Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Crystal City Independent School District
Crystal City, Texas
Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Reports To: Superintendent
Position Overview
Crystal City Independent School District is seeking a highly qualified, experienced, and solutions-oriented Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to provide executive leadership for the district’s financial operations.
The CFO will serve as a key member of the Superintendent’s leadership team and will be responsible for ensuring the district maintains strong financial controls, accurate and transparent financial reporting, sound budgeting practices, and full compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
The successful candidate will be a hands-on financial leader who can assess current systems, strengthen internal controls, improve financial processes, provide accurate cash-flow forecasting, and communicate complex financial information clearly to the Superintendent, Board of Trustees, staff, and community.
Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesFinancial Leadership and Planning
- Direct and oversee all financial operations of the district.
- Develop, administer, and monitor the district’s annual budget in alignment with district priorities and available resources.
- Develop multi-year financial forecasts and provide the Superintendent and Board with accurate projections regarding revenues, expenditures, fund balance, and financial sustainability.
- Maintain and regularly update comprehensive cash-flow forecasts to ensure the district can meet payroll, accounts payable, debt service, and other financial obligations.
- Identify financial risks and recommend timely corrective actions.
- Develop strategies to improve the district’s overall financial condition and long-term fiscal stability.
Financial Accountability and Transparency
- Provide the Superintendent and Board of Trustees with timely, accurate, understandable, and transparent financial reports.
- Clearly communicate budget variances, cash position, fund balance, financial risks, and other significant financial matters.
- Ensure financial information presented to the Board and public is accurate and supported by appropriate documentation.
- Establish systems that promote accountability, transparency, and confidence in the district’s financial operations.
FIRST Rating and Regulatory Compliance
- Lead district efforts to achieve and maintain a strong rating under the Texas Education Agency’s School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST).
- Monitor FIRST indicators throughout the year and proactively address areas that could negatively impact the district’s rating.
- Ensure compliance with Texas Education Agency requirements, Texas Education Code, Financial Accountability System Resource Guide (FASRG), Governmental Accounting Standards Board requirements, and other applicable laws and regulations.
- Coordinate required financial reporting to TEA and other governmental agencies.
Accounting and Business Operations
- Direct the district’s accounting, payroll, accounts payable, purchasing, budgeting, investments, cash management, and financial reporting functions.
- Ensure proper reconciliation of all district bank accounts and general ledger accounts.
- Maintain appropriate accounting procedures and internal controls to protect district assets.
- Ensure expenditures are properly authorized, documented, coded, and charged to appropriate funding sources.
- Review and improve business-office procedures to increase efficiency, accuracy, accountability, and segregation of duties.
- Ensure timely and accurate processing of payroll and vendor payments.
Audit and Internal Controls
- Coordinate the district’s annual independent financial audit and serve as the primary liaison with external auditors.
- Ensure requested audit documentation is complete, accurate, and provided timely.
- Develop and implement corrective action plans for audit findings or identified deficiencies.
- Continuously evaluate the district’s internal controls and recommend improvements to reduce financial and operational risk.
- Promote a culture of strong fiscal controls throughout the organization.
Federal and State Funds
- Oversee the financial management of federal, state, local, and grant funds.
- Ensure expenditures comply with applicable grant requirements, including allowable-cost principles and federal requirements.
- Coordinate with program administrators to ensure grant budgets are appropriately developed, monitored, and reconciled.
- Maintain documentation necessary to support financial compliance and audits.
Board and Superintendent Support
- Serve as the Superintendent’s primary financial advisor.
- Prepare financial analyses and recommendations to support executive and Board decision-making.
- Attend Board of Trustees meetings and workshops as requested.
- Prepare and present budget amendments, financial reports, audit information, and other financial agenda items.
- Explain complex financial matters in clear, understandable terms for individuals who may not have financial backgrounds.
- Provide candid, fact-based advice regarding the financial implications of proposed district actions.
Leadership and Supervision
- Provide leadership, direction, coaching, and accountability to business-office personnel.
- Establish clear roles, responsibilities, procedures, and performance expectations for staff.
- Develop staff capacity and cross-training to ensure continuity of critical financial operations.
- Collaborate effectively with campus administrators, department directors, and other district leaders.
- Promote high standards of professionalism, customer service, accuracy, confidentiality, and ethical conduct.
QualificationsEducation
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field required.
- Master’s degree preferred.
Experience
- Significant professional experience in accounting, finance, budgeting, or financial management required.
- Experience managing complex organizational budgets strongly preferred.
- Texas public school finance experience strongly preferred.
- Experience with TEA financial reporting, FIRST, FASRG, PEIMS financial data, federal programs, and governmental accounting preferred.
- Supervisory or executive-level financial leadership experience preferred.
Certifications
One or more of the following is preferred but not required:
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Registered Texas School Business Administrator (RTSBA)
- Certified Texas School Business Specialist or other TASBO certification
- Comparable professional financial certification
Knowledge and Skills
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
- Extensive knowledge of budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to develop and manage detailed cash-flow and multi-year financial projections.
- Understanding of Texas public school finance and TEA financial accountability requirements.
- Ability to identify financial risks and develop practical corrective strategies.
- Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
- Strong organizational and project-management skills.
- Ability to meet critical deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to administrators, Board members, employees, and members of the public.
- Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
- High standards of ethics, integrity, confidentiality, transparency, and professional judgment.
- Ability to challenge existing practices constructively and implement improved financial systems and processes.
Ideal Candidate
Crystal City ISD is seeking more than an individual who can simply maintain financial records. The district is looking for a financial leader and strategic partner who can strengthen systems, improve accountability, anticipate challenges, and help position the district for long-term financial stability.
The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in an environment requiring significant hands-on involvement, will take ownership of the district’s financial operations, and will communicate openly and proactively with district leadership.
Successful candidates will demonstrate an ability to:
- Diagnose financial and operational weaknesses quickly.
- Establish strong financial controls and reliable business-office processes.
- Produce accurate and timely financial information.
- Improve the district’s FIRST performance.
- Build sustainable budgets and realistic financial forecasts.
- Strengthen cash management and cash-flow planning.
- Build trust through transparency, accuracy, and consistent communication.
- Lead and develop an effective business-office team.
Compensation
Competitive compensation commensurate with education, qualifications, and experience.
Application
Interested candidates should submit an application along with a résumé and other requested materials through the district’s application process.
Crystal City Independent School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Pay: $61,318.00 - $105,750.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Retirement plan
Work Location: In person
