Business Manager

SUMMARY: Provides support to the Director of Finance and Accounting, including assistance with budget forecasts, fiscal reporting, risk management and other identified financial processes of the District. Responsible for properly maintaining the District’s official accounting records and systems, account reconciliations, and ensuring accuracy and efficiency of the Finance Department; and to provide analytical and technical assistance to clerical and administrative staff relating to financial issues.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. Other duties may be assigned.

• Monitor accounting activities in all District funds to ensure accurate, comprehensive, complete and consistent records
• Responsible for ensuring accuracy and efficiency of daily financial operations, including verification and posting of accounts receivable and all receipts, pre-audits on accounts payable checks for accuracy and proper account coding, and review of general ledger transactions for accuracy and proper classification
• Responsible for reviewing payroll reports for reasonableness and assisting payroll staff as needed
• Assist staff in recording of all purchasing card transactions and reporting
• Prepare required Transparency reports as required by State and Federal mandates
• Maintains chart of accounts in accordance with State mandates and school policies and procedures
• Responsible for purchasing and bidding process, including RFP preparation, under the direction of the Director of Finance
• Completes monthly and year end closing processes
• Prepares monthly financial statements
• Assist with property tax collections and reconciliation
• Timely completion of bank account reconciliations as well as monthly balance sheet account reconciliations
• Assist with budget development, forecasting, and analysis
• Conduct activities to prepare for the District’s independent audit. Identifies and completes internal audit projects with assistance of other finance department personnel.
• Monitor all state and federal grants, prepare grant reimbursement requests and assist with final expenditure reports
• Assist with District Risk Management and Property Liability
• Ensures that the Finance and Accounting Department is committed to customer service and is responsive to all employee questions and responds in a timely and professional manner
• Contributes to creative problem-solving strategies and suggests/implements process and efficiency improvements
• Assist in recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating of Finance Department staff
• Perform other finance and accounting activities as assigned by the Director of Finance and Accounting

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Supervises Finance and Accounting staff. Carries out supervisor responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.

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.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• Three to five years of accounting experience
• Michigan School Business Officials Business Office Manager certification and CPA certification, preferred
• Excellent oral and writing skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent attention to detail

LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read and interpret documents such as budgetary information, financial and audit reports, contracts, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before parents, staff and students. Demonstrated ability to use both oral and written English appropriately and effectively.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent. Demonstrate a high degree of math proficiency and the ability to perform projections for budgeting purposes that commensurate with the educational level of this position.

REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to use good judgment in making decisions and problem solving.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Ability to operate a personal computer and related software (Microsoft Word, Excel, Financial Software, Google Workspace, etc.). Ability to develop effective working relationships with students, staff, and the school community. Ability to maintain a calm demeanor and remain professional in stressful situations. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies, and all applicable Federal, State and local regulations. Must exhibit reliable, dependable, honest, and self-motivated abilities. Ability to, understand and execute oral and written directions and know sources of information.

Demonstrated ability to deal with confidential matters associated with the office with a high degree of discretion and loyalty.

Ability to work under pressure, including stringent time lines.

Demonstrate understanding of accounting regulations, principles, procedures and financial statements.

Demonstrate understanding and ability to assist in the development of school district budgets and monitoring of school district expenditures.

Demonstrated ability to reconcile school district bank accounts for all funds, including correcting and adjusting journal entries for general ledger accounts as necessary.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands 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 duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. Occasionally the employee will type for long periods of time. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Attendance and punctuality are an expectation of the position. Some driving is required both in and out of District; and therefore transportation is necessary. Some extended hours and multiple demands for several people are frequently required of the employee.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative 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.


The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.