEMANDS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS / ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment including personal computer and peripherals.

Posture: Prolonged sitting; occasional bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting.

Motion: Repetitive hand motions, frequent keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching.

Lifting: Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds).

Environment: May work prolonged or irregular hours; occasional district-wide and state-wide travel.

Mental Demands: Work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under stress.

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.