Chief Financial Officer (BOE) Office of Finance
Job Description
REPORTS TO: Superintendent of Schools
SUPERVISES: Budget Management, Payroll, Grants Management, Financial Management
Accounting and Disbursements and Controls, Risk Insurance and Compliance Management
DISTRICT OVERVIEW: New Haven Public Schools (NHPS), a recognized leader in the school change movement, is seeking to hire a Chief Financial Officer in the District. NHPS is a large urban public-school district with a nearly $400 million budget. Its 40 schools educate more than 19,000 students with a curriculum designed to give them the best individualized education possible.
POSITION: Reporting directly to the Superintendent of Schools, the CFO will be responsible for all financial management activities and will provide counsel and advice to the senior management staff and the Board on all financial matters. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a key strategic leader within the Superintendent's Cabinet. The CFO will manage and administer the financial and business affairs of the New Haven Public Schools in such a way as to maintain the integrity of District finances and maximize financial and related resources. This approach should promote the highest level of educational experience and equity for the students of New Haven Public Schools, making the CFO's role integral to the students' education. The CFO will also be able to think and communicate strategically about fiscal issues related to the changing environment faced by schools’ systems around the country. The ideal candidate should be capable of working closely and collaboratively with the Superintendent and other members of the Senior Leadership Team. They will need to engage with the Board, the staff, and key stakeholders (including the Mayor's office and the Board of Alders) in a clear, supportive, and direct manner. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, excellent written and oral communication skills, a hands-on management style, and the ability to address and solve problems as they arise. Additionally, they should be diplomatic, have the highest integrity, and exhibit sound judgment.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: - Oversees and manages the financial operations and staff for the NHPS system. This includes assuring that the Fiscal Department is supervised, trained, and motivated to maintain the highest levels of teamwork and partnership with other functions and departments within the school system.
- Serves as the principal advisor to the Board of Education, superintendent, chief operating officer, and Assistant Superintendents in matters related to all financial services management and planning activities.
- Oversees and manages the financial operations and staff for the NHPS.
- Serves as a member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet and participates in developing NHS’ strategic plan, setting policy and monitoring performance.
- Ensures timeliness, accuracy, and usefulness of financial and management reporting for NHPS management and the Board of Education, City, Board of Alders, state, and federal partners, foundations, and other external parties as needed.
- Designs financial and budgeting systems that reinforce interschool equity and school portfolio strategies, including school-based discretion in financial planning and budgeting.
- Creates financial models and forecasts; provides clear and complete communications to support or explain financial data.
- Represents the school district on financial issues in public meetings as well as before corporate executives, elected officials, and public agency administrators, including in evening and weekend events.
- Coordinates, prepares and oversees all fiscal audits; insures that NHS is in full compliance with all municipal, state and federal legal and regulatory financial requirements and communicates potential risk information to the Board, the Superintendent and the Superintendent’s Cabinet.
- Supports the capital budget in collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer and the district’s construction and facilities partners.
- Assures financial compliance with city, state and federal laws and regulations; Oversees cash flow planning and ensures availability of funds as needed, in collaboration with the City.
- Provides and empowers schools with information and resources necessary to achieve the goals and manage site-based budget expenditures Creates a culture of engagement and expectations with principals and other administrators.
- Works with members of the senior leadership to ensure maximum participation by program staff in the budget development and implementation process.
- Monitors organization performance against budget and recommends required actions to control spending.
- Ensures the accuracy and reliability of all financial data; assures all financial transactions and reporting systems are supported by consistent and ongoing user training and are audited periodically for use and integrity.
- Reports and interprets financial information to the Board and serves as a resource for interpreting Board-level requirements as mandated by the Mayor and other oversight agencies.
- Designs and implements the annual operating budget request process which includes a stakeholder engagement strategy.
- Meets with parent and community groups and other interested parties to explain school-based staffing and the structure of financial support to the city school system. (Provides oversight and advice to parent groups and staff members at schools to help them understand and manage different funding sources (in particular PTO/PTA's)
- Coordinates with the internal audit staff to identify any problem areas in financial accountability to take corrective action.
- Prepares cost estimates for grant applications and other initiatives.
- Prepares proposal for improvements in state and federal aid formulae.
- Performs other duties as directed by Superintendent
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor degree in Finance, Accounting or related field required; advanced degree in a related field, MBA and/or CPA strongly preferred.
- Minimum of 7 (seven) years related experience, preferably in a large, complex government organization and/or school system.
- Demonstrated leadership ability, team and project management
- Knowledge of generally accepted accounting practices and principles as relevant to government and public-school systems.
- Thorough knowledge of federal, state, local, and Board of Education laws, policies, regulations, and procedures relating to financial management and controls and budgeting.
- Demonstrated ability to develop an integrated financial services program with responsibility for developing budget plans and controlling expenditures and related activities. Demonstrate ability to analyze, identify, and implement information technology solutions in a complex setting.
- Knowledge of internal control systems used for general accounting principles and specialized nonprofit industry accounting practices and procedures.
- Expertise in publicly funded education programs strongly preferred.
- Expertise in maintaining accurate financial records and preparing clear and accurate reports for informational, auditing and operational use.
- Ability to read, analyze, interpret and explain complex financial data.
- Ability to work independently, prioritizing workflow to meet critical deadlines and paying exceptionally close attention to detail.
- Ability to communicate strategically
- Excellent written and interpersonal skills.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: (Frequent overtime or night work required, etc.) Ability to work evenings and weekends
SALARY: minimum starting salary, $165,000; salary will commensurate with experience.
The New Haven Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to a diverse workforce. For more information on the New Haven Public Schools, please visit their website at
www.nhps.net.