Director of Business Services

Company Description

The Arizona Education Association (AEA) is the labor union for Arizona public school educators. We are more than 22,000 people—librarians, custodians, cafeteria workers, counselors, classroom teachers, and more —who believe in public education and care deeply about the work we do each day.

Role Description

The Arizona Education Association (AEA) is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Senior Director for Business Services in Phoenix, Arizona. The Senior Director is a member of the management team with a department that has responsibility for all administrative, personnel, technology, and financial functions of our 23,000-member labor union, including but not limited to:

• Management of payroll, employee benefits administration, insurance, and human resources
• Management of all financial and operational activities for the union, including but not limited to accounting, budgeting, banking, investment, cash management, strategic budget planning, audit and tax preparation, and all other compliance and reporting for AEA and its related entities
• Providing training to AEA locals on financial best practices and provide guidance as needed
• Management of AEA grant tracking, grant writing, billing, auditing, and accounts payable
• Management of a team responsible for membership processing
• Management of AEA data, responsible for developing and maintaining effective data management processes
• Prepare financial statements, financial reports, and other financial information to the Board of Directors and statewide officers as needed, and provide staff support to any and all relevant member-led committees, task forces, and other union deliberative bodies as needed
• Maintaining accounts, ledgers, and other documents related to internal management of funds
• Management of AEA-owned property and related vendor relationships
• Management of IT and related vendor relationships for all union functions
• Serving as liaison to all member benefits programs

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or related field; or a minimum of 5 years of related experience at a senior level.
• A minimum of three years of progressive experience with accounting, business administration practices, and functions.
• Demonstrated successful experience in broad administrative and general office management responsibilities.
• Proven written and oral communication skills.
• Proven mathematical skills.
• Ability to develop and manage accurate budgets.
• Knowledge of computerized accounting and membership programs.
• Experience working in government, non-profit, and/or union environments.

Commitment to union values, the labor movement, and public education as an institution.

Desired Education and Experience

The ideal candidate is a licensed Certified Public Accountant or carries an equivalent credential with related applicable senior-level experience. Special consideration will also be given to candidates who hold a graduate degree or other senior-level credential in accounting, management accounting, business administration, or have equivalent work experience.

Knowledge and Skills

• Extensive knowledge and experience in accounting and financial management functions; planning, budgeting, general ledger, cash management, accounts payable, audit, financial reporting and automated accounting systems.
• Good working knowledge of how to manage business operations in a public sector labor union environment.
• Knowledge of concepts relating to the development and maintenance of effective organizations, and the management and development of people. Effective team leadership skills. Creative problem-solving ability.
• Knowledge and experience with technology, including hardware and software needs and recommendations for future technology requirements.
• Property management expertise relative to leasing, construction, contract negotiations, tenant relations, and building maintenance and administration.
• Knowledge and experience in managing employee benefit programs, payroll, and personnel functions.
• Knowledge and experience in managing a broad range of administrative functions.
• Superior interpersonal skills, including consensus building, conflict and change management, and the ability to deal effectively with many different types of people in a wide variety of situations.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Management: Manage all accounting, budgeting, cash management, auditing, and financial reporting functions. Manage the updating and maintenance of all automated and manual accounting systems. Coordinates and oversees the union, PAC, and related entity annual/fiscal audits, campaign finance reporting to the Secretary of State, all related compliance reporting, and corporate federal and state tax returns.

Personnel Management: Manage employee benefit programs and payroll processing, human resources, COBRA and the Affordable Care Act requirements, attendance, and personnel record keeping. Manages the administration of pension, 401(k), Medical Insurance Trust and the health and welfare plans for all Association employees. Serves on the AEA Governance Bargaining Team, providing financial support necessary for staff union bargaining, and manages the implementation of employment agreements.

Department Management: Supervise and manage the administrative and financial activities of the union to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of services. Provide logistic and data support for the Executive Director, Board of Directors, other managers, and appropriate committees.

Staff Management: Supervises Business, Finance, and Technology department employees, providing guidance, direction, training, and evaluation. Also supervises related vendor relationships. Develop a team environment that works cohesively to achieve AEA objectives.

Governance Support: Provide support and advice to the AEA Board of Directors, officers, local leaders, and committees as assigned.

Property Management: Manage all AEA properties, including financing, leasing, construction, tenant relations, maintenance, and record keeping. 

Membership Processing: Manage the updating and maintenance of AEA membership records, including the monitoring of dues payments to AEA and NEA.

Data Processing and Management: Manage the coordination of all data processing and management, including planning, purchasing, implementation, maintenance, program development, and training involving multiple platforms and data maintenance and management across multiple departments.

Technology: Manages all technology related functions; determines technology needs for the Association and locals, evaluates and identifies hardware purchases, software purchases; deploys, maintains, develops, upgrades and supports all IT systems, including servers, storage, workstations, network infrastructures application development methods, operating systems, security disaster recovery standards and licensing, staff and affiliate training and all other related technology subject matters.

Purchasing: Manage the purchasing of all equipment for the headquarters and regional offices.

Other: Perform other appropriate duties as necessary, approved and assigned by the Executive Director.

Salary and Fringe Benefits

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Benefits include liberal annual leave; health, life, and disability insurance; a defined benefit retirement plan; and a 401(k) plan.

The Arizona Education Association is an equal opportunity employer with an affirmative action employment program. Candidates from communities of color and women are encouraged to apply.