Location:
Central Office Director of Finance
Department: Business Department
Perm/contract: 12-Month Exempt IMRF Position
Primary Reporting Location: District 97 Central Office
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Date Available: Flexible, to be determined in collaboration with candidate
About the District
Oak Park Elementary School District 97 is a PK-8 elementary school district serving the students of Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois. Oak Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, adjacent to Chicago. It is the 29th-most populous municipality in Illinois with a population of 54,583 as of the 2020 U.S. Census. The district consists of 8 elementary schools and 2 middle schools which serve 5,532 students.
Oak Park School District is a highly diverse and welcoming school community for all. Our community has a history of being forward-thinking and inclusive. We are racially and economically diverse with about 46% of our students identifying as African-American, Hispanic, multiracial, or Asian.
About the Role
The Director of Finance supports student learning by ensuring that funding and resources invested in the
district support student learning. Under general direction from the Assistant Superintendent of Finance
& Operations, the Director of Finance is responsible for establishing accounting systems and controls to
ensure the integrity of the financial practices and reporting in accordance with state, federal, and local
policies, laws, rules, and guidelines. Oversee all accounting functions, accounts payable, payroll, and
accounts receivable. Assist with coordination of the annual financial audit, and in preparing financial
statements, Board of Education reports, and other financial reports.
The Director of Finance will ensure that equity is at the center of the district's operations so as to
positively impact student learning and employee practices as expressed in Board Policy 7:12: Ensuring
Racial and Educational Equity.
Essential Role and Responsibilities:
? Collaborate with the Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations to ensure that resources
are expended in alignment with district goals and in support of student learning.
? Collaborate with other departments to gather information for annual audit. Including preparing
year-end reconciliations and schedules, assisting with ensuring procedural changes recommended
by auditors are put into effect.
? Collaborate with Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations to review, reconcile, and
report grant expenditures.
? Collaborate with Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations to report and file
transportation claim, Annual Statement of Affairs, and other claims.
? Respond to audit findings and other systems feedback in a manner that models a commitment to
continuous improvement.
? Ensure sufficient funds are available to meet all payroll and accounts payable requirements, and
that payment transfer for accounts payable and payroll are completed in a timely manner.
? Enter and process journal entries/budget adjustment as needed.
? Partner with Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations to communicate the district’s
budget processes and fiscal outlay in a manner which engages stakeholders and invites their
participation.
? Assist with directing the day-to-day business operations and long-term fiscal planning and
budgeting process of the district.
? Oversee day-to-day business operations to ensure appropriate record keeping and operations,
including but not limited to accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, budgetary reports,
student fees, purchase orders, activity funds and related management information and data
systems.
? Review and approve payroll and accounts payable prior to submission, and submit positive pay
files to the bank after submission.
? Provide financials for contract negotiations team as needed.
? Reconcile bank accounts, P-Cards, and student activity accounts monthly or as needed.
? Assists Superintendent of Finance and Operations with determining building needs based on
budget variables and parameters.
? Assist with the preparation of competitive bids and quotes, specifications, contracts with districts.
? Recommends and monitors performance of contractors/vendors.
? Oversees the timely submission of reports, records, and inventories; maintains district records for
the maximum period mandated by law and/or board policy.
? Assists in all of the financial and operational affairs of the district, including transportation, food
service, and facilities.
? Ensures compliance with state and federal laws, Board of Education policies and regulations and
negotiated agreements.
? Assist with preparing, publishing, filing, implementing and monitoring the district annual budget,
the annual levy, and filing the ISBE Annual and Financial Report.
? Assist with managing district cash balances and investment funds.
? Enter and post all district revenue and make bank deposits as needed.
? Performs other duties as assigned by the Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations.
Content Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:
?Knowledge of financial planning, the school budgeting process and standard
accounting practices of a public school district in the State of Illinois.
? Knowledge of personnel and management principles, practices, and techniques as
they relate to the administration of staffing, position management, staff
development and training, policy development, employee relations and related
personnel and management functions and services.
? Knowledge of effective supervisory methods and practices, including performance appraisal
of staff.
? Knowledge of federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations governing
administration of personnel in the public-school setting.
? Knowledge of laws and legal standards pertaining to employee relations and human resource
management.
Portrait of a District 97 Leader:
?Champions the vision of the school district.
? Leads with an unrelenting commitment to serve ALL students.
? Embraces the connection between public school leadership, student learning and equity.
? Aspires to the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality.
? Models a forward-thinking and innovative mindset.
? Stewards public funds with a high sense of responsibility.
? Balances a drive to lead with an awareness of the cross-functional nature of district work.
? Demonstrates the ability to organize teams to achieve common goals.
? Generates a culture of care for, learning with and service to the community.
? Demonstrates a passion to work in collaboration with a culturally, racially and linguistically
diverse district team of administrators, educators and staff in all roles.
? Actively seeks feedback, including critical feedback intended for professional growth.
? Courageously addresses adult behavior that does not meet professional expectations.
Candidate Qualifications:
? Minimum of Five (5) years of demonstrated successful experience in accounting.
? Master’s Degree in one of the following: School Business Management, Finance, Business
Administration, Accounting, or in a related area.
? Must possess knowledge of the Illinois Program Accounting Manual (IPAM), finance,
business, and accounting.
? Previous experience working for a school district or public organization.
Physical Requirements:
This position requires the performance of light work—which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects. The position includes close visual acuity, frequent talking, hearing, walking and standing, occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or Page 4 pulling, some stooping, kneeling, crouching and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. The job is performed in non-hazardous environments and a clean atmosphere.