POSITION DESCRIPTION

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

The LEA Finance Officer is responsible for all fiscal affairs of the school system, including the State, federal and local funds, the enterprise funds, and capital operations. The finance officer shall install and maintain an integrated system to plan fiscal operations to ensure sound decisions, accountability, and transparency. This legislatively required position, per G.S.115C-435, must be able to interpret and follow fiscal regulations prescribed by the North Carolina General Statutes, State Board Education, federal agencies, the Local Government Commission, and other funding entities. This position is the financial leader of the school district and is required to have a comprehensive accounting knowledge including the ability to interpret and implement new accounting standards, per GASB. This position is a critical component of the leadership team of a school district.

Under limited supervision, CFO performs comprehensive supervisory and management responsibilities to carry out Board of Education (BOE) policies and procedures for the Alamance-Burlington School System (ABSS) financial operations and other delegated areas of responsibility. Work involves formulating, coordinating, and directing all aspects of ABSS financial planning and administration, including the development of comprehensive short-and long-range budgets. The employee is responsible for directing the planning, receipt collection, disbursement, and accounting of ABSS revenues and expenditures, managing the investment of ABSS funds, and assisting the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, and other cabinet members in preparing the annual budget. The employee directs a professional, technical, and clerical staff responsible for compiling data for various reports required by oversight agencies and assisting outside auditors. Work involves directing the activities of staff members in performing designated functions and participating in auditing and maintaining general accounts and the general ledger. The employee is also responsible for exercising initiative and independent judgment to ensure proper administration of the Finance Division—reports to the Deputy Superintendent.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Five years of professional experience in finance operations combined with one of the following:

1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a minimum of 15 semester hours in accounting or
2. Licensed Certified Public Accountant.
3. Certified by the State Board of Education as an LEA school finance officer prior to July 1, 2023.
4. A candidate must submit a college transcript, a confirmation of the certified public accountant license (if applicable), resume reflecting work history and letter of recommendation from the superintendent of the school district to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Chief Financial Officer for review.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION (CPE)

All certified finance officers must complete 24 contact hours of approved CPE credits during each fiscal year. This shall include at least two hours of conflict of interest training regarding the making and administering of contracts.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provides district leadership, the Local Board of Education, building-level administrators and others with appropriate guidance, policies and procedures related to financial matters.
• Prepares and maintains the school district annual budget; analyzes and costs the local boards and local superintendent’s initiatives and ensures appropriate and allowable funding sources. Manages all activity for a balanced budget that is in compliance with the School Budget and Fiscal Control Act.
• Analyzes various financial, personnel and student data and records for leadership decision-making. These analyses are used in preparation of reports as required for submission to local, state, federal oversight agencies and/or superintendent and board.
• Maintains a payroll system in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Internal Revenue Service Code, as well as procedures related to salary and absence data required by the State Board of Education.
• Oversight of the school system purchasing and contract procedures to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal policies.
• Ensures compliance with the Federal funding expenditures to ensure compliance of federal regulations including Uniform Grant Guidance and specific grant requirements.
• Maintains the general ledger system, including adjusting journal entries, budget adjustments, chart of account maintenance, and reconciliation of general ledger accounts to ensure accurate account balances and adherence to general accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Utilizes a complex chart of accounts and recognizes and researches appropriateness of accounts codes on payroll expenditures, payroll collections, and non-salary expenditures and determines required steps for resolution.
• Responsible for the year-end financial statements for the annual independent audit and the school system’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). Provides auditors (independent, state and/or federal) all required reconciliations and other client prepared materials.
• Maintains all system-wide bank accounts and ensures timely and accurate reconciliation of all bank and balance sheet accounts.
• Ensures the quality of fiscal operations at the individual schools, through periodic audit reviews of fiscal records and ensures corrective action is taken, as necessary.
• Oversees the preparation and management of the Board of Education’s annual
• Oversees preparation/publication of the Board of Education’s final budget document in accordance with all legal
• Plans, organizes, directs, and supervises operations of the Finance Division; directs and participates in the formulation and implementation of applicable finance policies, ensuring adherence to generally accepted accounting practices and principles of governmental accounting, the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, and the rules and regulations of the Local Government Commission [source: NCGS 115C-436 (a) (1
• Gives the pre-audit certificate required by NCGS 115C-441 [source: NCGS 115C-436 (a) (2)].
• Signs and issues all checks, drafts, and State warrants by the local school administrative unit, invests idles cash, and receives and deposits all money accruing to the local school administrative unit. [source: NCGS 115C-436 (a) (3)].
• Invests idle cash in the classes of securities as defined in NCGS 115C-443 (c) and ensures that such deposits are secured as provided in NCGS 115C-444 (b).
• Prepares and files a statement of the financial condition of the local school administrative unit as often as requested by the superintendent and when requested in writing, with a copy to the superintendent, by the board of education or the board of county [Source: NCGS 115C-436 (a) (4)].
• Provides information, advice, assistance, and recommendations to the Superintendent, Board of Education, and County Commissioners.
• Directs and monitors Finance Division operations to maintain, control, and analyze full adherence and implementation of ABSS fiscal policies and procedures.
• Assists members of the Superintendent’s Cabinet with financial matters as necessary; answers inquiries and explains policies and procedures.
• Assists members of the Superintendent’s Cabinet in preparing budget estimates and in determining the costs for new, expanded, or reorganized programs.
• Safeguards ABSS physical assets through the implementation of adequate internal controls and ensures adequate accounting records to document compliance with local, state, and federal laws and ordinances.
• Assists outside auditors in completing the Board of Education’s annual financial
• Oversees the operations of the district’s child nutrition program.
• Oversees the district’s process management
• Oversees maintenance of accounting work on grants received by schools, processing adequate records, reimbursements, code reviews, etc., to comply with applicable laws and ordinances.

 ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Prepares and delivers written and oral presentations on ABSS budget and fiscal matters as well as other financial concerns to the BOE, Superintendent, administrators, teachers, parents, and community groups; attends regular meetings of the Board; conducts staff meetings; attends other related meetings.
• Assumes a leadership role on the Superintendent’s Cabinet with issues pertaining to long-range strategic planning, policies, and other activities.
• Supervises and conducts personnel administration duties for direct reports subordinates, including hiring and firing recommendations, evaluating, assigning special duties, monitoring attendance and travel reports, and approving leave.
• Attends meetings of the Board of Education and provides information as
• Performing such other duties as may be assigned by law, by the superintendent, or by rules and regulations of the State Board of Education and the Local Government Commission [source: NCGS 115C-436 (a) (45].
• Attends seminars, conferences, workshops, classes, lectures, etc., to enhance and maintain knowledge of trends and developments in accounting and auditing; reviews professional journals; attends association and professional meetings; and otherwise maintains contacts with professionals to facilitate exchange of information.

 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Thorough knowledge of the philosophies, principles, practices and procedures of public-school
• Thorough knowledge of administrative, managerial, and supervisory practices and techniques. Thorough knowledge of the organization and current operations of ABSS.
• Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations governing Financial Services functions, including finance, accounting, accounts payable, budgeting, courier services, fixed assets, payroll, print shop, purchasing, risk management, textbooks, warehousing, school nutrition services, and pupil transportation services.
• Thorough knowledge of the County Board of Education procedures and the State Department of Public Instruction.
• Thorough knowledge of the operations of local government, including taxation and other sources of revenue.
• Thorough knowledge of funding sources and mechanisms for public Ability to develop long-term goals and objectives.
• Ability to develop effective financial policies and budgets and to maintain fiscal control through knowledge of generally accepted accounting practices and auditing, including modern ABSS financial administration.
• Ability to maintain standard accounting and control measures for
• Ability to effectively invest school funds.
• Ability to develop and administer
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports and narratives from compiled researched data; and to analyze financial statements and other technical data.
• Ability to make administrative decisions in accordance with laws, ordinances, regulations and school system policies and procedures.
• Ability to exercise considerable independent judgment and initiative in planning and directing an extensive fiscal control system.
• Ability to express ideas effectively both orally and in
• Ability to make oral presentations before large or small
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and to exercise sound independent judgment in planning, directing, and coordinating the work of a technical and professional staff.
• Thorough knowledge of the ethical guidelines applicable to the position as out-lined by professional organizations and/or federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.
• Ability to operate standard office machines and popular computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate various equipment including computers, copiers, adding machines, Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, and pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Light work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree.
• Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
• Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments, and/or directions from
• Language Ability: Requires the ability to read correspondence, reports, forms, billing statements, invoices, financial statements, rosters, insurance forms, turnaround documents, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, forms, reports, billing statements, invoices, and financial statements using proper format. Requires the ability to speak to people with poise, voice control, and confidence.
• Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in oral, written, diagrammatic or schedule form.
• Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in standard English and government terminology. Include as necessary any professional languages, i.e. medical, accounting, personnel, and child nutrition.
• Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract totals; to multiply and divide; to determine percentages and decimals; and to apply the theories of algebra/statistics.
• Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and
• Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment or tools of the position.
• Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
• Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of
• Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.
• Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.