What are the responsibilities and job description for the Financial Analyst position at Chicago Public Schools - CPS?
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600 schools and employing approximately 40,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments - student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.
Job Summary
The Office of the Controller maintains the fiscal integrity of Chicago Public Schools and provides financial leadership to the Chicago Board of Education according to state and federal legislation, government regulations, Board policies, and sound financial practices. Under the direction of the Financial Compliance Manager, the Financial Analyst (FA) will assist with ensuring controls and processes are operating as intended. The Financial Analyst is responsible for carrying out other non-routine finance and accounting duties for the Office of the Controller.
The Financial Analyst will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:
In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Financial Analyst must possess the following qualifications:
Type of Education Required:
Type of Experience Required:
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Conditions of Employment
As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:
Job Summary
The Office of the Controller maintains the fiscal integrity of Chicago Public Schools and provides financial leadership to the Chicago Board of Education according to state and federal legislation, government regulations, Board policies, and sound financial practices. Under the direction of the Financial Compliance Manager, the Financial Analyst (FA) will assist with ensuring controls and processes are operating as intended. The Financial Analyst is responsible for carrying out other non-routine finance and accounting duties for the Office of the Controller.
The Financial Analyst will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:
- Review financial policies and procedures to determine if any updates are needed or gaps exist
- Draft and/or revise policies and procedures as needed to address gaps
- Analyze financial data and other documentation to determine controls are working as designed
- Prepare and analyze key performance indicators
- Research and report on financial related issues related to the Office of Controller
- Perform finance and accounting related activities in a timely manner
- Maintain accurate documentation of financial operations and transactions
- Review financial data and reports to determine anomalies and areas for improvement
- Assist with special projects to improve operations
- Complete special projects and other duties as assigned by the Compliance Manager in a timely and accurate manner.
- Assist the Finance department in ensuring compliance with Governmental Accounting Standards Broad (GASB) Standards, Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Best Practices and Advisories, U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance, and other Federal, State and Local regulatory directives.
- Assists in the development of the District's position to auditors, external parties in regards to asset management and other accounting issues, as needed.
- Assist in enhancing and strengthening overall internal controls and increasing process efficiency and effectiveness.
- Assist with the submission of required annual reports with regulatory agencies such as City of Chicago, Cook County, State of Illinois Comptroller, GFOA and Association of School Business Officials.
- Assist with technology endeavors to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations
In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Financial Analyst must possess the following qualifications:
Type of Education Required:
- Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance or related field
- MBA or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is preferred
Type of Experience Required:
- Minimum three (3) years of financial accounting and/or audit experience in a medium to large organization
- Previous experience working with an ERP application and medium-to-advanced spreadsheet skills.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of auditing programs, processes and internal controls.
- Strong Data Analysis and Organizational Controls knowledge.
- Knowledge of financial practices at large organizations
- Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps
- Strong communication skills (speaking - including presentations - listening, and writing)
- General knowledge of financial internal controls
- Ability to use spreadsheets to view data and perform analysis
- Proven ability to use ERP applications
- Ability to analyze data and document any issues or problems
- Able to write basic procedures and policies
- Ability to read and understand various policies and procedures
- Ability to identify problems and develop recommendations for resolution.
- Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituent groups, including external partners, to ensure the entire system operates in the most effective manner possible to support schools and principals
Conditions of Employment
As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:
- Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
- Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. "Up-to-date" on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.