DIRECTOR, FINANCIAL OPERATIONS

FINANCE

Traditional 235 work days

FTE: 1.0

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience

Essential Functions and Objectives:

Broad responsibility for leading a team of managers to execute against the overall business plan, based on guidance from leadership. Directs, plans and oversees team initiatives, to ensure implementation and administration of programs align with district goals.

Leads the Strategic Sourcing and Accounts Payable teams and works cross-functionally to fulfill key District objectives, including timely, accurate, customer friendly, and comprehensive management of the flow of funds through the District; effective, efficient, and economical use of District funds; and strategic leadership of procurement for an organization with an annual budget in excess of $1 billion. Ensures the efficient and secure sourcing of goods and services in accordance with best practices for a K-12 organization as well as the proper communication of procedures and controls to implement an effective Strategic Sourcing function.

- Deeply focuses on ensuring alignment to district initiatives by organizing and prioritizing initiatives, formulating a successful agenda, and delivering instructions to managers.

- Directs operational units by acting as a business advisor to managers, including: make final decisions, examine and evaluate current process, identify and solve barriers. Develop methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for projects and programs. Ensures budget and schedules meet all business requirements.

- Develops policies and programs, authorizes and influences implementation of these programs, use innovative concepts, and promote new ideas. Influence projects by participating in initial planning, assigning teams, directing work, evaluating progress, making decisions and advising on issues.

- Coordinate and build collaborative relationships with cross functional departments internally and positively represents DPS in the broader community which includes school boards, parents, students, teachers and community members.

- Ensure compliance with state and federal laws, Board of Education policies and regulations, maintain and direct activities related to the District's safety and security efforts.

- Coach, direct and set team managers up for success by delegating work, solving complex issues, empowering improvement, and monitoring performance. Hire, train, evaluate, assign and direct work for senior managers within certain departments.

- Supervises the purchasing of all materials, equipment, supplies, services and construction needed by the District, overseeing competitive purchasing procedures; ensures compliance with all policies and procedures governing the District's purchasing functions; oversees vendor management to ensure all District vendors are properly authorized and meet minimum requirements; oversees day-to-day purchasing operations and the District's Purchasing Card program; ensures proper fulfillment and verification of purchase orders; and manages the development of materials required for presentation and approval by the Board of Directors.

- Oversees timely and accurate processing of vendor payments and employee reimbursements, ensuring that payments are made only to authorized vendors for goods or services purchased in accordance with Board Policies and delivered to the District; oversees changes to vendor payment methods and information to ensure changes are valid and properly approved.

- Sets clear and coherent annual team goals aligned to team strategic plan with measurable definitions of success; improves team performance through coaching, feedback, training, and stretch opportunities focused on skill building; and leads team in making transitions.

- Builds strong collaborative relationships across departments and the District, effectively engaging stakeholders towards a common goal; regularly solicits diverse points of view, modeling commitment to diversity and equity and holding the team accountable for inclusion.

- Collaborates with accounting in the identification of account codes, asset tagging, and reduction of journal entries and provides consultation on day-to-day accounting operations (e.g. processing of journal entries, account reconciliation, grant billing and accounting, capital accounting, and month-end and year-end close) as they relate to team functions.

Knowledge, Experience & Other Qualifications:

- Five (5) or more years of supervisory experience, leading or managing others.

- Experience in public procurement, including vendor management, contract administration, oversight of procurement (RFQ/RFP) processes) as well as experience with invoice management and Accounts Payable.

- Experience researching authoritative sources and drafting cogent recommendations for accounting treatments preferred.

- Experience in K-12 organizations preferred.

- Three (3) or more years of management responsibility.

- Strong knowledge of governmental accounting and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

- Experience in analyzing data and using data to for process and program improvements and to inform strategy.

- Outstanding facilitation, presentation, and communication skills, including ability to inspire others.

- Strong leadership skills, including the ability to lead and coach a high-performing team.

- Demonstrated ability to lead projects and meet strict deadlines.

- Ability to deliver highly accurate, easily auditable work and to develop creative solutions to procedural challenges.

- Strong inter-personal skills and ability to work with individuals at all different levels in the organization.

- Ability to develop, plan, and implement short and long-range goals, establish priorities, and organize resources.

- Ability to assess complex internal control structures crossing many departments and operations.

- Must have skills in assessing risk, and developing and implementing internal control procedures, including ERP system controls.

- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications, specifically Excel, Access and Google Sheets; experience with Lawson Financials or other ERP system preferred.

Education Requirements:

- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Public Policy, Accounting or Finance required.

- Master's Degree preferred.

Other information:

The COO Office has a dynamic team of highly experienced people working to maintain the integrity of Denver Public Schools and the accountability of what we do as a team. We strive to meet all of the needs of our schools, Administrative buildings and constituents. The operations team encompasses Facilities, Enterprise Management, Transportation, Technology, School of Choice, Planning and Assessment, Safety and Security, Program Management, Operations Outreach and Engagement, Finance and Operations Support Services. We are the building blocks of the operations side of Denver Public Schools. We stand on our core values Integrity, Accountability, Equity, Collaboration, Fun and of course Students First. There are a lot of opportunities for anyone looking to work in an innovative, caring, and fast paced, growing entity. Come and check out Team DPS.

About Denver Public Schools:

Denver Public Schools is committed to meeting the educational needs of every student with great schools in every neighborhood. Our goal is to provide every child in Denver with rigorous, enriching educational opportunities from preschool through high school graduation. DPS is comprised of nearly 200 schools including traditional, magnet, charter and alternative pathways schools, with an enrollment of more than 90,000 students.

Under the leadership of Superintendent Susana Cordova and guided by the tenets of The Denver Plan, DPS has become the fastest-growing school district in the country in terms of enrollment and the fastest-growing large school district in the state in terms of student academic growth. Learn more at dpsk12.org.

Denver Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.