BUSINESS MANAGER

Reports to: Superintendent

Dept./School: Business Office

Wage/Hour Status: Exempt

Length of Contract: 240 days; 8 hours per day

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

Direct and manage all district financial and business affairs, including accounting, payroll, purchasing, maintenance, transportation, fixed asset inventory, construction management, budget preparation, bond issues, debt management, and investment programs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, business management, or accounting preferred
• CPA preferred

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Advanced technical knowledge of school finance, budgeting, accounting systems, and economics
• Working knowledge of financial applications and accounting
• Knowledge of the procedure for purchasing/invoicing supplies and equipment
• Ability to work with numbers in an accurate and rapid manner
• Ability to use the calculator
• Strong communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to use personal computer and software to develop spreadsheets, perform data analysis, and do word processing
• Ability to analyze/organize a complex filing system
• Ability to use the Internet and email
• Proficient skills in typing, word processing, and file maintenance
• Ability to implement policy and procedures
• Ability to interpret data
• Ability to manage budget
• Ability to coordinate district functions
• Effective organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills

Experience:

• Five years of experience in school business management or public organization preferred
• The Board may find appropriate and acceptable alternatives to the above qualifications.

EVALUATION:

• The district business manager will be evaluated by the superintendent annually.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Maintain professional behavior, appearance, and work ethic to represent the school district positively.
• Demonstrate effective customer service strategies to all district patrons.
• Foster collegiality and team building among staff; encourage their active involvement in the decision-making process.
• Communicate and promote expectations for high-level performance from staff; hold staff responsible for high performance; recognize excellence and achievement.
• Articulate a clear direction for all staff as well as a positive image of the school district
• Ensure that the business operations support the district's mission, goals, and objectives.
• Maintain strict confidentiality.
• Develop long- and short-range objectives and goals for the business operations of the school district.
• Keep the superintendent informed about all district business affairs and recommend changes and improvements.
• Establish and monitor internal controls to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, school board policies, administrative procedures, approved budgets, and safeguarding district assets.
• Provide effective two-way communication with staff, community, media, and the Board of Education.
• Plan, organize, and monitor the timing of the disposal of business office records following federal and state requirements and district policy.
• Act as a district administrator in eFinance, eSchool, and Triand.
• Establish and maintain a system of control for budget execution and shall direct and supervise all financial accounting in the District.
• Assist and cooperate with outside auditing agencies in conducting approved audits or reviewing the District’s fiscal records.
• Supervise compiling district, campus, and program budgets and cost estimates.
• Prepare the annual district budget in collaboration with the Superintendent.
• Prepare cost analysis reports concerning the operation of the school.
• Explore possibilities of new revenue sources and work to secure the funds necessary to operate the educational program.
• Monitor budget reports and inform the superintendent of potential overages.
• Project student enrollments, staffing needs, building and facility needs, capital equipment needs, and other cost items for the District.
• Oversee purchasing for the District.
• Assist in writing specifications for bidding and advertising in collaboration with the Superintendent.
• Oversee, direct, and supervise the Business Office staff.
• Maintain adequate records for all District employees regarding salary, retirement, social security, withholding taxes, wage taxes, insurance, etc.
• Assist in the organization and execution of in-service training programs aimed at increasing the skills of school business management.
• Conduct and/or assist if District-Wide professional development as needed.
• Work with the Food Service Director to manage the lunch program economically, satisfactorily, and efficiently.
• Compile and submit monthly food service claim reimbursements.
• Oversee the preparation and certification of financial reports required by the Superintendent, Board of Education, State Department of Education, etc.
• Establish the accounting systems necessary to provide school officials and administrators with accurate financial data.
• Assist in evaluating computer hardware and systems for handling the administrative reporting requirements of the district.
• Serve as school district treasurer for all funds and be administratively responsible for making deposits and investments of all money received by the schools.
• Comply with all federal, state, and district laws, regulations, and policies.
• Record and document journal entries as needed.
• Coordinate, resolve errors, and submit cycle reports 1 through 9.
• Oversee Federal Fund Reports in FGMS and Indistar.
• Prepare annual reports and process the fiscal and calendar year-end procedures in eFinance.
• Process and distribute 1099 forms.
• Monitor, process, and distribute 1096 forms regarding the Affordable Cares Act.
• Work closely with the Special Education LEA on budgeting, reporting requirements, and monitoring the Maintenance of Effort.
• Submit information for inclusion in agendas for Board meetings.
• Attend Board Meetings as requested by the Superintendent.
• Develop and implement policies regarding school business management, generally accepted accounting practices and related activities.
• Input new employees in WillSub. Authorize WillSub absences, print and code invoices, and authorize payment weekly.
• Compile and report substitute outsourcing to Arkansas Teacher’s Retirement and submit for payment monthly.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Bookkeeper, Human Resource, District Secretary

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

Maintain emotional control under stress; occasional state-wide travel; occasional prolonged and irregular hours