Position: Director of Finance and Operations
Department: Administration
Job Goals: To provide fiscal leadership and oversight of the school district in order to
support the education of our students.
Anticipated Start Date: Negotiable
Description Summary:
Under the direct supervision of the Superintendent of Schools, the Director of Finance and Operations shall provide leadership, development, and coordination in the areas of budget development, financial planning, accounting, building maintenance, transportation, and food services. He/she will work collaboratively with the District’s leaders, including Asst. Superintendents, building Principals, Directors, and School Committee members to promote effective financial management across WPS.
Qualifications:
Education, Experience, and Licensure:
- Master’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related discipline.
- At least three years’ of successful financial management and supervisory experience, preferably in a municipal or school organization.
- Must be certified (or certifiable) by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as an Assistant Superintendent or Business Manager.
- Demonstrated ability and experience with computers, in particular, databases, spreadsheets, and word processing.
- Fluent in Google Suite and Microsoft Platforms.
- MCPPO certification or willingness to become certified.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Working knowledge of public school or municipal finance practices and procedures
- Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations
- Must possess excellent management, technology, and written/verbal communication skills.
- Excellent human relations/interpersonal skills required in order to work collegially and cooperatively with all constituencies within the City of Woburn and Woburn Public Schools, including the School Committee and Central Administration.
- Ability to maintain the utmost confidentiality and discretion across sensitive information
- Ability to perform detailed work accurately and efficiently within critical deadlines
- Ability to work after hours on occasion, including attendance at evening meetings
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- Maintain responsibility for the internal management and administration of the District’s finances, including: budgeting, purchasing, accounting, and payroll & systems in accordance with School Committee policy, state and federal laws and regulations.
- Assist with preparation and analysis of strategic and long-range planning projections, including multi-year financial projections, enrollments, system-wide goals related to WPS Strategic Plan, and facilities. Prepare the annual operational and capital budgets, including educational short and long term fiscal planning, estimation of receipts, budget control procedures, and reporting of fiscal relationships with other govt. units.
- Establish and maintain appropriate systems to manage the approved budget, including: the general, capital reserve and trust funds, internal accounts, student activity accounts, voucher and payroll preparation, inventory, employee attendance accounting, govt. tax and pension accounting, special and trust fund cost accounting, maturities, debt payment, capital programs, all aspects of audits and procedures, etc.
- Supervise the preparation of school financial reporting activities, including local, state, and federal financial and statistical reports, while reporting results through public media and requisite legal advertising.
- Work closely with the Student Services department on all aspects of the Student Services/Special Education budget, including grants, other revenue sources, and expenditures, such as out-of-district tuition and transportation.
- Assist the Superintendent with all collective bargaining agreements, and serve as a member of the collective bargaining team representing the School Committee. Attend all regular, bi-weekly School Committee meetings, and other Sub-Committees sessions relevant to position and functions, including the Finance Sub-Committee.
- Function as District’s procurement officer under the provisions of MGL Chapter 30B and assume such responsibilities as required by law. Prepare all bids for district procurements, including: documents, notice to bidders, instructions, specifications and bid forms, and oversee public bid openings.
- Oversee Personnel management and all subsequent functions under the District’s Central Office, Payroll & Benefits, and Accounts Payable & Receivable, ensuring compliance with the district policies and collective bargaining units.
Manage, supervise, and evaluate the Director of Food Services, the Director of Buildings & Grounds, and the District’s Business and Central Office staff.
- Administer the operation of the District’s cafeteria and food services through the Director of Food Services, as well as the maintenance of the District’s facilities, grounds,and equipment through the Director of Buildings & Grounds.
- Administer the District’s transportation program, including: student assignments to bus routes, negotiation of route changes, and all contractor communications relevant to district needs to ensure smooth operations of student busing.
- Develop, supervise and/or administer all insurance programs and policies, claims, reporting, and record-keeping functions. Maintain fiscal supervision of all service contracts, construction projects, and acquisition of state and federal state surplus properties.
- Oversee annual independent district audits and respond to recommendations. Supervise the expenditures and record keeping for federal and state grants.
- Oversee end of year reporting.
- Assist with and maintain individual employee contracts.
- Coordinate the student, workers’ compensation, liability, automotive, and property insurance and associated risk management and risk prevention strategies.
- Administer a program of plant operation and maintenance, security and property protection and community use of school facilities and participate as part of a team in making decisions related to construction planning.
- Provide day-to-day oversight for school construction, reconstruction, or renovation projects including procurement, financial monitoring and oversight, contractor oversight, reimbursement requests, and reporting requirements.
- All other duties as assigned by the Superintendent of Schools.
Terms of Employment: The salary range for this position is between $140,000 to $160,000 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience. Benefits in accordance with School and City benefits for Administrative School District Staff.
Woburn Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a proud member of Mass Partnership for Diversity in Education (MPDE)