Director of Business Services

New Trier High School District; Northfield Township (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

The Director of Business Services at New Trier High School District provides leadership for the District's financial and business operations, including budgeting, accounting, payroll, purchasing, and grants. The Director ensures sound fiscal stewardship, effective internal controls, regulatory compliance, reliable financial reporting, and responsible use of District resources.

The role advises District leadership and the Board, leads financial forecasting, oversees continuous improvement of

Qualifications

• Master's or advanced degree required in Accounting, Finance, Business Admin, School Business Management, or related field.
• IL CSBO endorsement or CPA required.
• Minimum of five years in business/finance with supervisory experience; district experience preferred.
• Knowledge of school/government finance, budgeting, payroll, internal controls, and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual budget development, administration, and analysis including staffing assumptions.
• Oversee monthly/year-end close, financial statements, and management reporting.
• Direct payroll, purchasing, and related financial operations with strong internal controls.
• Coordinate external audits and grant reporting; ensure regulatory compliance.
• Lead process improvements and system implementations across the Business Office.
• Develop staff, establish accountability, and present financial information to the Board.

Skills

Financial leadership

Policy analysis

Staff development

Communication skills

Change management

Education

Advanced degree in Accounting/Finance

CSBO endorsement or CPA

Tools

Financial systems

Payroll systems

Timekeeping software

Job description

Location: District-wide responsibilities

Reports to: Deputy Superintendent

Supervises: Business Office Assistants, Comptroller, Payroll Manager, Assistant Payroll Manager, and Transportation and Purchasing Manager

Position Overview

The Director of Business Services provides leadership and oversight for the District's financial and business operations, including accounting, budgeting, financial planning and analysis, payroll, purchasing, grants, transportation, and related functions. The Director ensures sound fiscal stewardship, effective internal controls, regulatory compliance, reliable financial reporting, and responsible use of District resources.

The Director serves as a key financial advisor to District leadership, providing analysis, forecasts, and recommendations to support strategic planning, collective bargaining, and decision-making. The Director also leads continuous improvement of business processes and systems and develops a collaborative, accountable, and service-oriented Business Office team.

Leaders at New Trier possess the skills and dispositions described in the New Trier Candidate Profile.

Qualifications

• Master's or advanced degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, School Business Management, or a related field
• Illinois Professional Educator License with Chief School Business Official (CSBO) endorsement or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) required.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in business, finance, accounting, or related operations, including supervisory experience; public school district experience preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of school or governmental finance, accounting, budgeting, payroll, internal controls, and financial reporting.

Knowledge, Skills, and Leadership Competencies

• Strong analytical, financial modeling, problem-solving, and decision-support skills.
• Ability to interpret complex financial information and communicate it clearly to financial and non-financial audiences.
• Collaborative leadership and strong interpersonal, written, presentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to design and improve financial processes, controls, systems, and workflows.
• Strong understanding of school finance, fund accounting, budgeting, payroll, purchasing, grants, and cash management.
• Ability to lead and develop staff, manage priorities, and establish accountability.
• Proficiency with financial, payroll, timekeeping, payment, and related information systems.
• Ability to evaluate emerging technologies, learn new systems, lead implementation and adoption, and help staff use technology effectively to improve efficiency, service, and organizational capacity.
• Commitment to ethical conduct, fiscal responsibility, continuous improvement, high-quality service, and adherence to schedules and deadlines.

Financial Planning and Analysis

• Leads development, administration, and analysis of the District's annual budget, including revenue, expenditures, salaries, benefits, and staffing assumptions.
• Develops short- and long-range financial forecasts and scenario analyses to support strategic planning, staffing, capital planning, contractual commitments, and other District initiatives.
• Monitors financial performance, including budget-to-actual results, revenue and expenditure trends, fund balances, cash requirements, and other key indicators; identifies significant variances, risks, and opportunities.
• Evaluates the financial impact of changes in enrollment, staffing, legislation, funding, property values, tax collections, grants, and other factors affecting District finances.
• Prepares financial reports and analyses for collective bargaining, including salary schedule modeling, wage and benefit projections, staffing assumptions, multi-year contract costing, and evaluation of bargaining proposals and settlement alternatives.
• Prepares the Annual Tax Levy, ensuring accuracy and compliance with state law.
• Advises District leadership on financial matters and the alignment of resources with strategic and educational priorities.

Financial Reporting, Accounting, and Controls

• Directs accounting and financial operations, including general accounting, accounts payable and receivable, cash receipts, activity accounts, purchasing, and related functions.
• Oversees monthly and year-end close and prepares financial statements, Board reports, forecasts, variance analyses, dashboards, and other management reporting.
• Oversees the safeguarding, accounting, reconciliation, and disbursement of District funds and maintains effective internal controls and cash management practices.
• Develops financial analyses and presentations to support Board, administrative, collective bargaining, and operational decision-making.
• Oversees fixed asset records, inventory controls, and related financial records.

Payroll

• Supervises the District's payroll function and payroll staff, including payroll processing, reconciliations, controls, tax requirements, and TRS and IMRF reporting.
• Ensures payroll practices comply with laws, regulations, collective bargaining agreements, Board policies, and District procedures.
• Collaborates with Human Resources on compensation, salary changes, stipends, deductions, leaves, and other payroll-related information and leads improvements to payroll and timekeeping systems and processes.

Audit, Budget, Compliance, and Grants

• Coordinates the annual external audit and fiscal year-end financial statement process and leads responses to audit findings and recommendations.
• Oversees state, federal, and local financial reporting, including the ISBE budget, Annual Financial Report (AFR), and required financial, grant, payroll, and pension submissions.
• Oversees financial administration of federal, state, and other grants, including budgeting, expenditure monitoring, reimbursement requests, recordkeeping, and reporting.
• Ensures Business Office operations comply with legal, regulatory, accounting, Board policy, collective bargaining, and District requirements and maintains required financial transparency information.

Process Improvement, Systems, and District Support

• Leads continuous improvement of Business Office processes, systems, and controls to improve efficiency, reliability, transparency, and service.
• Evaluates workflows to identify opportunities for simplification, standardization, automation, stronger controls, and improved use of technology.
• Leads or participates in the implementation and enhancement of financial, payroll, purchasing, timekeeping, payment, and related business systems.
• Establishes procedures and documentation that promote consistent practices, data integrity, operational continuity, and effective internal controls.
• Partners with Human Resources, Technology, schools, and departments to improve cross-functional processes and provides training and guidance on budgets, financial procedures, and business systems.

Purchasing, Transportation, and Contracted Services

• Oversees purchasing and procurement in accordance with District policy and legal requirements and evaluates significant purchases, contracts, and vendor relationships for cost effectiveness and operational value.
• Oversees transportation services and works with District administrators and staff to promote safe, reliable, efficient, and fiscally responsible operations.
• Assists with administration and financial oversight of food service and other assigned contracted services.

Staff and District Leadership

• Leads Business Office operations and recruits, develops, supervises, and evaluates assigned staff, establishing expectations for accountability, collaboration, service, and continuous improvement.
• Develops cross-training, procedures, and backup coverage to support continuity of critical Business Office functions.
• Collaborates with District leadership to evaluate the financial and operational implications of initiatives, programs, contracts, and staffing decisions.
• Presents financial information and analysis to the Board of Education, administrators, collective bargaining teams, and other stakeholders.
• Identifies opportunities to automate or streamline routine business processes to make routine business processes more efficient while maintaining strong financial controls, accurate data, and appropriate oversight.
• Maintains confidentiality and professional judgment in financial, personnel, collective bargaining, and other sensitive matters.
• Stays current on Illinois school finance, accounting, payroll and pension requirements, financial technology, and school business management practices.
• Attends District Leadership Team meetings.
• Participates in local and statewide school business professional organizations.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Deputy Superintendent.