School Finance & Budget Specialist

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is seeking an experienced accounting/clerical professional to manage intermediate bookkeeping and accounting tasks within a school setting. The role covers maintaining records, budget reconciliation, and processing payments and contracts to support fiscal management.

The position emphasizes on-site work with duties spanning payroll processing, accounts payable, purchasing, and financial reporting to ensure compliance with district policies and federal/state

Qualifications

• Considerable knowledge of bookkeeping/accounting practices for cash management, revenue, and expenses.
• Ability to effectively organize and maintain records.
• Ability to interpret standard accounting and financial statements.
• Ability to prepare reports and business correspondence.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to calmly route concerns to appropriate staff.
• Ability to learn pertinent district policies and procedures rapidly, apply them in appropriate situations, and explain them to staff, parents, students, and the public.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and initiative in completing work assignments and determine when to refer situations to supervisor;
• Ability to reason, work, and problem-solve independently in order to carry assignments to completion according to expected timelines while adhering to established policies and procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, orally and in writing, including electronic media.
• Working knowledge of computer programs, including email, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to organize, prioritize, manage and carry out duties efficiently and within established timeframes.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with all stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Maintains a complete and systematic set of records of all financial transactions as required by federal, state, and school board rules, regulations, policies, and laws. Reviews and reconciles accounts and budget reports on a monthly basis. Assists in district directed audits of records and accounts.
• Assists principal with budget development.
• Analyzes, verifies and reconciles school budget reports to maximize the use of funds in compliance with local, state and federal fiscal requirements.
• Initiates, prepares, and verifies payment requests, (direct payments, purchase orders, travel requests), reviews for proper documentation, and obtains necessary approvals.
• Purchases goods and services for the school using a variety of approved methods. Initiates all purchase orders, obtains quotes for goods and services, obtains necessary approvals, and maintains accurate records of transactions and inventory.
• Initiates and reviews school contracts and prepares supporting documentation to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
• Verifies and records cash collections by school staff, including but not limited to field trip, fundraising, and athletic activities. Posts activities on the online payment platform. Issues check payment to field trips vendors, athletic event officials, and other vendors as required.
• Manages the school's checking account ensuring bank deposits are made according to policy and prepares monthly reconciliation of the school's checking account.
• Prepares sales and use tax reports to process payment of tax.
• Initiates, prepares, and processes transactions relating to the school's purchasing card, tracks expenditures, reconciles balances on a monthly basis, and maintains records of all purchases.
• Composes reports and records for review as well as financial correspondence for principal's approval and signature.
• Maintains accounts payable files for verification of receipt of items.
• Prepares and enters invoices; updates customer lists and transactions; prepares journal entries for distribution.
• Performs various payroll duties as assigned.
• Trains other staff to ensure they are familiar with and able to perform the essential treasurer duties in the absence of the school treasurer.
• Answers inquiries from staff and parents pertaining to interpretation of school district's financial policies and procedures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Bookkeeping

Accounting

Record keeping

Budget development

Payroll duties

Financial reporting

Attention to detail

Communication

Confidentiality

Time management

Education

Associate's degree in a relevant field

Two years accounting experience

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Word processing

Spreadsheets

Databases

Job description

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is seeking an experienced accounting/clerical professional to manage intermediate bookkeeping and accounting tasks within a school setting. The role covers maintaining records, budget reconciliation, and processing payments and contracts to support fiscal management.

The position emphasizes on-site work with duties spanning payroll processing, accounts payable, purchasing, and financial reporting to ensure compliance with district policies and federal/state