Director of Accounting

SUMMARY: As a collaborative partner with the district’s Business Manager, the Director of Accounting supervises all financial reporting and compliance functions of the district, including supervision and evaluation of accounting staff to ensure public funds are used efficiently to achieve the district’s mission of educating all learners for tomorrow’s world.

To Apply: Please complete the application and include three references.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and requirement satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required for the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (Other duties may be assigned)
Collaboration:

• Supervises and coordinates purchasing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, deposits, collections, and all other accounting functions.
• Supervises the reconciliation of all bank and investment accounts.
• Facilitates or leads meetings with vendors to resolve billing disputes or conflicts.
• Manages relationships with depository banks and strives to maximize interest on deposited funds.
• Partners with Human Resources (HR)/Payroll team to ensure alignment of positions coding and contracts.
• Coordinates audit fieldwork, ensuring timely audit prep, communication, and a works to ensure a clean audit report.
• Oversees preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and submission to the federal audit clearinghouse at completion of the audit.
• Coordinates purchasing and deposit training for new staff in school buildings.
• Develops positive, effective working relationships with learners and staff.

Communication:

• Researches and communicates new internal control policies and compliance requirements to advance the organization’s adherence to GASB and US GAAP.
• Provides external auditors with timely and accurate financial information during the annual audit.
• Connects and shares ideas through appropriate formats based on topic(s) of content and audience(s).
• Identifies all key stakeholders and solicits feedback on processes, internal controls, or financial reporting to improve workflows and enhance reporting.
• Advises leadership teams on impacts of changes within the organization to financial reporting and seeks solutions.

Compassion:

• Understands the complexities of cultural and global issues and how they relate to employee and learners’ experiences.
• Actively resolves controversy and conflict through respectful negotiation.
• Engages with partners with integrity and appropriate digital citizenship.
• Proactively seeks to understand the ideas, opinions, and skills of others.

Creativity:

• Creates and maintains a chart of account codes in compliance with NDSDFARM.
• Proactively seeks out and engages with new and emerging technologies and data integration functions.
• Proactively implements communication plans designed with target audiences in mind.
• Connects with team members and shares ideas in an effort to improve the overall learner and employee experience.

Critical Thinking:

• Oversees maintenance of accurate and systematic financial records, controls, and preparation of necessary journal entries to ensure accurate coding of all transactions.
• Applies analytical and problem-solving skills to resolve encountered issues.
• Ensures responsibilities are completed in an organized, punctual manner.
• Researches and leads implementation of new reporting standards under GASB.
• Reviews and supervises preparation of financial reports and budget projections for grant-funded programs and projects.
• Creates, analyzes, and reviews monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports to ensure accurate financial transactions and ledger accounts.
• Prepares and provides deposit projections to primary depository banks.

Reflection:

• Maintains communication with supervisor and director regarding general feedback, career advancement opportunities, and areas of growth opportunities.

Resilience:

• Maintains composure while dealing with stressful situations.
• Proactively seeks out resolutions and takes initiative to resolve knowledge gaps.

Responsibility:

• Oversees all grant reporting, submissions, and related compliance.
• Supervises and provides oversight and assistance for cash handling procedures, reporting, internal audits and reconciliations of revenues received by the school district.
• Maintains current knowledge of all applicable GASB financial reporting standards.
• Assists the Business Manager with the development of the school district budget and helps monitor revenue and expenditure activity throughout the year.
• Maintains framework of project tracking for capital construction projects within the accounting system.
• Maintains special assessment amortization schedules and ensures timely payment.
• Supervises all aspects of capital asset and fixed asset accounting procedures to meet the requirements of insurance, audits, and federal programs.
• Prepares the annual ND Financial Report for the Business Manager’s review.
• Ensures timely payment of federal payroll tax and garnishments.
• Oversees preparation and submission of 1099s.
• Prepares and submits annual sales tax and excise tax returns.
• Prepares reports and presents to the School Board on operational compliance and financial administration.
• Supervises property, equipment, and liability insurance maintenance.
• Supervises inventory management and the annual district inventory count.
• Manages Accounting Department budget, ensuring prudent use of resources.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms.
• While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, bend, talk, and hear.
• The specific vision abilities required for this role include close and peripheral vision.
• The employee may be required to lift up to ~30 pounds.
• The employee must work with the public and various WFPS staff while simultaneously managing several competing demands.
• The employee will work in an environment that has a quiet to loud noise level.
  

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting required.
• CPA preferred.
• Five years accounting and general business office experience, including audit administration.
• Grant accounting, single auditing, auditing, or general grant compliance experience is preferred.
  

Language Skills:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret financial reports and documents, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
• Ability to read, write, and comprehend simple instructions and short correspondences in the English language.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally, expressively, and reactively.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Exercise confidentiality, discretion, and good judgement.
• Adhere to the assigned work schedule by maintaining regular and punctual attendance.
• Knowledge and experience using Microsoft Office, with particular emphasis on Microsoft Excel for data management, aggregation, analysis and reporting.
• Experience in use of an accounting system.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervise and evaluate the Accountant, Grant Manager, Accounting Specialist, Accounts Payable Specialist, Accounting Administrative Assistant, and Accounting Technician.

-
The West Fargo Public School District is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment free from discrimination and harassment in all employment and educational programs, activities, and facilities. The District prohibits discrimination and harassment based on an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, or other protected status by law. External applicants are eligible for ND Veteran’s Preference: North Dakota veterans claiming preference must submit all proof of eligibility by the closing date. Proof of eligibility includes a form DD214, and if claiming disabled veteran’s status, a current letter of disability. West Fargo Public Schools is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusivity in all hiring and employment practices. Applicants who incorporate a holistic perspective and a commitment to inclusion are encouraged to apply.