1199 Chief Financial Officer

Posting # 1199

Posting date: April 3, 2024

Application deadline: April 19, 2024

Interviews anticipated to take place: The week of April 29

Preferred start date: May 20 or as mutually agreed upon

Location: Sioux City Office

We seek a visionary leader to join our administrative team as a Chief Financial Officer. 

Candidates are asked to submit application materials as early as possible. Northwest AEA reserves the right to close the selection process at any time if the right candidate is found.

Overview

 Northwest AEA provides visionary leadership and quality, student-centered services through relationships with families, schools, and communities.  In short, our focus can be summed up in these four words: Inspiring Learning. Changing Lives.

Our vision is to be the first contact for timely and ongoing support to improve the performance outcomes and well-being of all learners.

Why Northwest AEA?

 Our vision, mission, and anchors guide our actions.  Staff at Northwest AEA believe that what they do inspires learning and leads to changed lives for the students, staff, and families we serve.  Our work is anchored in building positive, professional relationships with stakeholders and with one another.  We embrace responsiveness in how we serve so that students, staff, and families can see improved results.

About the Agency

 Northwest AEA provides special education and school improvement services to 34 public school districts and 32 accredited, non-public schools.  The agency serves 45,000 students and more than 5000 educators in a 10-county area of Northwest Iowa (Lyon, Osceola, Sioux, O'Brien, Plymouth, Cherokee, Woodbury, Ida, Monona, and Crawford).

Our headquarters is located 5800 Discovery Blvd., Sioux City, with regional offices in Cherokee, Denison, Le Mars, Onawa, and Sioux Center.

Vision:  Our vision is to be the first contact for timely and ongoing support to improve the performance outcomes and well-being of all learners.

Mission:  Northwest AEA provides visionary leadership and quality, student-centered services through relationships with families, schools, and communities.

Mission in Four Words:Inspiring Learning. Changing Lives.

Anchors: Relationships. Responsiveness. Results.

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Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration
• Alternatives to the above educational requirements as determined to be appropriate and acceptable by the board.
• School Business Official licensure from the Iowa Department of Education, Board of Educational Examiners

Job Purpose:

• Responsible for leadership and overall coordination of the business and financial affairs of Northwest AEA.  Specific responsibilities for planning, organization, and implementation of the fiscal operations of the Agency, including business operations, budgeting, funds management, financial planning, forecasting, and analysis.  Development of financial outreach services and supports to assist local school business officers officials and school leaders.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the preparation of Agency financial reports and documents.  This includes coordinating the preparation of the Agency’s budget, amended budget, and annual financial report with the Chief Administrator. 
• Establish sound business practices, policies, and procedures that comply with generally accepted accounting principles.
• Establish policies and procedures in compliance with the Code of Iowa, State Uniform Financial Accounting Manual, and Uniform Commercial Code.
• Develop, implement, and maintain a system of internal controls to safeguard assets.
• Provide for internal auditing to examine expenditures of the Agency to ensure compliance with accepted accounting principles and law.
• Retrieve and compile information and be accountable to the various auditors.
• Effectively manage all areas of finance and business affairs.
• Maintain the Agency’s risk management program by working directly with insurers to obtain insurance, coinsurance, or reinsurance to guarantee protection of assets at reasonable premiums.
• Assist in negotiating business leases, contracts, and agreements for the Agency.
• Fiscally manage all agency projects, grants, and contracts.
• Supervise and provide direction to the department in functional areas of accounting, payroll, business management, financial tracking, and reporting systems.
• Provide financial and business leadership to the agency.
• Serve as treasurer to the AEA Board of Directors.
• Countersign all warrants and drafts upon the treasury drawn on and signed by the Board President.
• Review and execute EFT and wire transfers.
• Maintain reports as required by law, including electronic federal/state tax deposits, Form 941s, IPERS, Workers’ Compensation Program, Iowa Workforce Development, etc.
• Calendar year reconciliation, preparation, and distribution of W-2s
• Build and maintain a detailed knowledge of benefits, leaves, labor agreements, and certain HR processes.
• Provide support for local school business officials as requested.
• Routinely engage in coaching, support, and feedback of staff through frequent contact with staff.
• Supervise and provide performance feedback to all assigned staff.
• Complete administrative tasks related to employee supervision, including reviewing and approving staff calendars, mileage reimbursement, leave requests, professional learning requests, and expense reimbursement.
• Demonstrate and model values, beliefs, and attitudes that inspire agency staff to perform at higher levels.
• Responsible for other duties as assigned.

Travel:

• Minimal travel within the agency is possible.  Occasional travel within the state and country for meetings and conferences relevant to the position.  Exposed to the hazards of the road while driving. Use of a personal vehicle is expected.

It is the policy of Northwest Area Education Agency not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Jerome Schaefer, Equity Coordinator, 5800 Discovery Blvd., Sioux City, Iowa, 51111, 712-222-6114.