DISTRICT FINANCE OFFICER
NATURE OF WORK
Under limited supervision, performs highly responsible supervisory, administrative and fiscal control work for the school system. Work involves planning, coordinating, and directing all aspects of Schools financial management and administration. Employee is responsible for planning and directing the receipt, disbursement and accounting of Schools’ revenues and expenditures, managing the investment of Schools funds, and assisting the Schools’ Superintendent or his or her designee(s) in preparing the annual budget. Employee supervises a staff of professional, technical and clerical personnel. Reports to the Superintendent.
MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Qualify for certification as a School Finance Officer according to policy of the State Board of Education:
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Hold a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field to include 15 semester hours of accounting
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Master of Public Administration or CPA license preferred.
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Graduation from the NCASBO School Business Director Academy is preferred.
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Educational coursework must be sufficient to obtain and maintain certification as a North Carolina School Finance Officer from the Department of Public Instruction
EXPERIENCE
Applicants for the position must demonstrate at least five years of professional experience in finance operations.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential job functions include but are not limited to the following:
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Provides district leadership, the local board of education, building-level
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administrators, and others with appropriate guidance, policies, and procedures related to financial matters.
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Prepares and maintains the school district annual budget; analyzes and costs the local boards and local Superintendent’s initiatives and ensures appropriate and allowable funding sources. Manages all activity for a balanced budget that is in compliance with the School Budget and Fiscal Control Act.
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Analyzes various financial, personnel, and student data and records for leadership decision making. These analyses are used in preparation of reports as required for submission to local, state, federal oversight agencies and/or Superintendent and board.
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Maintains a payroll system in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Internal Revenue Service Code, as well as procedures related to salary and absence data required by the State Board of Education.
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Oversight of the school system purchasing and contract procedures to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal policies.
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Supervises the posting and balancing of Schools’ ledgers, preparing payroll and related records, and maintaining Schools’ purchase records, financial statements, and other related reports either by data processing or manual methods.
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Assists in the preparation of the annual School budget; aids department heads in preparing budget estimates and in determining costs for new, expanded or reorganized programs; implements approved budget; prepares budgets amendments as necessary, making appropriate ledger
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adjustments and estimating available fund balance.
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Oversees disbursement of School funds in accordance with officially established policies and procedures.
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Assists outside auditors in completion of annual Schools’ audit.
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Oversees preparation of comprehensive annual financial report.
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Oversees maintenance of all accounting work on grants received by Schools, processing adequate records, reimbursements, code reviews, etc., to comply with applicable laws and ordinances.
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Attends seminars, conferences, workshops, classes, lectures, etc., as appropriate, to enhance and maintain knowledge of trends and developments in the field of accounting and auditing; reviews professional journals; attends association and professional meetings, and otherwise maintains contacts with professionals to facilitate exchange of information.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, copiers, etc. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
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Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics of data, people or things.
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Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, articles, proposals, contracts, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, evaluations, policies, etc. using prescribed formants.
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Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
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Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; and to apply the principles of descriptive statistics, statistical inference and statistical theory.
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Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
The Chief Financial Officer demonstrates:
- Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of school finance operations.
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Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, policies, and regulations governing school finance operations.
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Thorough knowledge of ethical guidelines and professional standards of conduct.
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Thorough knowledge of administrative, managerial, and supervisory practices and techniques related to school finance programs, services, and activities.
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Thorough knowledge of methods and procedures for business writing.
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The ability to clearly analyze and convey complex information.
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Ability to develop and administer budgets.
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Ability to plan, direct and coordinate the work of a technical and professional staff.
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Ability to prepare clear and concise reports and to compile and analyze financial statements and reports.
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Ability to operate standard office machines and popular computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs.
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Ability to develop and implement effective financial policies.
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Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing.
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Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
REPORTS TO: Superintendent
FSLA STATUS: Exempt
DISCLAIMER
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.
