Budget Manager

Company Description

Shawnee Mission School District is the third largest school district in Kansas, serving approximately 26,500 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. The district includes 34 elementary schools, five middle schools, five high schools, and several educational centers across 14 cities in northeast Johnson County, about 10 miles from downtown Kansas City, Missouri. It is consistently recognized nationally for high student performance and a strong commitment to educational excellence. The district focuses on personalized learning plans that prepare students for college, careers, and lifelong interpersonal skills. More information is available at www.smsd.org.

Role Description

The Budget Manager is a full-time, on-site role based in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, supporting the financial planning needs of Shawnee Mission School District. This position is responsible for the preparation and monitoring of the district’s annual budgets, the chart of accounts development and maintenance, student enrollment counts and projections, and special analyses as directed by the Chief Financial Officer. The Budget Manager collaborates with school and department leaders to align budget allocations with educational priorities and regulatory requirements, ensuring resources are used efficiently and transparently. Daily activities include analyzing financial data, reconciling budget records, supporting annual budget development, and assisting with presentations to internal and external stakeholders. The role also involves improving budgeting processes, implementing best practices, and supporting compliance with district policies and state and federal guidelines.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and coordination of the district’s annual budget.
• Prepare multi-year financial forecasts and long-range budget projections including explanation of variances.
• Prepare all budget documents and presentation media for board review and final submission with the state and county.
• Coordinate enrollment counts on the official enrollment date and at other times as directed by the Chief Financial Officer.
• Project student enrollment for staffing, budget development, and possible student boundary changes.
• Prepare monthly board financial reports, year-end financial reports, and monthly and quarterly federal and state reports.
• Regularly monitor revenue and expenditure accounts for accuracy, compliance, and budget adherence.
• Prepare information for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). Assist the district’s external auditor and auditors from Kansas State Department of Education.
• Monitor position control to ensure that all personnel positions are authorized in the budget.
• Assist in labor negotiations by preparing salary schedules and related costs of proposed salary and/or benefit increases.
• Assist with grant budget preparation and compliance tracking.
• Direct the activities of the budget staff to ensure timely and accurate submissions of budget material.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• CPA certificate is preferred.
• Previous experience in a school district or related field is preferred.
• Knowledge of practices of public school education and related business services and ability to apply them to the needs of the district.
• Demonstrates ability to plan, organize and coordinate business programs.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with the students, staff, and community.
• Demonstrates ability to supervise others and develop effective working relationships with the leadership team, staff members at all levels, vendors, and community.
• Knowledge and ability to utilize appropriate technology, including Microsoft Office/365 suite products and Google Workspace products, with an emphasis in using Excel.
• Ability to collaborate with team members to implement the district’s strategic plan and engage in solution building.
• Desire to continue career improvement by enhancing skills and job performance.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to maintain a high level of professionalism and adherence to Board policy.
• Ability to communicate well, both verbally and in writing, with parents, patrons, staff and students.
• Ability to effectively write detailed reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak in front of large and/or small groups.
• Ability to read and interpret documents.
• Bilingual communication skills preferred.

Physical Demands

• Must have the ability to travel in personal or school district vehicle.
• Must be flexible regarding scheduling, working conditions and location of work.
• May require some physical exertion.