Finance Manager

Salary Range: $78,947 - $115,505

Ad Valorem - 2.40 parish property (ad valorem) tax mills are dedicated to employee salaries. The annual receipts from this tax are distributed to employees twice a year, one-half in January and one-half in June. The amount of each employee's supplement is the employee's salary multiplied by the annual percentage (computed each year based on actual tax revenues)

Job Goal

To ensure the accuracy, efficiency and integrity of financial operations by managing the input and oversight of purchase orders, designing and codifying new finance related processes for system integration and serving as a key initiator of workflows and operational improvements across the Finance Department. The Finance Manager plays a critical role in aligning fiscal practices with school system goals and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications (minimum education, licensure, skills and/or experience)

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, from an accredited institution.
• Possesses a minimum of three to five [3-5] years of experience in a financial or procurement role.
• Demonstrates experience with financial systems, purchasing platforms and accounting software.
• Understands public sector procurement and fund accounting.
• Ability to design and document processes clearly and logically.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to juggle multiple tasks.
• Must meet the requirements of a criminal background check, including fingerprinting, as outlined in Louisiana Revised Statute 17:15 and Bulletin 746.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred

• Prior experience in a public sector or school district environment.
• Working knowledge of Google Workspace.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Operational Strategy and Workflow Management

• Develops and implements short term plans to achieve goals and enhance efficiency while aligning with organizational priorities.
• Creates and evaluates short- and long-term plans to meet departmental objectives.
• Enters, reviews and approves purchase orders (POs) in accordance with school system policies and Louisiana procurement laws.
• Coordinates with departments to ensure POs are accurate, properly coded and timely.
• Serves as a liaison between departments, vendors and the Finance Office to resolve PO issues.
• Translates new or evolving finance procedures into codified, repeatable workflows for seamless integration into existing financial systems (e.g., Enterprise Resource Planning [ERP], accounting software).
• Designs templates, process guides and user documentation to ensure cross-functional clarity.
• Monitors and assesses the effectiveness of implemented processes and recommends adjustments as needed.
• Implements innovative strategies to improve operations and reduce costs.
• Tracks and reports on task and project progress, resolving challenges to ensure quality, timeliness and budget adherence.

Compliance

• Ensures compliance with federal, state and local laws and district policies.
• Assures financial activities are aligned with Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) guidelines, Louisiana Legislative Auditor (LLA) standards and federal program rules (if applicable).
• Maintains up-to-date documentation and filings for financial audits and regulatory reporting.
• Assists in audits, documentation and adherence to internal control standards.

Collaboration and Communication

• Facilitates effective communication and collaboration with supervisors, team members and external partners to ensure alignment of goals and smooth coordination of activities.
• Prepares and delivers concise status updates to supervisors as required.

Professional Development

• Participates in federal, state and local training and networking groups to advance financial practices and processes.

Additional Duties

• Performs other job-related tasks as required to meet the operational needs of the department and organization.
• Contributes to district-wide projects and collaborates with other departments on cross-functional goals.
• Maintains a valid driver's license and a clear driving record, follows all district policies and state regulations for safe vehicle operation, reports any incidents affecting their ability to drive immediately to their supervisor and ensures proper care, maintenance and responsible use of district vehicles if required to use a district vehicle for assigned duties.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

This role primarily operates in an indoor, climate-controlled environment, with occasional exposure to moderate temperature variations. The usual methods of performing job functions require light lifting (ten to twenty [10-20] pounds), carrying, pushing and pulling, with frequent engagement in activities such as standing, walking and sitting. Additional physical requirements include extended use of a computer for data analysis, report generation, communication and administrative duties; alternating between sitting and standing for meetings, presentations and other administrative activities; ability to drive within or outside of the district to various schools, meetings and events; and occasional travel outside the district for conferences, site visits or professional development. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Plaquemines Parish School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, or any other legally protected status in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices. The district is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect.

Note: This job description is subject to change at any time. While this job description reflects delegation of essential duties and responsibilities, it does not exclude or restrict management's right to assign or reassign tasks, duties or responsibilities to this job at any time.