Finance Assistant

Position Summary

The Finance Assistant provides day-to-day financial and administrative support to the SAU Business Office. This position assists with daily accounting functions, accounts payable and receivable, payroll support, budget tracking, financial reporting, and the maintenance of accurate financial records. Working closely with the Business Office staff and Business Administrator, the Finance Assistant helps ensure the efficient operation of district financial services and compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Finance and Accounting

• Review invoices, receipts, and supporting documentation for accuracy, authorization, and proper account coding.
• Process purchase requisitions, generate purchase orders, and monitor order fulfillment in accordance with district purchasing policies.
• Maintain organized and auditable financial records, including vendor invoices and payments, customer invoices and receipts, and other supporting documentation.
• Assist with preparing routine journal entries, monthly account adjustments, and expenditure summaries.
• Monitor budget expenditures to assist in identifying budget variances or unusual transactions.
• Assist with maintaining vendor files, processing Form W-9s, and preparing annual 1099 reporting.
• Support year-end accounting procedures, fiscal closeout, and financial report preparation.

Budget and Grant Support

• Track expenditures, encumbrances, and available balances across grant accounts.
• Maintain financial records for state and federal grants (e.g., Title I, Title II, IDEA, ARP/ESSER).
• Monitor grant expenditures to ensure strict compliance with grant guidelines and proper account allocation.
• Assist with grant reconciliations, drawdowns, reimbursement requests, and upload requirements within state grant management systems (e.g., NHDOE GMS).
• Maintain complete supporting documentation files for grant audits and restricted fund monitoring.
• Ensure all financial activities adhere to district policies, GAAP, and state/federal regulatory standards.

Payroll, Benefits, and Administrative Support

• Provide cross-departmental support to HR and Payroll with timecard verification, payroll adjustments, and documentation filing.
• Track and reconcile benefit-related invoices, employee deductions, and vendor payments related to Accounts Payable.
• Support student activity account accounting, reconciling school-level deposits and disbursement requests, as it relates to Accounts Receivable.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for routine financial inquiries from staff and vendors.
• Provide general office and administrative support to the Business Administrator.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

• Preferred: Associate degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Considered: High school diploma (or equivalent) with 3 years of progressive bookkeeping, accounts payable/receivable, or administrative financial experience.
• Desirable: Prior experience in a public school district, SAU, municipality, or non-profit/governmental accounting environment.

Software & Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (advanced Excel skills like VLOOKUPs and Pivot Tables preferred).
• Experience with school district financial ERP systems (e.g., Infinite Visions, Tyler Technologies, Frontline Education, or similar).
• Familiarity with state grant and reporting portals (e.g., NHDOE GMS, iReport) is highly advantageous.

Core Competencies

• High level of accuracy, analytical skill, and attention to detail.
• Uncompromising commitment to maintaining confidentiality of sensitive financial and personnel data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a customer-service orientation.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize competing deadlines and work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Standard office environment with standard hours and extended periods of computer work.
• Occasional travel between district school buildings or SAU offices may be required.