Director of Finance and Fiscal Strategy

At Hopkins Public Schools, we believe that our strength lies in the diversity of our students, staff, and community. We are a proudly inclusive E-12 district serving approximately 7,200 students across the City of Hopkins and surrounding communities. Our district represents a rich mosaic of cultures, backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences; we value and celebrate that diversity in everything we do. As an academically rigorous and human-centered district, we are committed to fostering a welcoming environment where every student and staff member feels seen, heard, and valued. There is no "typical" Hopkins student, and we embrace this truth as a catalyst for innovation, growth, and equity in learning.

We seek educators and staff who are equity-minded, culturally responsive, and deeply committed to creating inclusive spaces where all learners can thrive.

We welcome candidates who are passionate about dismantling systemic barriers, advancing justice, and preparing students to become bold, collaborative, and compassionate global citizens. When you join Hopkins Public Schools, you are not just joining a district, you are becoming part of a community that honors difference, nurtures potential, and inspires remarkable achievement in every learner, from birth through graduation.

You are welcome at Hopkins. You belong at Hopkins.

Job Summary

The Director of Finance and Fiscal Strategy serves as the District's chief financial leader and is responsible for the strategic oversight and execution of all financial, budgetary, accounting, purchasing, and business operations. This executive leadership role is central to maintaining the District's fiscal integrity, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, and advancing best practices in public-sector financial management.

As a key member of the District's executive leadership team, the Director serves as a strategic advisor on all matters related to financial planning, resource allocation, organizational sustainability, risk management, and long-term fiscal strategy. The Director leads the development of transparent financial systems and processes that support student achievement while ensuring responsible stewardship of public resources.

The Director plays a critical role in safeguarding the District's financial health through rigorous internal controls, continuous process improvement, strategic budgeting, and data-informed decision making. Working collaboratively with district leaders, the Director helps ensure that organizational priorities, investments, and operational decisions are fiscally sustainable and aligned with the District's strategic goals.

This position requires a highly skilled financial executive with a demonstrated record of fiscal leadership and success in a public-sector environment, preferably within a Minnesota school district. The successful candidate will possess significant experience in budgeting, forecasting, auditing, financial controls, and long-range planning, along with a proven ability to build financial confidence, organizational trust, and operational excellence.

This position requires a forward-thinking financial leader capable of guiding the District through fiscal complexities, changing revenue environments, and long-term sustainability challenges in support of student success.

Duties/Responsibilities

Financial Strategy & Fiscal Stewardship

• Direct the development and administration of the District's annual budget, multi-year financial forecasts, capital planning strategies, and property tax levies.
• Lead long-range financial planning efforts that align district resources with strategic priorities and organizational goals.
• Ensure all financial planning, accounting practices, and business operations comply with state and federal regulations, accounting standards, board policy, and recognized best practices in public finance.
• Develop, implement, and maintain robust internal controls, accounting systems, auditing procedures, and financial oversight mechanisms that protect public resources and ensure fiscal accountability.
• Monitor the financial performance of all district funds, including General Fund, Food Service, Community Education, Debt Service, and Capital Funds, and provide timely analysis, recommendations, and corrective actions as necessary.
• Identify financial risks, opportunities, and trends and provide strategic recommendations to district leadership and the Board of Education.
• Lead debt management, investment oversight, cash-flow management, banking relationships, and other treasury-related functions.
• Develop financial models and scenario analyses to support district planning, enrollment changes, legislative impacts, labor settlements, and strategic initiatives.
• Ensure the District maintains a strong financial position through disciplined budgeting, fund balance management, fiscal forecasting, and responsible stewardship of public resources.
• Develop and implement financial strategies that support the District's long‑term fiscal health, sustainability, and strategic priorities.

Business Operations & Financial Process Excellence

• Provide leadership and oversight of business office operations, including accounting, budgeting, payroll, accounts payable, purchasing, receivables, financial reporting, and audit coordination.
• Ensure the timely and accurate processing of payroll, vendor payments, accounting transactions, procurement activities, and state and federal financial reporting.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts to strengthen financial systems, streamline business processes, increase operational efficiencies, and improve service delivery throughout the organization.
• Develop and implement business practices that improve fiscal transparency, consistency, accountability, and operational effectiveness.
• Oversee district insurance programs, tax‑sheltered annuities, student accident coverage, and other risk‑management‑related financial programs.
• Establish and monitor financial performance measures and reporting tools that support informed decision‑making throughout the organization.
• Coordinate all external audits and financial reviews and ensure prompt implementation of recommendations and corrective actions when necessary.
• Lead efforts to modernize financial systems, reporting practices, and business processes to improve effectiveness, accuracy, and accountability.

Executive Leadership & Strategic District Support

• Serve as an active member of the District's executive leadership team, contributing to districtwide strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, and decision‑making.
• Partner with district leaders to evaluate programs, initiatives, staffing models, and operational proposals through a fiscal and sustainability lens.
• Provide financial guidance and analytical support for district initiatives, strategic plans, referendum planning, labor negotiations, enrollment trends, and organizational improvement efforts.
• Collaborate with department leaders to align resource allocation with district goals and ensure sustainable financial decision‑making.
• Support district leadership and the Board in identifying and implementing strategies that maintain the long‑term fiscal health and future viability of the District.
• Cultivate a culture of fiscal responsibility, financial literacy, accountability, and continuous improvement across all levels of the organization.
• Provide leadership in developing data‑informed financial strategies that maximize organizational effectiveness while preserving educational excellence.
• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor regarding the allocation of resources and financial implications of district priorities and initiatives.

Organizational Development & Talent Management

• Supervise Finance Department personnel, ensuring high standards of performance, accountability, customer service, and continuous professional growth.
• Partner with Human Resources in workforce planning, compensation analysis, staffing projections, and organizational budgeting.
• Provide leadership and analysis in district negotiations with employee bargaining units by assessing fiscal impacts, sustainability, and long‑term budget implications.
• Recommend personnel actions and manage staffing and organizational changes within the Finance Department.
• Foster a culture of professional excellence, continuous learning, and service‑oriented leadership within the Finance Department.

Governance, Accountability & Community Engagement

• Prepare and present financial reports, recommendations, budget documents, and long‑range financial analyses to the Board of Education to support sound governance and informed decision‑making.
• Facilitate the Citizens' Financial Advisory Committee and the Board Audit Committee.
• Coordinate and oversee all external financial audits and related compliance activities.
• Serve as clerk for school elections, overseeing candidate filings, election logistics, and compliance.
• Maintain transparent and productive relationships with governmental agencies, auditors, financial advisors, community stakeholders, and external partners.
• Communicate complex financial information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences, building understanding and confidence in the District's financial management.
• Promote transparency and trust through clear communication regarding the District's financial position, challenges, and opportunities.

Professional Learning & Continuous Improvement

• Remain current on laws, regulations, accounting standards, and best practices affecting public finance and school business management through active participation in professional organizations and ongoing professional development.
• Leverage data, technology, and continuous improvement practices to enhance financial operations and organizational effectiveness.
• Promote innovation and excellence in financial management practices across the District.
• Benchmark district financial practices against leading school districts and public‑sector organizations to identify opportunities for improvement and enhanced fiscal performance.

Additional Duties

• Perform other responsibilities as assigned to advance the District's mission and ensure effective stewardship of public resources.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of public finance, governmental accounting, budgeting, forecasting, auditing, investments, and financial reporting.
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic financial planning, resource allocation, long-range forecasting, and fiscal sustainability.
• Strong understanding of internal controls, risk management, financial compliance, and audit requirements.
• Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial information and develop strategic recommendations.
• Excellent leadership, communication, presentation, and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to translate complex financial concepts into understandable information for non‑financial audiences.
• Ability to lead organizational change and build systems that drive operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to collaborate effectively as a member of a senior executive leadership team.

Demonstrated commitment to ethical leadership, transparency, integrity, and stewardship of public resources.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, Educational Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated record of successful executive-level financial leadership in a public-sector organization, preferably a Minnesota school district.
• Significant experience leading budgeting, accounting, auditing, financial reporting, forecasting, treasury management, and long-range financial planning.
• Proven success maintaining strong internal controls, achieving clean audits, strengthening financial processes, and advancing organizational fiscal sustainability.
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic financial planning, fund balance management, levy and revenue analysis, debt management, and resource allocation.
• Experience advising governing boards and executive leadership teams on financial strategy, risk management, and organizational sustainability.
• Ability to translate complex financial information into clear recommendations that support policy decisions and district priorities.
• Evidence of fostering a culture of fiscal accountability, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement.
• Experience working in or leading organizations recognized for sound financial stewardship, budget discipline, and long-term fiscal health.
• Demonstrated success implementing financial systems, process improvements, and operational controls that result in increased efficiency, accuracy, and accountability.
• School finance certification, CPA, MBA, SFO (School Finance Officer), Certified Government Finance Officer (CGFO), or other advanced financial credentials preferred.

Hours & Compensation:

1.0 - FTE - 261 Days, Year-round
Director Contract
Range: $170,215 - $193,165 Annually
Position specific Benefits information is available HERE
Union Contracts, Position Handbook/Agreements are located HERE