Chief Financial Officer presso Fort Worth Independent School District

Chief Financial Officer

Reports to: Superintendent
Pay Grade:  103
Duty Days:  239
Salary Range: $175,957- $211,995

Position Purpose
 
Responsible for the oversight and management of all phases of the business and finance operations including business controls, accounting, payroll, benefits, budget, purchasing, grants & development, risk management, and business intelligence.  Serves as District Financial Advisor to the Superintendent and Board of Education in the development and maintenance of annual budgets and long-range financial projections, planning and analyses of programs, support systems, revenues, and expenditures.
 
 
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
 
Financial Management
 

• Provides advice and counsel regarding all financial and business operational matters; presents financial and budget reports as required to the Superintendent and Board of Education.
• Develops long- and short-range objectives and goals for the efficient financial and business operations of the District.
• Plans and conducts needs assessments for growth and improvement of the District's business, finance, budget, and accounting operations.
• Ensures that controlled accounting/budgeting, business operations, and reporting systems are in place to safeguard the District's assets.
• Serves as the primary liaison with the District's external auditors in conducting annual and/or periodic audits as requested.
• Recommends appropriate methods to minimize or eliminate losses/risk in all insurance and risk management programs.
• Provides guidance to the Superintendent’s Leadership Team to achieve cost-effective practices throughout the District in order to channel resources that provide the best academic rate of return for FWISD students.
• Ensures preparation and integrity of all district general accounting records and related financial reports using accepted standards for school accounting as prescribed by the Texas Education Agency.
• Acts as financial advisor to the superintendent and board of trustees and keep them informed of the financial condition of the district.
• Maintains the district’s investment portfolio.  Supervises and coordinates the investment of all available funds to the best interest of the school district and ensures that these funds are adequately protected against loss at all times.
• Ensures that all financial obligations of the school district (accounts payable, notes payable, bonded indebtedness, and payroll) are met on a timely basis.
• Implements and maintains internal control procedures to ensure the safeguarding of assets and reliability of accounting data and to promote operational efficiency and ensure adherence to prescribed procedures.
• Oversees the auditing program for all district funds and works cooperatively with the district’s independent and internal auditors in conducting periodic audits.

• Ensures that the District is in compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, policies, and laws concerning public education business administration.
• Confirms that all required reports and data to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and other appropriate agencies are accurate and submitted in a timely manner; including reports required to be submitted to the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS).
• Certifies compliance with all purchasing laws and regulations, including Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR).
• Ensures compliance with the Public Funds Investment Act.
• Participates in the legislative process to support legislation beneficial to the District.
• Reviews and recommends appropriate policies, administrative regulations, and administrative practices for the areas supervised.

• Oversees the Grants & Development Department; supports the application of grant funding that benefits the District's academic initiatives.
• Articulates the District's financial mission and goals to the community.

• Ensures staff follows established safety procedures and techniques to perform job duties including lifting and climbing; operates equipment according to established safety procedures.
• Ensures staff corrects unsafe conditions in work area and promptly reports any conditions that are not immediately correctable to supervisor.

• Selects, trains, supervises, and evaluates direct reports, and makes recommendations relative to assignment, retention, discipline, and dismissal.

• All Fort Worth ISD employees must maintain a commitment to the District’s mission, vision, and strategic goals.
• Exhibits high professionalism, standards of conduct and work ethic.
• Demonstrates high quality customer service; builds rapport/relationship with the consumer.
• Demonstrates cultural competence in interactions with others; is respectful of co-workers; communicates and performs as a team player; promotes teamwork; responds and acts appropriately in confrontational situations.

• Performs all job-related duties as assigned and in accordance with Board rules, policies and regulations.  All employees are expected to comply with lawful directives in rare situations driven by need where a team effort is required.

• Knowledge of financial accountability systems, data collection, management, and analysis.
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership techniques, and coordination of people and resources.
• Knowledge of school finance, budgeting, and accounting systems at the advanced level.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations governing public school finance, including Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements, and knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Skill in applying best-practices and leadership in managing a large staff and budget.
• Skill in leadership that supports and encourages process improvement and consensus.
• Skill in public relations, organizational development, communications, and interpersonal relations.
• Skill in written and oral communication skills including ability to interact with and influence all levels of central office and campus staff as well as parents.
• Skill in analyzing and organizing complex fiscal data and developing effective/efficient solutions to business problems.
• Ability to plan, direct, and establish priorities and coordinate a variety of complex fiscal operations.
• Ability to communicate complex financial matters to all audiences, particularly individuals who may not possess extensive financial knowledge.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of employees, the school board, or other organizations.
• Ability to merge divergent views and expectations into a long-range vision for the District.
• Ability to read and comprehend various legal documents.
• Ability to establish program goals and objectives that support the strategic plan.
• Ability to provide strategic leadership, engage in creative problem solving, and contribute to effective team building.
• Ability to focus work primarily on the support of student learning.
• Ability to work collaboratively with District staff, leadership, and members of the community.
• Ability to use software to access databases, email, create spreadsheets, and do word processing.
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to leadership, performance, and professional growth.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.

• Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings, as required.

• Tools/Equipment Used:  Standard office equipment, including computer and peripherals.
• Posture:  Prolonged sitting and standing; occasional stooping, squatting, kneeling, bending, pushing/pulling, and twisting.
• Motion:  Frequent repetitive hand motions, including keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching.
• Lifting:  Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds).
• Environment:  Works in an office setting; occasional work outside to travel between buildings or in the preparation/completion of meetings; requires occasional irregular and/or prolonged hours.
• Attendance:  Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required for this position.
• Mental Demands:  Maintains emotional control under stress; works with frequent interruptions.

• Education: 
  • Bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university in a business-related field required;
  • Master's degree from accredited college or university in a business-related field preferred.
• Certification/License: 
  • CPA preferred;
  • Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) Certification preferred such as Certified Texas School Business Official (CTSBO), or Registered Texas School Business Administrator (RTSBA).
• Experience: 
  • 10 years’ progressively responsible experience in business administration with at least 500+ employees including (public sector, or private sector) including:
    • 5 years’ experience in Texas public school business management at the Director-level or above;
    • Experience managing departmental teams;
    • Experience presenting complex data to leadership and/or Board of Education

 
 
This document is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.