Classification: Administrative/Professional
Exemption Status/Test: Exempt/Administrative
Job Grade: 6
Department: Business Services
Reports To: Director
Job Goal:
Provide, coordinate, and oversee accounting, finance, and business office support services for school systems and the Business Services Department. Serve as a trusted regional resource by preparing and reviewing financial information, supporting district business operations, ensuring compliance with applicable requirements, and providing technical assistance and training. Supervise assigned Business Services staff and support accurate, efficient, and effective financial operations.
Qualifications:
Education
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field preferred. A combination of education, training, and progressively responsible experience in Texas public school finance, governmental accounting, payroll, and business office operations may be substituted for formal education requirements
- Master's in business administration, preferred
- CPA, CPA candidate, RTSBA, RTSBO, or other relevant certifications, preferred
Experience:
- Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in Texas public school finance, governmental accounting, non-for-profit accounting, or school business operations required.
- Experience performing advanced school business office functions, including budgeting, procurement, risk, human resources, financial reporting, revenue analysis, cash flow monitoring, payroll, accounts payable, bank reconciliations, grant accounting, PEIMS financial reporting, audit preparation, and state or federal reporting preferred.
- Experience providing technical assistance, training, or consultative support to school district personnel preferred.
- Experience supervising, leading, training, or coordinating the work of staff preferred.
- Experience with Texas school district financial management software systems and related reporting applications preferred.
Special Knowledge and Skills:
- Knowledge of Texas school finance, governmental accounting, applicable accounting standards, and the Texas Education Agency's Financial Accountability System Resource Guide (FASRG)
- Knowledge of school district budgeting, revenue sources, payroll, accounts payable, financial reporting, grant accounting, expenditure reporting, drawdown processes, cash management, internal controls, and related compliance requirements
- Ability to calculate, analyze, and monitor school district revenues, expenditures, fund balances, and cash flow
- Ability to prepare, review, analyze, and interpret financial statements, budget reports, audit schedules, reconciliations, grant reports, management reports, financial data, and supporting documentation
- Ability to identify and resolve accounting discrepancies and recommend appropriate corrections or process improvements
- Ability to interpret and apply accounting laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and best practices
- Ability to coordinate regional business office services and prioritize competing district and internal departmental needs
- Ability to supervise, train, evaluate, support assigned staff, and review work for accuracy, compliance, completeness, timeliness, and alignment with established procedures
- Ability to provide technical assistance, training, and financial guidance to district personnel, internal staff, and other stakeholders
- Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, financial management software, grant reporting systems, and data reporting applications
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment
Major Responsibilities
Regional Business Office and Financial Services
- Coordinate and provide accounting, finance, and business office services to school systems and other educational entities.
- Serve as a regional business services resource for school district personnel, including superintendents, business managers, payroll staff, accounts payable staff, and other district personnel.
- Perform, coordinate, and review monthly and year-end accounting processes, including general ledger maintenance, account reconciliations, journal entries, account adjustments, and supporting documentation.
- Prepare and reconcile bank statements, cash accounts, and related investment activity, as applicable.
- Process, review, or support accounts payable, payroll, accounts receivable, and related business office transactions as assigned.
- Maintain accounting records, workpapers, schedules, and supporting documentation in accordance with applicable federal, state, local, and organizational requirements.
State and Federal Reporting
- Prepare, review, and assist with school district budget development, budget monitoring, budget transfers, and budget amendments.
- Calculate, analyze, and monitor district revenues, including state, federal, local, and other revenue sources, as assigned.
- Prepare financial statements, monthly financial reports, budget reports, cash flow analyses, expenditure projections, schedules, and related financial documentation.
- Prepare, submit, and reconcile grant drawdowns, SEFA preparation, reimbursement requests, expenditure reports, and related grant documentation.
- Prepare and submit required state, federal, and financial reports as assigned.
- Assist with PEIMS financial reporting and other required financial reporting functions.
- Prepare assigned schedules, reconciliations, work papers, and documentation required for annual financial audits and single audits.
Financial Operations, Compliance, and Internal Controls
- Monitor cash balances and prepare periodic cash flow analyses to support district and departmental decision-making.
- Review financial data, identify discrepancies, research issues, and recommend appropriate corrections or process improvements.
- Recommend improvements to accounting processes, internal controls, financial procedures, and business office operations.
- Assist with the implementation, utilization, and improvement of financial management software and related systems.
- Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, laws, regulations, grant requirements, reporting requirements, policies, and procedures.
Technical Assistance, Training, and Stakeholder Support
- Provide on-site, virtual, telephone, and email assistance to school system personnel, internal staff, and other stakeholders.
- Research accounting, payroll, budget, grant, reporting, financial system, and business office issues and provide guidance regarding applicable regulations, procedures, and best practices.
- Develop and deliver training, technical assistance, guidance materials, desk procedures, and job aids related to school business operations, financial systems, accounting procedures, grant processes, budget development, workflows, and reporting requirements.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with school system personnel, coworkers, internal staff, supervisors, and stakeholders.
Professional Responsibilities
- Participate in professional development activities, departmental meetings, regional initiatives, and special projects.
- Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment when handling sensitive financial, payroll, personnel, and student information.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Supervision/Personnel Management:
- Supervise, train, support, and evaluate assigned Business Services staff.
- Review assigned staff work for accuracy, completeness, timeliness, compliance, and adherence to established procedures.
- Provide guidance to assigned staff regarding procedures, reconciliations, reporting, deadlines, documentation, and issue resolution.
- Support internal Business Services Department operations during peak processing periods, including payroll cycles, accounts payable deadlines, budget development, grant reporting, fiscal year-end, audit preparation, and reporting deadlines.
- Assist with the development and maintenance of internal procedures, checklists, forms, workpapers, calendars, and process documentation to promote consistency, compliance, and operational efficiency.
Physical Demands/Environmental Factors/ Mental Demands:
Frequent use of standard office equipment; prolonged sitting; occasional bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting; repetitive hand motions (keyboarding and use of mouse); occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 20 pounds); may work prolonged and irregular hours; occasional statewide travel; work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under pressure.