Finance Manager

School District of Waukesha; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

School District of Waukesha seeks a Finance Manager to support the district and Business Office, ensuring proper procedures and timely financial reporting. The role emphasizes accuracy, timely reporting, and strong customer service to schools, administrators, and the public.

The successful candidate will oversee accounting operations, manage the annual budget process, and coordinate external audits, while maintaining confidentiality and meeting DPI requirements.

Qualifications

• Mastery of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and GASB requirements.
• Understanding of Wisconsin Uniform Financial Accounting Requirements.
• Ability to develop and maintain financial reports and analyses.

Responsibilities

• Maintain documented accounting policies and procedures.
• Oversee accounting department operations and structure.
• Manage outsourced functions and finance staff oversight.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

GASB knowledge

Budgeting

Data analysis

Communication

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Business Administration

DPI #08 Business Manager License (preferred)

CPA or CMA designations (preferred)

Job description

SUMMARY

The Finance Manager supports the schools and Business Office while ensuring proper procedures are followed and financial transactions are properly reported. Emphasis is placed on accuracy and timeliness with exemplary customer support.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following are duties and responsibilities, but are not limited to such activities, and may change at any time with or without notice.

Management:

• Maintain a documented system of accounting policies and procedures.
• Manage outsourced functions.
• Oversee the operations of the accounting department, including the design of an organizational structure to achieve the department's goals and objectives.
• Oversee the accounting operations of subsidiary funds, especially their control systems, transaction-processing operations, and policies and procedures
• Recommend training for all staff relating to financial matters.
• Provide oversight and management of the financial system software.

Transactions:

• Ensure that accrual accounts (payable/receivable) are paid in a timely manner.
• Ensure that all reasonable discounts are taken on accounts payable.
• Manage and supervise fixed asset recording.
• Ensure that monthly bank reconciliations are completed in a timely manner.
• Oversee and monitor cash flow management, investment placement and daily banking management.
• Ensure that required debt payments are made on a timely basis.
• Maintain the chart of accounts.
• Maintain an orderly accounting filing system.
• Maintain a system of controls over accounting transactions.
• Oversee the administration of the District’s student fee process & collections.

Reporting:

• Issue timely and complete financial statements.
• Coordinate the preparation of the district annual report.
• Ensure timely and accurate retrieval of information as needed in coordination with the School District of Waukesha Administration, Board of Education and Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
• Recommend benchmarks against which to measure the performance of operations.
• Calculate and issue financial and operating metrics.
• Manage the production of the annual budget and forecasts.
• Monitor and communicate with all sites regarding encumbrance accounting and site-based budgeting procedures and allocations.
• Calculate variances from the budget and report significant issues to administration.
• Provide for a system of records management to meet reporting requirements.
• Provide financial analyses and technical assistance as needed, in particular for personnel costs and budget issues.

Compliance:

• Coordinate the provision of information to external auditors for the annual audit.
• Monitor debt levels and compliance with debt covenants.
• Comply with local, state, and federal government reporting requirements and filings.

Accountabilities:

• Perform other duties assigned by the CFO/Assistant Superintendent of Business Services

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required at the time of hire or for the continuation of employment.

Desired Qualifications:

• The preferred candidate will have mastered knowledge of: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; GASB requirements, and Wisconsin Uniform Financial Accounting Requirements.
• Possess excellent communication skills and a positive attitude; assertive and outgoing with a confident personality.
• Ability to work effectively, collaboratively and positively with staff, administrators, parents, and the public.
• Ability to work under stressful conditions; to maintain self-control and handle complaints and requests for information in an effective, positively and efficiently.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of student and District information.
• Effectively establish timelines, coordinate multiple projects and meet deadlines.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• The Finance Manager should have a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Business Administration, or equivalent experience. 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in an educational or public administration setting.
• Preference will be given to candidates with a Department of Public Instruction #08 Business Manager License, CPA or CMA designations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability in computational skills; able to create accounting and financial reports from selected data.
• Ability to work independently and unsupervised for extended periods of time.
• Demonstrate knowledge and expertise in the area of fund accounting.
• Ability to work within deadlines and timeframes.
• Superior skills to develop and maintain spreadsheets.
• Demonstrate effective public relation, organizational, communication, and inter-personal skills.
• Demonstrate flexibility in a changing environment and responsibility.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret federal, state, and/or DPI regulations, handbooks, computer and manuals, budget reports and statistical data.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals.
• Ability to interpret and communicate reports, procedures, and computer applications to faculty, staff, and students.
• Ability to communicate in a friendly, efficient manner in both oral and written form.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to statistically manipulate numbers; make advanced mathematical calculations; check for accuracy.
• Ability to analyze data, interpret trends and make accurate projections.

REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to define problems, collect data, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and effectively solve problems.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Independent problem solving is required to analyze issues and create action plans.
• Understanding of, and ability to maintain strict confidentiality.