What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief Financial Officer position at Lexington Public Schools?
Chief Financial Officer
Department: Finance and Operations
Reports to: Superintendent of Schools
FLSA Status: Exempt Union: Non-Union
Location: Central Office
July 1, 2025 start date.
Terms of Employment: Full-time twelve-month work year. Salary range: Based on qualifications and experience. Vacation, Sick, Personal, Bereavement, Holidays: based on contract and central administrator equivalents.
JOB GOAL:
This position is accountable, under the direction of the Superintendent of Schools and in accordance with appropriate statutes, regulations, and School Committee policy, to serve the district in all matters related to financial and administrative services. The position is appointed by the School Committee as required under Massachusetts General Laws c. 71, Section 59. The position serves as the School Business Administrator for the district. The position serves as the school district’s Chief Procurement Officer, as appointed through School Committee and delegation granted by the Town Manager.
DIMENSIONS:
Students: 6,875 (approximately)
Schools 10
Personnel: 1,800 (approximately)
Total School Budget: $158,000,000 (all funds - approximately)
GENERAL SUMMARY:
This Chief Financial Officer reports directly to and works with the Superintendent of Schools. Reporting directly to the incumbent are the Accounting Manager, Transportation Coordinator, Procurement Operations Manager, Executive Assistant, Food Services Management Company Contractor, Financial Analyst and the Extended Day Contractor.
The incumbent is concerned with responsibly and responsively managing a service-driven operation focusing on all financial and administrative affairs of the district. This includes staff development, collective bargaining, financial tracking and reporting, general fund and special revenue fund accounting, revenue tracking and reconciliation, certified and classified payroll, public bidding and leasing for services, supplies, and equipment, contract management, budget development and management, records management, state and federal reporting, risk management/insurance, transportation (regular education and special education), food service, print center operations, and school traffic mitigation efforts.
The incumbent works with and serves the principals, coordinators, department heads, teaching and district support staff. The incumbent works with Town of Lexington offices, which includes but is not limited to the Town Manager, Human Resources, Department of Public Facilities, Finance, Budget, Technology, Police, Fire, Public Works, Town Clerk, and Recreation.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
The CFO’s major responsibility is to responsibly and responsively manage a service-driven operation focusing on all financial and administrative affairs of the district:
Finance
- Budget & Capital Planning
- Payroll: US Labor Law/Union Contract Compliance
- Collective Bargaining
- Special Revenue Funds
- Grants & Revolving Accounts
- Donation and Student Activity Funds
- Online Payments & Fee Collection administrator
- Procurement/Purchasing
- 30B compliance
- Accounts Payable
- Requisitions
- Purchase Orders
- Procurement Card program
- District Credit Card
- Market Basket Card
- Debit Card
- MUNIS Administrator for School Department
- Finance Subcommittee
Transportation
- General Education: Yellow School Bus & School Bus Evacuation Drills (Oct/Apr)
- Special Education: In-District & Out-of-District Vans
- Consult with Transportation Safety Group, Department of Public Works.
- Transfinder administrator
Food Service
- Supervise Management Company operations
- Catering program
- Nutrition Guidelines
- Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act compliance
- Wellness Policy
- Free and Reduced Lunch Program
- Nutrikids administrator (POS Software)
- Board of Health compliance
- DESE Administrative Review
General
- Print Center Operations
- Medicaid/E-Rate filing
- Free and Reduced Lunch Program
- Financial Assistance Program
- Risk Management/Insurance/Travel Insurance/Bonding
- Legal/Policy Compliance & Procedure Review
- Electronic Document Management
- Policy Subcommittee
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Lead the annual budget development process for the district’s capital and operating budgets. Consult and advise school budget managers in developing budget requests; evaluate all budget requests; and oversee superintendent/school committee budget compilation and distribution.
Prepare multi-year financial projections that address the strategic and long-range planning efforts of the District, including enrollment changes, system-wide goals, and facilities.
Manage budgetary and financial affairs of the district, including handling of all funds, accounting, and reporting procedures and planning.
Work closely with the Special Education Director and the Special Education Financial and Operations Manager on all aspects of the Special Education budget, including grants and other revenue sources, expenditures, including out-of-district tuitions.
Provide guidance with finance and budget related inquiries and requests from district leadership, principals, department heads, and district support staff.
Inform Superintendent timely of significant changes in district’s financial status.
Prepare and present quarterly financial status reports to the School Committee and other financial reports as needed for senior management, program administrators, boards, and committees.
Provide the School Committee, Superintendent and other management staff with appropriate financial information to assist in the decision-making process, including collective bargaining.
Oversee School Committee’s approval of payroll and accounts payable batches/warrants.
Supervise and administer various financial and administrative functions by providing direction to Assistant Director of Finance, Procurement Operations Manager, Transportation Coordinator, and Executive Assistant – Finance and Operations.
Oversee Medicaid/E-Rate reimbursement/claiming processes throughout the year.
Oversee a Food Service program of the highest level, providing students and staff with nutritional and healthy breakfast/lunch options compliant with federal, state, and local laws, policies, and guidelines.
Oversee Extended Day program providing high-quality after-school care at six elementary schools in the District.
Oversee district’s annual tax sheltered annuity program (403b) compliance filing.
Consult legal counsel for clarification and guidance on matters of policy, contracts, and other legal natures.
Prioritize and manage simultaneous time-sensitive projects, including those which have conflicting needs, and follow-up on time-critical issues to ensure successful and timely completion. Complete critical aspects of deliverables with a proactive, expeditious and hands-on approach to best support the Superintendent of Schools to lead the district effectively.
Support Superintendent of Schools with special projects as directed. Chair/Co-Chair ad-hoc projects/committees/task forces as necessary.
Participate in system-wide policy development.
Coach, supervise, and evaluate staff.
Ensure the compilation and submittal of financial data to federal, state, and local agencies and committees.
Work collaboratively and collegially with Town Hall staff to coordinate all financial and administrative services.
Provide support, tools, and resources to Principals to enhance site-based management practices and support.
Develop and administer procurement systems for supplies, services, and equipment that are compliant with all necessary federal, state, and local requirements/laws. Serve as the School Committee’s Chief Procurement Officer and assume such responsibilities as required by law and School Committee Policy.
Administer district procurement card program
Manage contracts with all outside vendors.
Oversee annual audits of general fund, student activity, gift, grant, and revenue generating accounts and programs.
Serve as the School Department’s MUNIS system administrator.
Oversee district’s risk management functions in coordination and collaboration with the Town.
Maintain records in accordance with state requirements.
Maintain associated areas on the district website. Ensure positive web presence is maintained for greater community access to applicable areas of responsibility.
Meet with the School Committee in Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and to assist the Superintendent of Schools with collective bargaining. Serve as a member of the collective bargaining team representing the School Committee.
Attend School Committee, Town Meeting, and Town finance meetings (as needed).
Serve as liaison to the PTA/O President’s Council (when needed), School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), School Committee Finance Subcommittee, School Committee Policy Subcommittee (when needed), Town’s Appropriations Committee, Town’s Capital Expenditures Committee, Town’s Transportation Safety Group, Town’s Senior Management Team,
Perform such other tasks and assume such other responsibilities as the Superintendent may assign.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
The position is the evaluator and immediate supervisor of the Accounting Manager (1), Procurement Operations Manager (1), Transportation Coordinator (1), Financial Analyst (1), and Executive Assistant – Finance and Operations (1). The position oversees and is responsible for Food Service Management Company (FSMC) and Extended Day contractors.
The position is a contributing evaluator to the following positions: Finance and Accounts Payable Clerks (2), Payroll Specialist (1), and Print Center Technicians (2).
Position is responsible for assigning finance and operations related tasks and provides direction and supervision in carrying out such tasks.
MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
Master’s degree in public administration, business or a related discipline and five to ten years of finance/budget related work experience. Incumbent must possess valid DESE School Business Administrator licensure, and Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official (MCPPO) certification.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge of:
- Principles and practices of public administration
- Principles and practices of financial accounting and reporting
- Pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations
- Modern office procedures, equipment and computers
- Principles and procedures of confidential record keeping
Ability to:
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, and maintain effective relationships
- Compile, manipulate, and analyze large amounts of financial data with high levels of accuracy and attention to detail
- Exercise discretion with sensitive information
- Operate computer and various software programs necessary for performing assigned duties
- Understand and develop processes and structures related to financial management
- Maintain accurate print and electronic records
EVALUATED BY: Superintendent of Schools
