Position Type:
Support Staff/Director of Finance and Planning

Date Posted:
2/27/2019

Location:
West Hartford Public Schools

Date Available:
TBD

Closing Date:
03/22/2019

Please include a current resume and three letters of recommendation.
The salary range is $154,272 - $166,959
Job Purpose:

Under general direction of the Superintendent of Schools, the Director of Finance and Planning ensures that the District's financial resources are used to support academic achievement and the District's strategic goals and priorities. The Director of Finance and Planning leads, plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates the financial functions of the District, including financial planning and reporting, accounting, purchasing, payroll and benefits administration, insurance, food services program, and special projects. The Director of Finance and Planning oversees the District's entire $160+ million budget, including the development and management of long-term financial strategy.

Job Environment:

Work is performed primarily in a business office setting subject to continuous interruptions and background noise. Works independently with minimum of supervision. Position requires an ability to frequently move throughout district and town facilities and travel to off-site locations for attendance at meetings. Must be able to work under stress from demanding deadlines and changing priorities and conditions. Manages and coordinates multiple priorities adhering to established time frames and performance standards. Attends to tasks/functions for more than thirty (30) minutes at a time. Attendance and participation required at extended night meetings outside the normal business workday.

Essential Job Functions:

Financial Planning and Budgeting

• Develop budget guidelines, coordinate preparation of the budget, and assist administrators in review of the budget.Utilize program budgeting procedures in preparing the district budget.Coordinate the presentation of, justification for, and preparation of additional analyses required to understand the budget proposal for action by the Board of Education and Town Council.Submit periodic statements to the Board of Education detailing the status of the budget appropriation.

Accounting Services

• Establish and supervise, through the Accounting Manager, a program of accounting and reporting for the financial affairs of the district.Prepare financial reports as required by state and federal agencies.Prepare appropriate financial reports to record data and provide information for management decisions.Appraise existing accounting and financial policies and procedures as to their adequacy and effectiveness.Coordinate the programs of outside auditors.Implement audit suggestions on a timely basis.Process invoices and receipts and prepare reports on special revenues, such as community use of building charges, summer school, tuition students, etc. as requested.Complete, monitor, and report the activities applicable to state and federal funded activities.Prepare a district-wide plan for the management of school activity, student body, and school-based internal funds.

Purchasing

• Coordinate, in conjunction with Town Purchasing Department, the purchase, maintenance, and inventory of all supplies and equipment for offices and instruction to take advantage of bidding, cooperative, and bulk purchase, based upon requisition specifications.Develop and administer a program for securing contracted services.Direct the purchase, by competitive bidding, informal quotations, and negotiation, of items of supply, and equipment, and contracted services necessary for the operation of the school district.Review or prepare bidding documents, including notice to bidders, instruction to bidders, specifications and the form of proposal.
  Payroll/Benefit Administration Supervise, through the Budget Analyst, the staff accounting, payroll, and all related data in the area of personnel administration; i.e., keeping the needed information concerning number of personnel, dollars involved with such personnel, and all other related data concerning professional and support staff.Verify employee services and prepare special reports required for income tax, social security, and other special withholdings.Calculate fully insured rates for all employee and retiree groups.Review and implement various deductions for employees' paychecks.Prepare pertinent fiscal data for negotiations, including data relevant to benefit programs.Assist in the selection and revision of employee health insurance programs.Manage the Board's 403(b) plan and vendors.Manage district attendance tracking procedures.

Office Services

• Establish procedures for record keeping and maintaining all records that audit and legal requirements demand.Establish standard operating procedure manuals for the effective workflow of paper processing.Review form design and update form requirements as needed.Provide administrative office services dealing with telephone, postage, and office equipment operation, general mail receipt and distribution, including courier service for interschool mail, and centralized copying/duplicating services/print shop and graphics services.
  Insurance

• In accordance with the requirements of the programs in which they are employed, coordinate the workers' compensation, liability, automobile, and property insurance.Work with Town to set Risk Management budget.

Food Services

• Administer, through the Food Services Director, the school lunch program and cafeteria services.
  Program Management Develop a comprehensive plan for the operation of the total school business services program.Delegate the authority necessary to accomplish department functions.Implement and observe all Board of Education business policies for the District.Develop and operate a management control system that monitors department activities.Keeps abreast of issues and trends in the areas of school business administration through literature, participation in school business official associations, and attendance at approved workshops and seminars.

General Administration

• Act as advisor to the Superintendent concerning financial affairs and matters of general importance to the educational program.Provide necessary business services in cooperation with the instructional activities of the School District.Participate in the decision-making and policy development processes within the system.Participate constructively in professional meetings with administrative staff and colleagues.Performs such other position-related tasks, and assumes such other responsibilities, as the Superintendent of Schools may, from time to time, assign or delegate.

Additional Job Responsibilities:

• Assumes responsibility for continuing education and professional development for self and subordinate personnel.Promotes a customer orientation within the department and organization.Represents the department and the District in dealing with other agencies, professional associations, public and private organizations, and the community.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong analytic and problem-solving skills, with the ability to accurately understand complex data and perform analyses.Penchant for data-supported solutions and fact-based logic; ability to translate complex analysis in easy-to-understand manner and present to a broad audience.Strong written and oral communication skills.Strong technology skills with detailed knowledge of Excel including use of pivot tables.Outstanding leadership skills and ability to manage high-performing teams through both recruitment and selection and professional development.Ability to manage daily administrative tasks without losing sight of long term goals and planning.Ability to manage fiscal challenges of a large school district in a complex, changing political and educational environment.Ability to perform a broad range of management responsibility over supervisory, professional, and administrative support personnel.Ability to establish and maintain cooperative work relationships with district and town management, labor organization representatives, other district and town employees and the general public.Ability to initiate projects and manage priorities while balancing commitments to multiple stakeholders and operating in and being committed to a team environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Accounting/Business Management, MBA, or MA degree in a related field and or certification as a Certified Public Accountant. Ten (10) years of experience in a top financial position in a public sector environment with a track record of responsible financial management. Experience in a school district or local government is preferred.

The above description is intended as illustration of the various types of work that may be performed and are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. It is intended as a guide for personnel actions and must not be taken as a complete itemization of all facets of any job. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
Job Purpose:

Under general direction of the Superintendent of Schools, the Director of Finance and Planning ensures that the District's financial resources are used to support academic achievement and the District's strategic goals and priorities. The Director of Finance and Planning leads, plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates the financial functions of the District, including financial planning and reporting, accounting, purchasing, payroll and benefits administration, insurance, food services program, and special projects. The Director of Finance and Planning oversees the District's entire $160+ million budget, including the development and management of long-term financial strategy.

Job Environment:

Work is performed primarily in a business office setting subject to continuous interruptions and background noise. Works independently with minimum of supervision. Position requires an ability to frequently move throughout district and town facilities and travel to off-site locations for attendance at meetings. Must be able to work under stress from demanding deadlines and changing priorities and conditions. Manages and coordinates multiple priorities adhering to established time frames and performance standards. Attends to tasks/functions for more than thirty (30) minutes at a time. Attendance and participation required at extended night meetings outside the normal business workday.

Essential Job Functions:

Financial Planning and Budgeting

• Develop budget guidelines, coordinate preparation of the budget, and assist administrators in review of the budget.Utilize program budgeting procedures in preparing the district budget.Coordinate the presentation of, justification for, and preparation of additional analyses required to understand the budget proposal for action by the Board of Education and Town Council.Submit periodic statements to the Board of Education detailing the status of the budget appropriation.

Accounting Services

• Establish and supervise, through the Accounting Manager, a program of accounting and reporting for the financial affairs of the district.Prepare financial reports as required by state and federal agencies.Prepare appropriate financial reports to record data and provide information for management decisions.Appraise existing accounting and financial policies and procedures as to their adequacy and effectiveness.Coordinate the programs of outside auditors.Implement audit suggestions on a timely basis.Process invoices and receipts and prepare reports on special revenues, such as community use of building charges, summer school, tuition students, etc. as requested.Complete, monitor, and report the activities applicable to state and federal funded activities.Prepare a district-wide plan for the management of school activity, student body, and school-based internal funds.

Purchasing

• Coordinate, in conjunction with Town Purchasing Department, the purchase, maintenance, and inventory of all supplies and equipment for offices and instruction to take advantage of bidding, cooperative, and bulk purchase, based upon requisition specifications.Develop and administer a program for securing contracted services.Direct the purchase, by competitive bidding, informal quotations, and negotiation, of items of supply, and equipment, and contracted services necessary for the operation of the school district.Review or prepare bidding documents, including notice to bidders, instruction to bidders, specifications and the form of proposal.
  Payroll/Benefit Administration Supervise, through the Budget Analyst, the staff accounting, payroll, and all related data in the area of personnel administration; i.e., keeping the needed information concerning number of personnel, dollars involved with such personnel, and all other related data concerning professional and support staff.Verify employee services and prepare special reports required for income tax, social security, and other special withholdings.Calculate fully insured rates for all employee and retiree groups.Review and implement various deductions for employees' paychecks.Prepare pertinent fiscal data for negotiations, including data relevant to benefit programs.Assist in the selection and revision of employee health insurance programs.Manage the Board's 403(b) plan and vendors.Manage district attendance tracking procedures.

Office Services

• Establish procedures for record keeping and maintaining all records that audit and legal requirements demand.Establish standard operating procedure manuals for the effective workflow of paper processing.Review form design and update form requirements as needed.Provide administrative office services dealing with telephone, postage, and office equipment operation, general mail receipt and distribution, including courier service for interschool mail, and centralized copying/duplicating services/print shop and graphics services.
  Insurance

• In accordance with the requirements of the programs in which they are employed, coordinate the workers' compensation, liability, automobile, and property insurance.Work with Town to set Risk Management budget.

Food Services

• Administer, through the Food Services Director, the school lunch program and cafeteria services.
  Program Management Develop a comprehensive plan for the operation of the total school business services program.Delegate the authority necessary to accomplish department functions.Implement and observe all Board of Education business policies for the District.Develop and operate a management control system that monitors department activities.Keeps abreast of issues and trends in the areas of school business administration through literature, participation in school business official associations, and attendance at approved workshops and seminars.

General Administration

• Act as advisor to the Superintendent concerning financial affairs and matters of general importance to the educational program.Provide necessary business services in cooperation with the instructional activities of the School District.Participate in the decision-making and policy development processes within the system.Participate constructively in professional meetings with administrative staff and colleagues.Performs such other position-related tasks, and assumes such other responsibilities, as the Superintendent of Schools may, from time to time, assign or delegate.

Additional Job Responsibilities:

• Assumes responsibility for continuing education and professional development for self and subordinate personnel.Promotes a customer orientation within the department and organization.Represents the department and the District in dealing with other agencies, professional associations, public and private organizations, and the community.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong analytic and problem-solving skills, with the ability to accurately understand complex data and perform analyses.Penchant for data-supported solutions and fact-based logic; ability to translate complex analysis in easy-to-understand manner and present to a broad audience.Strong written and oral communication skills.Strong technology skills with detailed knowledge of Excel including use of pivot tables.Outstanding leadership skills and ability to manage high-performing teams through both recruitment and selection and professional development.Ability to manage daily administrative tasks without losing sight of long term goals and planning.Ability to manage fiscal challenges of a large school district in a complex, changing political and educational environment.Ability to perform a broad range of management responsibility over supervisory, professional, and administrative support personnel.Ability to establish and maintain cooperative work relationships with district and town management, labor organization representatives, other district and town employees and the general public.Ability to initiate projects and manage priorities while balancing commitments to multiple stakeholders and operating in and being committed to a team environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Accounting/Business Management, MBA, or MA degree in a related field and or certification as a Certified Public Accountant. Ten (10) years of experience in a top financial position in a public sector environment with a track record of responsible financial management. Experience in a school district or local government is preferred.

The above description is intended as illustration of the various types of work that may be performed and are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. It is intended as a guide for personnel actions and must not be taken as a complete itemization of all facets of any job. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.