CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER bei Alleghany County Schools

ALLEGHANY COUNTY SCHOOLS

Chief Finance Officer

Position Description:

Position Title: Chief Finance Officer

Position Type: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Term of Employment: 12 months

Pay Range:  NC Salary Schedule (commensurate with experience) 

Supervises: All Finance Department Employees

Reports To: Superintendent

Education/Training and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, or related area (Required)
• Must have a minimum of 15 hours of Accounting coursework completed with an accredited institution -OR- Certified Public Accountant (Required)
• Ability to obtain/hold/maintain a NC School Business Officer Certification (Required) 
• 5 years of finance experience (Required)
• FINANCE OFFICERS 1. State Board Policy FINO-000 requires the State Board of Education shall classify the finance officers in terms of uniform pay grades include the salary schedule of the State Human Resources Commission 2. The salary of the finance officer is aligned to the Accounting Director I and II. 3. Pay Grade Minimum NC24 scale. 

Essential Functions:

• Adhere to all state, federal, and local laws, policies, and procedures
• Lead, manage and supervise assigned programs in the district 
• Oversee and supervise the Child Nutrition Department
• Manage the school district’s financial affairs including budgeting, purchasing, accounting, payroll, accounts payable, internal audit, fixed assets, and treasury functions 
• Confer with representatives of private firms, other governmental agencies, legal authorities, and the public regarding matters affecting district financial services 
• Establish and maintain a payroll system that satisfies federal laws and regulations such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Internal Revenue Service Code 
• Conduct pre-audits of all obligations to ensure budgeted appropriations and unencumbered balances are accurate 
• Develop short/long-term budgets/amendments with concise explanation of needs/changes 
• Select and maintain financial software for both centralized operations and individual schools to process transactions in accordance with applicable requirements 
• Establish and monitor procedures to assure timely reconciliation of bank accounts 
• Establish and maintain an internal audit program for the funds of individual schools
• Establish procedures to assure compliance with financial laws, regulations, and requirements and to assure adherence to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and standard business practices 
• Oversees and monitors the preparation of annual budgets for all funds operated by Alleghany County Schools to assure compliance with the School Budget and Fiscal Control Act, the Local Government Commission, and the NC Department of Public Instruction 
• Ensure compliance with the Chart of Accounts mandated for school district use by the Local Government Commission and the NC Department of Public Instruction 
• Implement and maintain an accounting system adequate to record transactions in accordance with the requirements of GAAP, the North Carolina Local Government Commission, the North Carolina State Board of Education, the North Carolina Uniform Education Reporting System (UERS) and other relevant state and federal agencies 
• Advises internal stakeholders on how to best maximize monetary resources 
• Ensures that district administrators/staff are educated on the financial, procedural, and related implications of changes in laws, rules, policies, and procedures 
• Make projections on the financial impacts of decisions, both locally and at the State and National levels 
• Facilitate and implement multi-year financial planning for the operating budget and assist in preparation of multi-year facilities plans 
• Complete local, state, or federal surveys and reports accurately and promptly 
• Participate in professional development workshops and leadership training 
• Create an inclusive environment with positive communication/public relations 
• Facilitate the development of the department’s improvement plan 
• Perform related work as assigned or required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Comprehensive in-depth knowledge and understanding of the principles, practices, and procedures of public-school system financial policies 
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and local regulatory requirements applicable to school system finances 
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and principles of public administration, particularly as they relate to units of local government 
• Knowledge of State statutes, policies, and regulations regarding financial transactions and of federal laws and rules impacting financial operations 
• Skilled in technology with demonstrated ability to use spreadsheet software and word processing software 
• Ability to use computer-based financial software packages to include experience with database search and retrieval both through query functions and typical web-based reporting in order to answer questions or to detect errors 
• Thorough knowledge of county and school board policies, procedures, and standards regarding funding, position control, and allotments 
• Ability to maintain professional and emotional control under stress 
• Ability to reflect appropriate response to situations, while maintaining a professional and personal demeanor 
• Ability to learn and use specialized tools, equipment or software related to business needs
• Ability to develop, monitor, and implement a fiscally sound budget 
• Ability to direct and evaluate the work of others 
• Ability to implement local, state, and federal rules, guidelines, and procedures into daily business operations 
• Ability to communicate effectively 
• Ability to reason, make judgments, and maintain effective working relationships 
• Ability to employ positive communication skills in all settings/mediums 
• Ability to problem-solve utilizing sound judgment 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding school system business 
• Ability to develop related charts, graphs, reports, and records pertaining to school planning and strategy 
• Ability to take initiative, work independently, and exercise sound judgement 
• Ability to conceptualize, initiate, monitor, and evaluate new and/or current programs 
• Demonstrated ability to perform detailed work, planning, risk assessments, and associated risk mitigation actions 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a deadline-driven, rapidly changing team environment

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Work requires the occasional exertion of up to 20 pounds of force 
• Work regularly requires exchange of accurate and detailed information through oral and written communication 
• Constantly operates a computer and other office business equipment 
• Ability to remain in stationary position for required meetings/work 
• Visual acuity requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities 
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels, and to receive detailed information through oral communications
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating standard office equipment, use of advanced technology 
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g., business office, light traffic) 
• Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions 
• Must be adaptable to performing under mild to high levels of stress 
• Must be on-call as a regular part of the job

Full job description:

Duties:

• Assists in the administration of business affairs of the district in such a way as to provide the best possible educational services with the financial resources available
• Provides direction and expertise for developing and implementing appropriate controls and practices to ensure fiscal compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and Local oversight agencies
• Ensures the office's programs are implemented in a manner consistent with District’s goals and objectives 
• Guides development, implementation, and evaluation of cash management procedures for the district, including management of grant funding
• Assumes responsibility for the daily maintenance of the district's general ledger, including adjusting journal entries, budget adjustments, chart of account maintenance, and reconciliation of general ledger accounts to ensure that accurate account balances are reflected
• Conducts a monthly review of budget vs. actual expenditures to maximize benefits from the prudent expense of every dollar
• Prepares, implements and monitors the district budgets
• Maintains a continuous internal control program for all funds
• Completes the fiscal year end close out procedures as well as coordinating with the district's audit firm for annual audit engagements
• Assists in recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating all Finance personnel
• Responsible for entering all Federal budgets for departmental staff
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor

Qualifications:

• Graduation from a college/university with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business Administration required and three or more years of progressively responsible related experience in governmental accounting (or Master's degree in related area)
• CPA certification preferred
• Strong knowledge of accounting information systems preferred

Physical and Cognitive Requirements:

The major physical and cognitive requirements listed below are applicable to this job classification within Alleghany County Schools.

Work in this classification is considered light physical work requiring the exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.

Must be able to:

• Operate a variety of equipment including computers, copiers, overhead projectors and data projectors
• Operate a motor vehicle
• Compare, interpret, analyze and generate date and apply basic principles of statistics
• Listen and communicate effectively in order to gather, convey or exchange information, including giving instructions, assignments or directions to subordinates or assistants
• Respond appropriately to inquiries or complaints
• Use tact and courtesy when working and dealing with the community
• Read, comprehend and prepare various kinds of communication and information including emails, correspondence, reports, articles, proposals, contracts, policies, charts, spreadsheets, curriculum documents, staff development plans, educational forms and data
• Write using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction and style
• Speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence, including the Board of Education
• Apply principles of logical, critical, creative or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Deal with abstract and concrete variables
• Demonstrate and apply common sense understanding to carry out simple instruction and to make simple decisions
• Interpret, infer, analyze, synthesize and evaluate materials, resources, situations and problems to generate options and solutions
• Interpret and carry out oral and/or written instructions
• Demonstrate continued professional curiosity and growth
• Communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety offsetting, using appropriate terminology and by telephone and email
• Hear, speak, read, record and explain information, communication and procedures
• Perform basic math functions to understand and interpret data to balance budgets
• Deal fairly with people beyond giving and receiving instructions
• Perform under stress, deal with persons acting under stress and displaying emotional distress and adapt when confronted with emergency situations
• Work in-person in Alleghany County

*All other duties as assigned.

This job description is designed to give an overview of the scope of work that this position entails.  All employees serve at the pleasure of the Superintendent of Alleghany County Schools and thus must be willing to fulfill all assigned duties to the expected degree set forth by the Superintendent.

DISCLAIMER
 

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.