South Portland Schools seeks a financial leader to oversee the day-to-day business operations of the district.
Position Title: Director of Finance Department: Business & Finance Reports to: Superintendent of Schools Prepared by: Suzanne Godin (July 19, 2010) Revised by: Tim Matheney (June 14, 2024) SUMMARY: Responsible for overall financial operations of the school department, including development and maintenance of annual budget and long-range financial projections. Member of the superintendent's leadership team with a central role in school department planning and analysis of current programs, support systems, contract management and expenditures. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (Other duties may be assigned.) Prepares and administers the school department's annual budget and guides long-range financial planning. Ensures prudent use of funds by providing adequate control and accounting of the District's financial and physical resources and overseeing the District's General Journal. Serves as a partner to the City's external auditors and ensures compliance with their processes. Approves all expenditures of funds and ensures compliance with the City purchasing ordinance. Prepares the school department's financial reports. Ensures that report formats meet all state, local and department reporting requirements. Oversees key business functions such as accounting, accounts payable, and payroll. Ensures compliance with state and federal grant spending, accounting, reimbursement and reporting Serves as a member of the district's senior leadership team. Assesses financial systems and identifies approaches for improvement. Participates with county and state organizations in staying abreast of school finance reform and other district related issues. Manages the District's insurance policies and interface with the appropriate carrier when necessary. Assists in the development and oversight of major capital projects throughout the District. Manages the financial reporting for the various federal and other grants the District receives. Serves as administrative liaison to the School Board Finance Committee. Serves as chief negotiator for collective bargaining agreements as determined by the superintendent. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Implements supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the school department's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Advanced academic degree in business administration, public administration or educational administration. Executive level experience in a public sector organization with responsibility for financial administration, preferably in an educational system. LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies or members of the business community. Ability to effectively present information to administrators, public groups/community and the Board of Education. MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations. Ability to apply financial concepts such as compound interest, time value of money, tax rates and discounts. REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES: Personal computer and spreadsheet skills. Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory in specific field. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff and the school community. Ability to speak clearly and concisely both in oral and written communication. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all school department requirements and Board of Education policies. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision. Some driving is necessary. Occasionally, yet essential to this position, the individual must meet deadlines with severe time constraints, interacting with the public and other workers. Occasionally the position requires the employee to work irregular or extended hours, direct responsibility for the safety, well being or work output of other people and meet multiple demands from several people. WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually very quiet. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Shall be determined by the Board. EVALUATION: The Superintendent of Schools will evaluate performance in this position. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.