Chief Finance and Operations Officer

Michigan Association of School Boards; Wayne (MI); On-site; USD 144,000 - 183,000; Full time

Job summary

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools is seeking a Chief Finance and Operations Officer to oversee accounting, business and finance operations, facilities, transportation, custodial services, food service, and capital projects. You will lead budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and strategic financial planning while ensuring compliance with state statutes and board policies.

The role requires extensive district-level finance experience, strong leadership, and excellent communication skills, with the

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting; Master’s degree in Business or related field or CPA preferred.
• Michigan School Business Official Certification or equivalent; MSBO CFO Certification Preferred.
• Minimum five years’ experience in public school district finance and operations.
• Experience in budget development, forecasting and monitoring; governmental accounting and audits.
• Experience with bond issues, capital programs, and cash flow management.
• Strong leadership and ability to manage large teams.
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills.

Responsibilities

• Assumes overall responsibility for the District’s accounting, business and finance operations, facilities maintenance, custodial contract management, pupil transportation contract management, and food service operations functions.
• Provides direction and support regarding purchasing.
• Responsible for contract management.
• Responsible for forecasting, developing, publishing and monitoring all District budgets for all funds and any reports required by the State of Michigan, Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools.
• Assumes overall responsibility for the effective reporting of all district financial transactions and compliance with all state statutes, federal regulations, and Board Policy.
• Communicates and interprets financial and operational information to the District, Board, Finance and Operations Committee, public and media.
• Attends and prepares for Board of Education meetings, Finance & Operations Subcommittee meetings, and serves as a member of the Superintendent’s Core Leadership Team.
• Oversees District investments and debt service to the financial benefit of the District.
• Administers property and liability insurance and claims.
• Responsible for district property tax levies and collections.
• Performs such other tasks and assumes such other responsibilities as may be assigned by the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee.
• Oversees operational functions of the District including Food Service, Transportation, Facilities, Custodial Services, Maintenance and Grounds, and capital bond programs.
• Supports district personnel in projecting student enrollment, staffing needs, building and facilities’ needs, energy needs, capital equipment needs, and other cost items for district and individual school improvement.
• Supervises and evaluates the performance of the Executive Director of Finance & Accounting, Director of Capital Programs & Facilities, Director of Food Services & Nutrition, and Executive Assistant to the CFOO.
• Provides strategic planning and financial management of all capital improvement projects.
• Responsible for capital program implementations, accounting, and cash flow projections, including all financial decisions related to bond revenue, expenditures, investment and legal obligations.

Job description

Deadline: November 1, 2026
District/Organization: Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
Position/Type: Other, full time
Salary: $143,978 – $183,179

POSITION: Chief Finance and Operations Officer

THE COMMUNITY

Plymouth–Canton Community Schools is Michigan’s fifth largest school district, located between Detroit and Ann Arbor, serving the communities of Plymouth, Plymouth Township and parts of Canton Township, Northville Township, Salem Township and Superior Township.

While Plymouth-Canton Community Schools has buildings located throughout its 54-square-mile boundary, the Board of Education office is located in the community of Plymouth, which is renowned for its historic charm and scenic beauty. Plymouth has a thriving downtown with fine restaurants, distinctive shops and a multitude of recreational opportunities.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT

More than 16,000 students are enrolled in our 24 schools. The district is comprised of an early childhood center, 14 elementary schools (grades K-5), five middle schools (grades 6-8), three high schools (grades 9-12), and an alternative high school. The high schools are uniquely located on one site known as the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, which serves more than 6,000 students. The community holds high expectations for student performance. Plymouth-Canton’s student achievement levels far exceed local, state and national norms on standardized tests.

JOB GOAL

Responsible for ensuring that financial management functions and activities are operated in a legal and efficient manner to provide maximum support and contribution to the instructional program of the School District, and providing direction and leadership for Finance Services. Direct and manage the support operations of the district including maintenance, transportation, grounds, custodial, food service, facility rentals, capital planning, bond sales and construction management. This person will be an influential contributing partner on the District’s CORE and Cabinet Teams providing strategic planning and leadership of the financial, operational and capital improvement project functions of the District.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Master’s degree in Business or related, or CPA. CPA preferred.
• Michigan School Business Official Certification or equivalent. MSBO CFO Certification Preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in public school district finance and Operations.
• Demonstrated successful experience in the following areas: public school finance, budget development, forecasting and monitoring; governmental accounting, annual audits, public fund investment, bond issues and capital programs, sinking funds, construction and site improvements, managing and forecasting cash flows, federal and state grants, health/life/LTD/dental/vision evaluations, collective bargaining, vendor contract negotiations, facilities maintenance, custodial management, food service oversight, pupil transportation, real estate transactions, communications, and implementing and evaluating complex systems.
• Demonstrated abilities in cultivating positive work environments and leading and supervising large teams.
• Demonstrated skills in communicating complex financial information, public speaking, and systems development and implementation.
• Ability to work with staff and citizens in committee contexts.

REPORTS TO

Superintendent of Schools

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assumes overall responsibility for the District’s accounting, business and finance operations, facilities maintenance, custodial contract management, pupil transportation contract management, and food service operations functions.
• Provides direction and support regarding purchasing.
• Responsible for contract management.
• Responsible for forecasting, developing, publishing and monitoring all District budgets for all funds and any reports required by the State of Michigan, Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools.
• Assumes overall responsibility for the effective reporting of all district financial transactions and compliance with all state statutes, federal regulations, and Board Policy.
• Communicates and interprets financial and operational information to the District, Board, Finance and Operations Committee, public and media.
• Attends and prepares for Board of Education meetings, Finance & Operations Subcommittee meetings, and serves as a member of the Superintendent’s Core Leadership Team.
• Oversees District investments and debt service to the financial benefit of the District.
• Administers property and liability insurance and claims.
• Responsible for district property tax levies and collections.
• Performs such other tasks and assumes such other responsibilities as may be assigned by the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee.
• Oversees operational functions of the District including Food Service, Transportation, Facilities, Custodial Services, Maintenance and Grounds, and capital bond programs.
• Supports district personnel in projecting student enrollment, staffing needs, building and facilities’ needs, energy needs, capital equipment needs, and other cost items for district and individual school improvement.
• Supervises and evaluates the performance of the Executive Director of Finance & Accounting, Director of Capital Programs & Facilities, Director of Food Services & Nutrition, and Executive Assistant to the CFOO.
• Provides strategic planning and financial management of all capital improvement projects.
• Responsible for capital program implementations, accounting, and cash flow projections, including all financial decisions related to bond revenue, expenditures, investment and legal obligations.

This description is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions and the essential requirements for the performance of this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and requirements of a person so classified. Other functions may be assigned and the Superintendent retains the right to add or change the duties at any time.

BEGINNING DATE: TBD

SALARY RANGE & BENEFIT OVERVIEW

Salary Range: $143,978-$183,179

This is a 52-week non-affiliated position that includes a comprehensive fringe benefit package.

Full year salary will be prorated to the start date.

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and talk or hear and sometimes walk and sit. Occasionally the employee will bend or twist at the neck more than the average person. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 50 lbs such as boxes of books. The employee is directly responsible for safety, well-being, or work output of other people. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Plymouth-Canton Community School district is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Plymouth-Canton Community School district is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age or any other legally protected status. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Upon recommendation for employment, Section 1230g, as amended, of the Revised School Code requires all school employees to be electronically finger printed for the purpose of undergoing a criminal history background check. The fingerprinting is conducted by a third party and is at the expense of the applicant. The cost for fingerprinting is approximately $70.00.