Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is directly responsible to the Superintendent of Schools for the direction, supervision, coordination, and strategic oversight of the business and financial operations of the Duneland School Corporation. The CFO serves as the Corporation Treasurer and provides executive leadership to ensure sound fiscal management, regulatory compliance, transparency, and long-term financial sustainability in support of the Corporation's educational mission. Salary Range: $140,000-$155,000

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, School Business Management, Education or a closely related field required.
• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, School Business Management, School Administration or a related discipline preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in governmental finance, school finance, school administration, or business management.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience with Indiana public school finance, budgeting, capital projects, and governmental accounting is strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of governmental accounting principles, budgeting practices, financial reporting, internal controls, and fiscal management.
• Working knowledge of Indiana school finance and applicable requirements of the Indiana Department of Education, Department of Local Government Finance, State Board of Accounts, and other federal, state, and local agencies.
• Ability to develop and manage complex budgets, financial forecasts, and long-range fiscal plans.
• Knowledge of procurement procedures, debt financing, capital project budgeting, grants administration, and regulatory compliance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret financial data and provide strategic recommendations.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and project management abilities with the capacity to supervise staff and manage multiple priorities.
• High degree of integrity, sound judgment, discretion, and commitment to ethical financial practices.
• Proficiency with financial management software, spreadsheet applications, and other technology commonly used in school business operations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Board of School Trustees, Superintendent, administrators, employees, auditors, governmental agencies, vendors, and community stakeholders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as Treasurer of the Duneland School Corporation in accordance with applicable Indiana statutes and Board policy.
• Administer the overall operations of the Corporation's Business Office.
• Prepare and administer the Corporation's annual taxable funds budget and present the proposed budget to the Board of School Trustees as required by law.
• Ensure annual taxable fund budgets, related schedules, debt reporting, and other required submissions are completed accurately and timely through the GATEWAY system and other reporting platforms in accordance with Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), State Board of Accounts (SBOA), and applicable statutes.
• Oversee the Corporation's accounting systems and financial reporting functions to ensure accuracy, transparency, and compliance with governmental accounting standards and legal requirements.
• Monitor cash flow, investments, debt obligations, and financial reserves to maintain the Corporation's fiscal stability and liquidity.
• Lead long-range financial planning and forecasting efforts, including multi-year revenue and expenditure projections to support strategic decision-making.
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Facilities to develop long-term capital improvement plans and budget accordingly for facility projects.
• Oversee, in collaboration with the Director of Facilities and Assistant Superintendent, all construction and renovation project budgets, applications for payment, and project schedules to ensure timely and satisfactory completion.
• Assist the Director of Facilities with developing bid specifications and procurement documents for equipment, supplies, and services when necessary.
• Coordinate with financial advisors, bond counsel, underwriters, and other professionals regarding debt issuances, refinancing opportunities, and financing strategies as directed by the Superintendent and Board of School Trustees.
• Monitor state and local regulations, legislative changes, and economic conditions that may affect tuition support, tax rates, tax levies, or Corporation revenues, and advise the Superintendent and Board accordingly.
• Assist in developing financial strategies and budget adjustments necessary to ensure continued operations with minimal disruption to educational programs.
• Develop, implement, and monitor internal financial controls and risk management practices designed to safeguard Corporation assets and ensure accountability.
• Ensure procurement and purchasing procedures comply with applicable federal and state laws, grant requirements, Board policy, and sound business practices.
• Oversee purchasing procedures, inventory controls, and expenditure processes for all funds and recommend improvements when appropriate.
• Oversee the fiscal administration of federal and state grants and serve as a financial consultant on grant proposals to ensure compliance with applicable funding requirements.
• Ensure financial-related Board policies, administrative guidelines, and procedures remain aligned with statutory and regulatory requirements and recommend revisions when appropriate.
• Coordinate preparations for State Board of Accounts audits and work collaboratively with staff to address findings, strengthen internal controls, and implement corrective actions as needed.
• In collaboration with the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources Director, and Director of Business Services, ensure employment contracts are accurate, issued in a timely manner, and properly maintained for certified personnel.
• Supervise and participate in the evaluation of personnel involved with business and financial operations, including central office and building-level bookkeepers and secretarial staff.
• Supervise, support, and evaluate the Director of Facilities and Director of Child Nutrition Services.
• Provide fiscal data and analyses necessary for collective bargaining with certified staff and participate as a member of the district's negotiating team.
• Assist in evaluating salaries, wages, and fringe benefits for administrators, directors, and classified employee groups and provide fiscal analyses of proposed changes.
• Serve as a member of the Corporation's Insurance Committee and 403(b) Committee; monitor plan costs and contracts and collaborate with consultants to evaluate benefit offerings and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Oversee the integrity and effectiveness of the Corporation's financial information systems and recommend technology enhancements to improve operational efficiency and reporting capabilities.
• Oversee the timely submission of required state and federal reports, records, inventories, and disclosures, and ensure records are maintained in accordance with applicable retention requirements.
• Prepare, publish, and present financial reports, analyses, and recommendations to the Superintendent, Board of School Trustees, and other stakeholders to support informed and transparent decision-making.
• Develop procedures to ensure continuity of critical financial operations during emergencies or unforeseen disruptions.
• Provide leadership and guidance to administrators and staff on financial management issues and promote best practices in fiscal stewardship throughout the Corporation.
• Attend and participate in local, state, and national professional development opportunities related to school business management and finance.
• Perform such other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Superintendent of Schools.

Special Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment:

• The work environment is mainly indoors, other than travel to individual schools, corporation-owned facilities, or outside the area for business and/or professional development purposes. Work environment noise level is usually moderate. The employee shall remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substances in the workplace.

Hours:

• The regular workday is eight (8) hours per day, five (5) days per week. Summer hours will be adjusted as per the Superintendent to assure adequate coverage and building efficiencies. Evening or weekend meetings and/or activities will be scheduled as necessary.

Terms of Employment:

• This is a twelve-month administrative position. Salary to be based upon the education, training, and experience of the selected candidate and the needs of the school corporation as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools and approved by the Board of School Trustees. All applicants must have a current application through our electronic application center at The Duneland School Corporation is committed to a policy of non