Director of Finance

Job Description

Position: Director of Finance
Location: District Office
Reports to: Superintendent
Terms: 12 months (240 days)

Job Summary

• Responsible in planning, organizing, coordinating and directing the financial activities of the District
  
• Oversees the development and monitoring of all District budgets
  
• Provides financial information and projections to the School Board, Superintendent, administration and staff
  
• Supervises clerical personnel; reviews work for completeness and accuracy

The Director of Finance will foster a culture of fiscal responsibility by ensuring every financial decision is guided by a return on investment (ROI) mindset. The Director of Finance will collaborate with district leaders to use financial and performance data to inform decision-making, identify opportunities to maximize resources, discontinue ineffective expenditures, and ensure taxpayer dollars are invested in initiatives that align with the district's strategic priorities and provide the greatest value for students, staff, and the community. This includes regularly evaluating programs, services, contracts, technology, and resource allocations through data analysis to determine whether district investments are producing measurable improvements in student achievement, operational efficiency, staff effectiveness, or organizational outcomes.

Qualifications
Excellent organizational skills with keen attention to detail. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be self-motivated, responsible and dependable, work well under pressure and within tight deadlines in a cooperative manner. Extensive knowledge in the principles and procedures of governmental accounting, auditing, and finance with additional expertise in budget preparation and control. Ability to research, compile, analyze, and interpret accounting data.

A Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or related field is required. Prefer certification within SC Association of School Business Officials or SC Government Finance Officers.

Job-related experience (5 years minimum) with increasing levels of responsibility in local government finance or closely related experience with general accounting concepts is needed.

Extensive computer skills, utilizing Microsoft Office (i.e. Word, Excel) for planning and managing projects within an accounting and financial management system environment and familiarity with SmartFusion.

Specific abilities required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include communicating with various groups, customer service etiquette; maintaining confidentiality; meeting deadlines and schedules; setting priorities; working as part of a team; and working with frequent interruptions.

The Director of Finance is responsible for overseeing the financial affairs of the School District.

Performance Responsibilities

• Responsible for the District's system of budget preparation, administration, and reporting. Works with the superintendent to deliver and administer a detailed annual general fund budget for presentation to and approval from the school board.
  
• Monitors funds, accounts, account balances and related financial activity to ensure that allocations are accurate, related revenues are generated, expenditures are within budget limits and fiscal practices are followed
  
• Sets up and maintains funds and accounts for budgets as prescribed by the State Department of Education and monitors the district's general ledger including all adjustments in accordance with State and district policies, and generally accepted accounting practices
  
• Completes various general ledger functions including but not limited to: budget adjustments, maintain chart of accounts, creating new accounts, posting payments from County Treasurer
  
• Plans, organizes, directs, and controls the daily financial status of the district, and takes action to protect, maintain, and/or improve procedures and processes where possible
  
• Assumes responsibility of maintaining proper internal controls.
  
• Responsible for accounting functions which involve such duties as preparing reports, journal entries, budget transfers, etc.
  
• Assists in the preparation of the periodic budget reports; compiles and produces expenditure reports and materials
  
• Works with Program Directors of all grants and reviews all expenditure reports prior to submission to granting agencies and/or the SC Department of Education.
  
• Processes all claims within the Grants Accounting Processing Systems (GAPS)
  
• Approve all federal grant plans within the Grants Electronic Management System (GEMS) entered by Program Director
  
• Responsible for Maintenance of Effort, Excess Cost, and annual ESSA reporting to SCDE
  
• Provide day to day operation support and perform tasks as needed to maintain areas of Finance such as Payroll, Accounts Payable, Budgets, etc.
  
• Responsible for the district's payroll activities which includes payroll preparation and processing, maintaining employee salary information, verifying salary calculations, directing fiscal and calendar year closing, and resolving payroll problems, etc.
  
• Supervises accounts payable activities and staff; approves and directs processing of checks, etc.
  
• Communicates with fund managers, school and district personnel as deemed necessary to ensure correct and timely expenditure of funds.
  
• Responsible for the preparation of year end accounting audit requirements and financial reports, providing support to the external auditors as requested to ensure completion of the annual financial audit.
  
• Coordinates with Human Resource for support of SC Educator (Formerly Professional Certified Staff - PCS) reports
  
• Ensures all bank accounts and general fund with County are reconciled in a timely manner
  
• Maintain accurate and retrievable files, records, and audit trails.
  
• Ensure the confidentiality and security of all financial information and files.
  
• Works with others consistently in a cooperative and respectful manner
  
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Superintendent

Applications will be accepted through September 16, 2026.