Watauga County Schools

Chief Finance Officer

NATURE OF WORK

Under limited supervision, performs highly responsible supervisory, administrative and fiscal control work for the School system. Work involves planning, coordinating, and directing all aspects of Schools financial management and administration. Employee is responsible for planning and directing the receipt, disbursement and accounting of Schools’ revenues and expenditures, managing the investment of Schools funds, and assisting the Schools’ Superintendent or his or her designee(s) in preparing the annual budget. Employee supervises a staff of professional, technical and clerical personnel. Reports to the Superintendent.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plans, organizes, directs and supervises operations of the Finance Division; directs and participates in the formulation and implementation of applicable finance policies, ensuring adherence to standard accepted accounting practices and principles, local and state fiscal regulations, and policies and procedures of the County Board of Education and State Department of Public Instruction; provides general advice, assistance and recommendations to the Schools’ Superintendent, Board of Education and County Commissioners, and keeps them properly informed.
• Assigns, directs and supervises activities of subordinate professional and technical accounting personnel, ensuring adherence to established laws, policies, procedures and standards; assists and advises subordinates, as necessary, resolving problems as non-routine situations arise; ensures subordinates receive orientation and continuing education as necessary to perform assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Supervises the maintenance, control, and analysis of the fiscal operations of the School system; maintains adequate accounting records to document compliance with local, state and federal laws and ordinances; safeguards assets of the Schools through implementation of adequate internal control mechanisms.
• Analyzes School programs and projects as outlined in budget, performing financial and programmatic reviews; assists in establishing measurable goals and objectives for appraisal standards in Schools’ departments, programs, and projects.
• Supervises the posting and balancing of Schools’ ledgers, preparing payroll and related records, and maintaining Schools’ purchase records, financial statements, and other related reports either by data processing or manual methods.
• Assists in the preparation of the annual School budget; aids department heads in preparing budget estimates and in determining costs for new, expanded or reorganized programs; implements approved budget; prepares budgets amendments as necessary, making appropriate ledger adjustments and estimating available fund balance.
• Invests idle funds to ensure adequate return on investment while maintaining funds’ safety; prepares periodic reports on Schools’ investments and securities for presentation to the Superintendent, Board of Education and/or County Commissioners.
• Oversees disbursement of School funds in accordance with officially established policies and procedures.
• Assists Schools’ department heads with financial matters as necessary; answers inquiries and explains policies and procedures.
• Assists outside auditors in completion of annual Schools’ audit.
• Oversees preparation of comprehensive annual financial report.
• Oversees maintenance of all accounting work on grants received by Schools, processing adequate records, reimbursements, code reviews, etc., to comply with applicable laws and ordinances.
• Attends seminars, conferences, workshops, classes, lectures, etc., as appropriate, to enhance and maintain knowledge of trends and developments in the field of accounting and auditing; reviews professional journals; attends association and professional meetings, and otherwise maintains contacts with professionals to facilitate exchange of information.

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