Director, Strategic Financial Operations
Tacoma Public Schools
Salary: $164,849 - $228,224 DOE
See Position Description Business Finance Services 10/11/22
Continuous
Additional Information: This position is posted as open until filled with a first consideration date of Monday, November 7, 2022.
Please include an updated resume and letter of interest with your online application.
Additional Information: In accordance with Governor Jay Inslee’s announced Proclamation 21- 14.1 on August 18th, 2021, all K-12 school district employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18th, 2021. Candidates who are extended a conditional offer of employment with Tacoma Public Schools will be required to submit proof of vaccination status in compliance with Governor Inslee’s mandate, prior to official hire with the district. Individuals qualifying for a medical and/or religious exemption outlined under the Governors directive will be required to provide proof of exemption prior to official hire with the district. Tacoma Public Schools Human Resources will work directly with candidates to finalize proof of compliance with the Governors mandate prior to official hire.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:
SUMMARY
The Director of Strategic Financial Operations is responsible for providing direction to a team of Finance professionals and leadership throughout the organization on overall planning, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting of the district’s financial current and future performance.
This position will be responsible for collaboration with various District Administrators and staff to devise, develop, and resolve actions that result in improved operational performance, often
through project-based implementation. This involves developing and managing financial analysis procedures, identifying, and prioritizing recommended actions, maintaining metric-driven financial models, developing action plans and business models, using forecasting tools and performing additional analysis (i.e., cost/benefit, root cause), and advising Executive leadership on the prudent financial direction of various projects based on the results achieved from data and analytics.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Build various financial models through the gathering of data from multiple sources, organizing of data sets to make meaning of the information through thoughtful and pragmatic financial modeling and preparing recommendations of that data to inform decision making to achieve insightful suggestions.
Identify key data sources and utilize data-driven insights about important departmental metrics to ensure equitable, cost effective, student-focused, and strategically aligned business decisions. Create, implement, and oversee ROI models and OKRs for key strategic initiatives to provide visibility and accountability to ensure resources are prioritized. Collaborate and support the team in achieving daily, weekly, monthly, and annual goals, KPI’s & financial metrics.
Collaborate and coordinate with teams to perform qualitative and quantitative analyses required for strategic planning and special projects. Prepare results for management and communicate results to management team.
Lead strategic business decisions and work cross-functionally to incorporate initiatives into the District.
Develop, oversee, and execute projects from conception through implementation and close-out, including developing and managing project schedules, resource planning, defining scope, project budget, project risks, communication plans, and collaboration on cross-departmental initiatives extending into community coordination, as project dictates.
Execute project planning activities with appropriate stakeholders, functional leads and appropriate technical teams to align new efforts with current and planned systems and inform other teams of potential impacts to their respective areas.
Employ knowledge of strategic planning process, resources allocations, business systems, process improvements, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods and the coordination of people to ensure successful functioning of District organizational practices and systems to achieve equitable utilization of District personnel, funds, materials, facilities, and time.
Develop tools and systems and automate processes; assist in the monitoring of, and the planning to improve a District department’s performance; promote efficiency and cost saving measures; Determine the need for systems if there is an absence of necessary systems in the business process.
Organize, plan and prioritize work by developing clear goals and objectives to accomplish specific work.
Plan and conduct necessary meetings as related to special assignments of projects; receive, distribute and reply to special assignment communications; communicate the project status with key stakeholders; may present and interpret reports to the Superintendent, Board, management, Legislature, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and other officials, as assigned; make presentations to the public or District staff.
Supervise assigned staff. This includes but is not limited to: make hiring recommendations and decisions; establish clear performance goals, objectives, and metrics; provide timely and effective performance feedback; develop employees through coaching, and mentoring; commend and discipline employees as needed; approve leaves and overtime; provide for and encourage participation in professional development opportunities; create high-performing teams; motivate employees to be high performers; establish and maintain a work environment that is psychologically healthy, equitable, and trusting.
Serve as a District representative or a member of negotiating teams and as a resource for labor contract negotiations; interact with District negotiator, legislative liaison, and other representatives.
Communicate relevant information and project status with key stakeholders, Cabinet members and Administrators.
Illustrate effective verbal and written communication skills with an adaptable communication style to suit different audiences. Utilize effective facilitation skills including group discussions. Demonstrate attention to detail. Develop accurate written materials; able to follow up on feedback to ensure positive outcomes.
Act as a catalyst for new and innovative solutions to obstacles.
Establish, carry out and complete projects, at the direction of the Chief Financial Officer.
Interact with executive leadership teams on a regular basis; serve as a resource for
guidance on projects, tasks and/or resolution of issues.
Use creative and solution-oriented problem-solving skills to innovate and retool policies,
procedures, guidelines, and standards for maintaining and enhancing best practices in finance and operations including developing and maintaining standard operating procedures (SOP) manual(s) which result in strong, collaborative business practices, policies, procedures, and compliance.
Exude a passion for delighting customers.
Exemplify high standards for professionalism, getting things done, trust, accountability,
and integrity.
OTHER JOB DUTIES
Regular, reliable, predictable attendance or physical presence is an essential job
requirement and critical to the performance of the work.
Maintain and update knowledge and skills necessary for success in the position by
participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and participating in local, regional, or national professional associations; attend conferences, seminars, and other meetings; keep abreast of developments in the field and provide information to division staff regarding related trends.
Interpret and apply District and governmental policies and regulations.
Engage in special projects as assigned by the CFO.
CONDITIONS
Experiences frequent interruptions; required to travel to District and other sites within the community; may require occasional travel outside of the District; substantial requirement to work with inflexible deadlines; required to work extended or flexible hours as needed; may be exposed to hazardous chemicals or high noise levels; may be required to lift and carry up to 20 pounds, bend, squat, stoop, kneel, crouch, walk, twist, climb, and/or be mobile.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting or a closely related field from an accredited college or university with experience working in the field of accounting and finance. MBA or Masters in Accounting preferred.
Ten or more years of increasingly responsible business process, system designs or closely related experience; program management experience preferred or any combination of experience and training which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the work.
5+ years of hands-on management experience including hiring, training, and developing a highly engaged service-oriented team.
Licenses/Special Requirements
Valid Washington State driver’s license.
CPA preferred
LEAN Black Belt preferred.
Project Management credential preferred.
Fingerprints and successful WSP and FBI background clearance/sexual misconduct clearance.
Allowable Substitution
Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be evaluated by the Human Resources Department for comparability.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. District administration has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice. The statements contained
herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the primary functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload.
Tacoma Public Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator: Renee Trueblood, 253-571-1252, civilrights@tacoma.k12.wa.us
Title IX Coordinator, Elementary: Christa Erolin, 253-571-1318, cerolin@tacoma.k12.wa.us Title IX Coordinator, Secondary: Wayne Greer, 253-571-1191, wgreer@tacoma.k12.wa.us 504 Coordinator, Elementary: Jennifer Herbold, 253-571-1096, jherbol@tacoma.k12.wa.us 504 Coordinator, Secondary: Megan Nelson, 253-571-1003, mnelson@tacoma.k12.wa.us Mailing address: P.O. Box 1357, Tacoma, WA 98401-1357.
APPLICATIONS MAY BE FILED ONLINE AT:
http://www.tacomaschools.org/
PO Box 1357 Tacoma, WA 98401 253-571-1250
hrinfo@tacoma.k12.wa.us