Accounting Team Lead

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has set ambitious goals to ensure that every childin every school and every neighborhoodhas access to a world-class learning experience from birth, resulting in graduation from high school college- and career-ready.

Reporting directly to the Assistant Controller - Corporate Accounting, the Accounting Team Lead assigns, supervises and reviews the work of professional accountants engaged in the management of financial accounts; designs and implements computerized accounting systems and internal controls to ensure operational efficiency. Responsible for developing work standards and conducting staff performance evaluations. Additionally, supervises the preparation, review and analysis of financial statements and other adhoc research and accounting projects. Also responsible for staff training and strict staff adherence to Board Policies and procedures in furtherance of pursuing and maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards. This is a highly visible role and demands a highly organized, detail oriented individual willing to roll up their sleeves to get the job done.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supervises the day-to-day activities of the accounting unit. Ensure that staff meets deadlines and follow established policies and procedures in the performance of their duties to include, but not limited to, general ledger analysis and reconciliation of accounts, audit of financial documents, preparation of financial statements, proper application of generally accepted accounting principles and various system validations on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
  
  
• Manage the preparation and or review of all audit related schedules for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) and the ISBE Annual Financial Report (AFR).
  
  
• Ensure that various PBC (prepared by client) workpapers prepared by staff as well as fiscal data compiled for inclusion in the CAFR are completed accurately and within established deadlines.
  
  
• Responsible for developing and setting reasonable and measureable standards for each employee and assess each employee's performance every six months.
  
  
• Provide ongoing training and mentoring of staff accountants in the performance of their assigned duties.
  
  
• Responsible for reviewing GASB Statements, Interpretations, Concept Statements and Technical Bulletins to ensure the timely and proper application of the standards as well as the early adoption of new standards when it is the Board's best interest to do so.
  
  
• Supervises, reviews and approves the auditing and reconciliations of accounts ensuring the accurate and timely recording of Districtwide financial transactions.
  
  
• Develop processes to ensure Chicago Public Schools is compliant with Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statements, Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Best Practices and Advisories, U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance, and other Federal, State and Local regulatory directives.
  
  
• Streamline existing processes, and develop new processes to improve departmental cohesion and professionalism.
  
  
• Review and update policies and procedures on financial management to ensure current requirements are met. Responsible for maintaining and updating the Accounting Manual, as necessary, with approved changes in policies and procedures.
  
  
• Properly plan and complete special projects and other duties as assigned by the Controller and/or designee.
  
  
• Minimize the risk of non-compliance with Federal, State and Local requirements and deadlines.
  
  
• Conducts and attends meetings and acts as accounting liaison with other CPS departments like Budget, Payroll, Grants Management, Facilities and Treasury.
  
  
• Assist in enhancing and strengthening overall internal controls and increasing process efficiency and effectiveness.
  
  
• Assist with the submission of required annual reports with regulatory agencies such as City of Chicago, Cook County, State of Illinois, Illinois State Board of Education, GFOA and Association of School Business Officials.
  
  

Education and Experience:

• Education Required-Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business related field, Master's Degree or Certified Public Accountant preferred
  
  
• Experience Required: Accounting and/or financial reporting for at least 5 Years in a large, decentralized organization
  
  

Computer Skills:

Advanced Microsoft Office skills, including Excel (GL Wand), Word and PowerPoint; Oracle or similar ERP experience in a large decentralized organization is highly preferred.

Residency Requirement:

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of his or her CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district.