DIRECTOR OF FISCAL SERVICES

Bellflower Unified School District; Bellflower (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Bellflower Unified School District is seeking an Executive Director of Fiscal Services to lead budgeting, accounting, payroll, and financial record management. You will supervise staff and provide strategic financial direction to support district goals.

The role requires strong leadership, regulatory knowledge, and the ability to communicate complex financial information to diverse stakeholders. This position offers competitive compensation and benefits within a California public education

Qualifications

• Five years of progressively responsible financial management experience, including accounting, budgeting, and fiscal administration.
• Two years of supervisory responsibility.
• Experience in a K-12 district is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct accounting, budgeting, purchasing, payroll, and financial record management.
• Prepare and present periodic financial statements for all district funds.
• Oversee grant applications and funded programs and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate budget development, forecasting, and long-range fiscal planning.
• Liaise with external auditors and manage audit processes.

Skills

Budget management

Financial analysis

Supervision

Communication

Auditing

Cash flow management

Grant management

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/business/public administration

Tools

Accounting software

Job description

Executive-Level Financial Leadership Opportunity - Competitive Compensation & Benefits

Lead fiscal operations for a school district where your financial expertise directly supports student achievement. As Director of Fiscal Services, you'll oversee budget, accounting, and payroll operations, grow professionally, and help shape district-wide financial policy. Join our leadership team and advance your career while making a meaningful difference in education.

BASIC FUNCTION

Under general direction, to plan, organize, and direct the accounting, budgeting , purchasing, payroll and financial record management functions and activities of the district; provides leadership and management for all fiscal operations.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Director of Fiscal Services provides leadership and oversight for the district's fiscal operations, distinguished from lower-level positions by its responsibility for planning, organizing, and directing the entire fiscal services department including supervision of the Accounting Manager, Purchasing Manager, and Senior Accounting Assistants with full managerial authority over district-wide financial functions. The position is distinguished from higher-level positions such as Chief Business Officer in that the latter have broader responsibilities across multiple administrative functions beyond fiscal services, including facilities, maintenance, transportation, and other business operations, and typically report directly to a Superintendent-level role.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from the Chief Business Officer. Exercises direct supervision over fiscal services staff including the Accounting Manager, Purchasing Manager, Senior Accounting Assistants, and indirectly supervises Payroll staff, Accounts Payable staff, Warehouse Supervisor, and Buyer.

• Plans, organizes, directs, and participates in the functions and activities of the fiscal services unit, including budget preparation and control, payroll preparation, purchasing, and record maintenance, and systems and processes pertaining to the proper disbursement of funds, assure compliance with applicable laws, codes, rules and regulations.
• Plans, organizes, prepares, and presents periodic financial statements outlining the district's income and expenditure position for all funds.
• Performs fiscal analyses and audits and provides preliminary budget estimates and projections.
• Oversees the calculation and projection of the District’s apportionments, especially calculations related to enrollment, attendance and unduplicated pupil count.
• Counsels, confers with, and advises district and site personnel regarding budget-related matters and issues, and aids in determining alternative fiscal problem solutions.
• Reviews, monitors, and controls categorical budgets and major account expenditures, and alerts appropriate management personnel before accounts reach a predetermined expenditure limit.
• Directs and performs financial and budget master planning process, including near-, mid-, and long-range planning, determination of human and monetary resource needs, and the establishment of fiscal goals and objectives.
• Oversees and executes the planning, organizing, and development of fiscal policies, regulations, and operational guidelines.
• Plans, develops, and implements procedures pertaining to the investment of excess district funds.
• Serves as a liaison to external auditors and analyzes, evaluates, and interprets audit reports to appropriate levels of management.
• Plans, develops, and implements fiscal and record management procedures to ensure adherence to an effective and efficient operational mode.
• Reviews, monitors, and evaluates the performance of subordinates and assists them in the resolution of unusual or unforeseen problems and concerns.
• Supervises, trains, and evaluates assigned personnel.
• Aids fiscal service personnel in resolving rights disputes, which may include conducting hearing processes.
• May serve as a member or a resource to the District’s collective bargaining team; prepare fiscal information for collective bargaining activities; maintain confidentiality regarding issues related to negotiations and other collective bargaining matters.
• Attends and participates in a variety of meetings, workshops, conferences and training to maintain current knowledge of emerging trends; makes presentations regarding District financial objectives, plans and achievements to groups and committees.
• Coordinates the preparation and administration of grant applications and awarded funds by overseeing necessary documentation, tracking expenditures, and verifying compliance to secure external funding and ensure adherence to regulatory standards.
• May perform the more technical and responsible fiscal services functions.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• Principles, methods, procedures, and trends pertaining to the management of budget, accounting, and fiscally related processes.
• Audit, fiscal control, and research process methods, procedures, and strategies.
• Principles, trends, techniques, and strategies of modern organization management and supervision.
• Legal mandates, policies, regulations, and guidelines pertaining to educational fiscal management processes.
• Government accounting standards and practices applicable to school districts
• California school finance, attendance accounting, and apportionment processes
• Financial reporting requirements for educational agencies
• Principles of investment and cash flow management
• Computerized financial systems and related software applications
• Grant management and compliance requirements
• Collective bargaining processes and fiscal implications
• Budget development and multi-year forecasting methodologies
• Fundamental concepts of employment laws, codes, and regulations, including EEO, FLSA, FMLA, and Cal/OSHA

Ability to:

• Effectively and efficiently coordinate, manage, and direct the district fiscal programs and processes.
• Analyze financial data and perform comprehensive audits of funds and accounts
• Develop and implement effective budget, accounting, and fiscal control procedures
• Lead and develop fiscal services personnel through effective supervision and training
• Communicate complex financial information clearly both verbally and in writing
• Work independently with minimal oversight while maintaining accountability
• Build and maintain cooperative relationships with administrators, staff, and external agencies
• Exercise sound judgment in financial decision-making
• Adapt fiscal operations to meet changing regulatory requirements
• Present financial information effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Maintain confidentiality with sensitive fiscal and personnel information
• Demonstrate the highest standards of fiscal ethics, professional integrity, and accountability in all aspects of financial management
• Model communications and interactions that respect and include all individuals and their languages, abilities, religions, and cultures

EDUCATION

A Bachelor's degree with a major in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or a field closely related to the job requirements of this classification from an institution of higher learning recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation.

EXPERIENCE

Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in financial management within a public agency, including accounting, budgeting, and fiscal administration. Experience must include two (2) years of supervisory responsibility. Experience in a K-12 school district educational setting is preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work is performed primarily in an office environment with extensive periods using computer equipment.
• The position involves regular interaction with district administrators, department managers, staff, and representatives from external agencies.
• May require attendance at evening meetings and occasional travel to conferences, workshops, and school sites.
• Subject to frequent interruptions and high volumes of work during peak periods such as fiscal year-end, budget development, and audit seasons.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Physical demands are typically those associated with an office environment.
• Primarily sedentary with extended periods of sitting and computer use.
• Requires visual acuity sufficient to work with financial data and operate a computer; hearing and speech ability sufficient to communicate effectively in person and over the telephone; manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment.

All offers of employment are conditional, based upon the successful completion of the following: Fingerprint/conviction clearance, physical examination including a drug screening by a District approved physician, and a test for tuberculosis.