Chief Financial Officer

Memspa; Grand Rapids (MI); Hybrid; USD 149,000 - 198,000; Full time

Job summary

Grand Rapids Public Schools seeks a Chief Financial Officer to lead the district's financial operations, overseeing budgeting, accounting, payroll, and purchasing, with regular interaction with the Board and district stakeholders.

The role requires an MBA or CPA and seven to ten years of operational and financial management experience, with strong leadership and communication skills and an emphasis on internal controls and compliant processes.

Qualifications

• MBA or CPA required.
• 7–10 years of operational/financial management experience.
• Ability to lead and manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Oversees all financial and business aspects of District operations, including budgeting and purchasing.
• Develops and monitors the district budget process with input from stakeholders.
• Leads financial reporting, audits, and GAAP/compliance activities.
• Collaborates with the Board, district leaders, and external advisors.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication

Punctuality

Education

MBA

CPA

Job description

Deadline: November 9, 2026
District/Organization: Grand Rapids Public Schools
Position/Type: Central Office – 1st Line Admin, full time
Salary: $149,000 – $197,600

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO)

UNIT:Executive Exempt

WAGE:Compensation is based on the candidate’s years of verified and relevant experience, as determined by Human Resources.

GRPS MISSION
Our mission is to ensure that all scholars are educated, self-directed and productive members of society.

JOB SUMMARY

This is a high-level executive position reporting directly to the Superintendent and serving as a pivotal member of the Superintendent’s executive leadership team. This position oversees the financial operations of the District and requires regular interaction with the Board of Directors and District stakeholders. This position provides leadership, manages, and supervises the Director of Financial Services and the Director of Purchasing.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Education and Experience:

• Master of Business Administration or Certified Public Accountant.
• Seven to ten years successful experience in operational management in a business setting, including financial and accounting management.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Consistently demonstrate dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to be a team leader, plan and manage multiple projects.
• Highly developed written and oral communication skills including ability to facilitate group discussions and deliver superior customer service to diverse audiences.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Essential functions under the Americans with Disabilities Act may include any of the following duties, knowledge, and skills. This list is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by employees in this position. Regular on time and in person attendance is an essential function of this job. Other essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Oversees all financial and business aspects of District operations, including directly, Business Services (accounting, accounts payable and accounts receivable), Payroll and Purchasing. Works collaboratively with cabinet level and district leaders, as well as school leaders on financial and business issues that impact their areas of responsibilities.
• Monitor financial conditions and recommend strategies to maintain fiscal stability and sustainability.
• Oversees development and implementation of the district’s budget process, including alignment with the district’s strategic goals and facilitating stakeholder input. Provide leadership in financial forecasting and multi-year budget planning.
• Leads presentations for multiple audiences, including the board of education.
• Monitors District’s cash flow, develops and implements cost saving measures and maximizes resource utilization and investment income. Direct investment activities in accordance with Board policy and Michigan law.
• Oversees debt issuance, bond programs, and capital financing activities.
• Collaborate with financial advisors, bond counsel, auditors, and banking institutions.
• Ensure the timely completion of annual financial statements and audits.
• Develop and maintain strong internal controls to safeguard district assets.
• Ensure compliance with Michigan School Accounting Manual requirements and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Ensure compliance with local state and federal grant requirements, relating to the district’s finances and budgeting.
• Analyzes proposed and existing legislation in area of responsibilities to assess implications to District and communicate impact to District leadership, appropriate legislators, and community and professional groups.
• Participates in District’s negotiation team with employee groups to represent district financial considerations.
• Maintains knowledge of current and emerging financial trends, strategies and regulations and communicates same to District Superintendent, managers, and staff.
• Oversee purchasing and procurement functions. Ensure competitive bidding requirements and purchasing procedures are followed.
• Provide oversight for payroll administration. Ensure compliance with tax regulations and retirement reporting requirements.
• Maintains positive, cooperative, and mutually respectful relationship with all administrative and instructional staff and community stakeholders.
• Consistently demonstrate dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time.

ADA REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below 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.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment). Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust/focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually loud to moderate. Work is performed indoors although there will be required outdoor activities. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being, and work output of scholars.

MENTAL FUNCTIONS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile, and negotiate.

NON-DISCRIMINATION/ACCOMMODATION ASSISTANCE

The Grand Rapids Public Schools will not discriminate against any person based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, height, weight, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran, or military status.

Assistance with the application process may be requested through the Human Resources Department at [phone] [e-mail].

DISCLAIMER

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were written out in this job description. The District reserves the right to modify or amend this job description to meet organizational needs.