Business Manager

Job Title:Business Manager
Location:District/Business Office
Job Group:Non-Union Support Staff
Grade Level:Exempt, Grade 43
Reports To:Senior Director of Finance and Operations
Summary: Responsible for the overall financial operations of the District, including long-range financial planning, the accounting functions, and the development and maintenance of the annual budget. Serves as a key advisor to the Superintendent, Administrators, and the Board in financial planning and analysis of current programs, support systems, and expenditures.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (Other duties may be assigned)
Serves as the District's lead financial contact:
Develops and manages the District's operating budget, administers state approved financial accounting systems, and provides short-term and long-range financial planning for the District. Manages the cash flow and oversees all investments to ensure maximum return.
Oversees the preparation of financial reports. Ensuring that report formats meet all pertinent federal, state, local, and District reporting requirements.
Maintains effective internal controls and coordinates, with an independent CPA, annual audits in accordance with the City Charter and District procedures
Analyzes program costs and makes recommendations for the need for capital equipment.
Prepares documents and information related to bonding, management of purchased service contracts, general insurance management, leases, and other financial issues.
Assists in the negotiations process for personnel by providing detailed analysis for payroll, benefit, professional development, and other costs included at the bargaining table such as, but not limited to, State Teacher Retirement.
Oversees the district accounting, student activities accounting, purchasing, payroll and benefit processing functions.
Assists administrators and staff to analyze financial and educational issues and to develop solutions to problems that ultimately improve daily operations.
Oversees employee retirement accounts and serves as trustee for the staff pension plans.
Monitors fund-raising efforts by district personnel and groups affiliated with our schools to help ensure that such efforts are both legal, in accord with district policy, and are managed in a sound financial manner.
Provides major and continued input to the Superintendent and School Board for regular Policy Monitoring Reports for finances, budgeting, asset protection, and human resource costs.
Evaluates the District's use of financial software systems and recommends changes and/or expansion as needed.
Ensures that the business and financial practices of the District are in compliance with State and Federal laws and regulations as well as local policies.
Prepares and submits tax anticipation resolutions for the Board. Ensures the timely transfer of funds from the taxing authority to the District. Monitors tax appeals and state equalization valuation (SEV) adjustments.
Reviews and provides recommendations of annual insurance plan agreements and/or renewals.
Keeps current on actions and plans of the State Legislature and the effect that legislation would have on District finances.
Provides oversight for Grant Management:
Maintains a comprehensive system to track current and historical grant data including, but not limited to: grants sought, grants awarded, and grants outstanding. Maintains a duplicate file of all materials, including reports and expenditure backup, for grants not directly overseen by the Business Office.
Researches and compiles reports from computerized accounting systems and/or historic hard copy files to assist with reporting requirements assumed by program managers. Prepares ad hoc and special management reports for administration and program managers. Prepares a compilation of these reports on a quarterly basis for submission to the Business Manager.
Maintains compliance within grant guidelines and budget restrictions. Attends ongoing training in order to continue with compliance of Federal and State laws.
Provides accounting and/or budget support: Accounting Supervisor and Business Manager
Receives, reviews, and properly assigns budget codes to invoices, including health insurance, dental insurance, and life/disability insurance.
Serves as backup to accounts payable duties. Assigns budget codes to vendor invoices to ensure proper budget categorization and proper payment processing.
Reviews warrants for accuracy prior to submission to the Board for approval.
Compiles and analyzes financial information detailing assets, liabilities and capital, and prepares balance sheet, profit and loss statements. Prepares entries for general ledger accounts and documents business transactions, and generates other reports to summarize current and projected financial position
Reporting
Prepares reports in support of budgeting, grant management, and project/program analysis, as requested.
Submits information to the Vermont Agency of Education (VAOE) and Vermont State Teacher Retirement Office for reports and data collection requests.
Prepares quarterly special education expenditure reports and coordinates required data input from the district Director of Student Support Services. Prepares annual supplement to IDEAB LEA Plan.
Internal Auditing and Controls
Assists with annual or special audits and helps to ensure compliance with District policy, State law, established accounting practices, and departmental operating practices. Identifies areas of concern, apprises the Business Manager of issues and risk, suggests methods of improvement, and implements solutions.
Prepares for and assists in VAOE audits or monitoring of accounting records for grants or special education funds.
Performs student activity deposits from schools.
Participates with city, state and professional organizations in staying abreast of school finance reform and other related issues.
Keeps current on best practices in accounting, payroll, accounts payable, and other school-related financial matters. Assists the Business Manager in complying with pertinent regulations and with general accepted account practices (GAAP and GASB).
Other responsibilities as assigned by the Senior Director of Operations and Financial Management.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Manages employees in: accounting, payroll/benefits, fiscal coordination, and accounts payable. Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these functions. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the District's policies and applicable laws at the direction of the Senior Director of Finance and Operations. Supervisory responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, training; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints; and resolving problems. Regular attendance in accordance with established work schedule. Demonstrated ongoing commitment to workplace diversity, sustainability, and delivering exceptional customer service.
Qualification Requirements: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's Degree in Business, Accounting, or related field, Master's Degree preferred. A minimum of five (5) years experience in school finance or in management level accounting/finance is required. Or, at the Superintendent's discretion, the equivalent of service demonstrating proficiency in essential job related skills.
Certificates, Licenses and Registrations: VASBO certification as "Director of School Business Management & Finance" preferred, or the completion of the certification within three (3) years of serving with the District is required.
Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to inquiries or complaints from constituents, regulatory agencies, or members of the school community. Ability to create correspondence, presentations, and/or articles for publication in a generally accepted style and format. Demonstrated ability to effectively present information orally to staff, administrators, public groups, community, and Board.
Mathematical Skills: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations is essential. Must also demonstrate the ability to apply financial concepts such as compound interest, time value of money, tax rates, and discounts.
Reasoning Skills: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstracts and concrete variables.
Other Skills and Abilities: Personal computer, word processing, databases, internet, and spreadsheet skills. Must demonstrate a thorough knowledge of cash flow, money management, and investments. An effective ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory in related fields. Demonstrated success in administrative planning, program development, and facilities utilization and modification is preferred. The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, and the greater school community is essential. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and School Board policies are also required.
Emotional Demands: The individual must be able to work with others in a collegial and cooperative manner, model best behavior, show above average interpersonal skills, and follow directions of school leadership.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are typical of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations, as defined by the district, may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, talk, see, hear, and demonstrate manual dexterity, reach with hands and arms to conduct tasks and operate office equipment such as computers, phones, copiers, and fax machines. The employee is occasionally required to stand, lift and/or move up to 30 pounds, such as files or cases of computer paper. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and depth perception.
Some driving is necessary. Occasionally, yet essential to this position, the individual must meet deadlines with severe time constraints, interacting with the public and other workers. Often, the position requires the employee to work irregular or extended hours, meet multiple demands from several people, and have direct responsibility for the safety, well-being, or work output of other people.
Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are typical of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. The work is primarily performed in an office setting. Occasional travel may be required.
Terms of Employment: As outlined in the Non-Union Support Staff Memorandum of Understanding and associated benefit guidelines.
Evaluation: Conducted annually by the Director of Finance and Operations.
Date Accepted: 3/15/24 Tim Jarvis
The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-325), which became effective on January 1, 2009 is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individual(s) currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned. The Board reserves the right to waive the essential requirements contained in this job description.