KANSAS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Job Description

Job Title:               Executive Director Business and Finance

Job Title Code:     1647

Salary Grade:       (Salary commensurate with education and experience)

Department:         Business & Finance

Reports To:           Chief Financial Operations Officer

FLSA Status:         Exempt

Date Prepared:     March 2024

PURPOSE OF JOB: The Executive Director of Business and Finance is responsible for providing leadership in the planning, development and implementation of policies, programs, and practices in the Business & Finance division. This role ensures that all business operations are in compliance with generally accepted accounting and business practices and in accordance with applicable federal, state, and/or local statues. To ensure that all vendors who desire to provide services to KCPS have equal and appropriate access.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Develop and achieve efficient functioning of all areas of business and finance within the KCPS at the best cost possible while achieving the goals and controls necessary for effective operations.
2. Assure responsive reporting on the financial condition of the KCPS on a timely basis.
3. Champions culturally responsive practices, ensuring resources prioritize equity.
4. Ensure that the KCPS operates on a sound fiscal basis within the policies of the Board of Directors and the laws and regulations of local, state, and federal governments.
5. Strategically coordinates fiscal planning, in support of District priorities.
6. Assure the timely completion of the annual audit through effective interaction with outside auditors and direction of internal staff.
7. Provide all schools/departments with necessary and timely information to ensure that budgets are managed within all existing parameters. Serve as the financial advisor to all department managers and provide them with sufficient guidance to properly control fiscal functions of the KCPS.
8. Assists in the development of annual budgets, under the direction of Chief Financial Officer.
9. Ensure that internal controls and accounting systems provide information for management decision- making for planning and/or control purposes.
10. Assures that investment of funds available to the KCPS produces the best return on investments without undue risk within the guidelines established by state law.
11. Participate in development of long-range strategic plans for the KCPS.
12. Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Yes

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field.
2. Seven (7) years of experience in business and fiscal planning.
3. Five (5) years of increasing supervision and professional experience in a large, complex urban school district or equivalent.
4. Strong leadership ability, presentation skills and the ability to translate financial terms into understandable lay terms.   

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. MBA w/ five (5) years experience.
2. Demonstrated experience and success in business and fiscal affairs in education and related fields.

CORE LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

These leadership competencies are expected of all Executive level staff at Kansas City Public Schools and form the basis of our performance management system for Executive level staff.

I.  LEADING CHANGE

Continual Learning - Grasps the essence of new information; masters new technical, educational and managerial knowledge quickly; recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development; seeks feedback from others and opportunities to master new knowledge.

Creativity and Innovation - Develops new insights into situations and applies innovative solutions to make organizational improvements; creates a work environment that encourages creative thinking and innovation; designs and implements new or cutting-edge programs/processes.

External Awareness - Identifies and keeps up to date on key educational policies and trends at the national and local level and looks for opportunities to bring best practices to PPS. Factors political, social and economic trends that affect the organization into management strategy and plans on an ongoing basis.

Flexibility - Is open to change and new information; adapts behavior and work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles. Adjusts rapidly to new situations warranting attention and resolution.

Resilience - Deals effectively with pressure; maintains focus and intensity and remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks. Effectively balances personal life and work.

Service Motivation - Creates and sustains an organizational culture which encourages others to provide the quality of service essential to providing excellent support to staff, schools, family and community. Enables others to acquire the tools and support they need to perform well. Shows a commitment to the KCMSD mission and goals. Influences others toward a spirit of service and meaningful contributions to making progress on the KCMSD vital signs.

Strategic Thinking - Formulates effective strategies consistent with the academic, social and organizational challenges of the organization. Examines policy issues and strategic planning with a long- term perspective. Determines objectives and sets priorities; anticipates potential stakeholder reactions or opportunities.

Vision - Takes a long-term view and acts as a catalyst for organizational change; builds a shared vision with others. Influences others to translate vision into action. Demonstrates a passionate belief that all children can achieve at high levels.

II.  LEADING PEOPLE

Conflict Management - Identifies and takes steps to prevent potential situations that could result in unpleasant confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a positive and constructive manner to minimize negative impact. Maintains emotional self-control in conflict situations.

Leveraging Diversity - Recruits, develops, and retains a diverse high quality workforce. Leads and manages an inclusive workplace that maximizes the talents of each person. Ensures that equity and high expectations for all staff and students are ingrained in all aspects of the work of the KCPS. Respects, understands, values and seeks out individual differences to achieve the vision and mission of the organization. Embraces the diversity of families and community partners and looks for mechanisms to expand the involvement of diverse community members in the work of the KCPS. Able to lead staff in ongoing conversations and self reflection about race and poverty.

Integrity/Honesty - Instills mutual trust and confidence; creates a culture that fosters high standards of ethics; behaves in a fair and ethical manner toward others, and demonstrates a sense of responsibility and commitment to student achievement. Follows through on commitments, maintains an atmosphere of openness and transparency.

Team Building - Inspires, motivates, and guides others toward goal accomplishments. Consistently develops and sustains cooperative working relationships. Encourages and facilitates cooperation within the organization and with customer groups; fosters commitment, team spirit, pride, trust. Develops leadership in others through coaching, mentoring, rewarding, and guiding employees.

III.  RESULTS DRIVEN

Accountability - Assures that effective controls are developed and maintained to ensure the integrity of the organization. Holds self and others accountable for goals and responsibilities. Can be relied upon to ensure that projects within areas of specific responsibility are completed in a timely manner and within budget. Monitors and evaluates plans; focuses on results and measuring attainment of outcomes. Holds self and others accountable to put the needs of students ahead of the needs of adults in the system in solving problems.

Customer Service - Balancing interests of a variety of stakeholders; readily readjusts priorities to respond to pressing and changing customer demands, both internal and external. Anticipates and meets the need of customers; maintains a high level of service; is committed to continuous improvement of services.

Decisiveness - Exercises good judgment by making sound and well-informed decisions that are data-driven; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; makes effective and timely decisions, even when data is limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; is proactive and achievement oriented.

Entrepreneurship - Identifies opportunities to develop and implement new processes and programs within or outside of the organization. Is willing to take risks; initiates actions that involve a deliberate risk to achieve a recognized benefit or advantage.

Problem Solving - Identifies and analyzes problems; distinguishes between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical decisions; provides solutions to individual and organizational problems. 

Technical Credibility - Understands and appropriately applies procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise, both educational and managerial. Is able to make sound hiring and capital resource decisions and to address training and development needs. Understands linkages between administrative competencies and mission needs.

IV.  BUSINESS ACUMEN

Financial Management - Demonstrates broad understanding of principles of financial management and marketing expertise necessary to ensure appropriate funding levels. Prepares, justifies, and/or administers the budget for the program area; uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities; monitors expenditures in support of programs and policies. Identifies cost-effective approaches.

Human Capital Management - Assesses current and future staffing needs based on organizational goals and budget realities. Using merit principles, ensures staff are appropriately selected, developed, utilized, appraised, and rewarded; takes corrective action when necessary.

Technology Management - Uses efficient and cost-effective approaches to integrate technology into the workplace and improve program effectiveness. Develops strategies using new technology to enhance decision making. Understands the impact of technological changes on the organization.

V.  BUILDING COALITIONS/COMMUNICATIONS

Influencing/Negotiating - Persuades others; builds consensus through give and take; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals; facilitates "win-win" situations.

Interpersonal Skills - Considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of different people in different situations; is tactful, compassionate and sensitive, and treats others with respect.

Oral Communication - Makes clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals or groups; listens effectively and clarifies information as needed; facilitates an open exchange of ideas and fosters an atmosphere of open communication.

Partnering - Develops networks and builds alliances both internally and externally, engages in cross- functional activities; collaborates across boundaries, and finds common ground with a widening range of stakeholders. Utilizes contacts to build and strengthen internal and external support bases.

Political Savvy - Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Approaches each problem situation with a clear perception of organizational and political reality; recognizes the impact of alternative courses of action.

Written Communication - Expresses facts and ideas in writing in a clear, convincing and organized manner.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job requires that the employee be able to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, use hands, fingers, and reach with hands and fingers, bend, stoop, lift objects of at least ten pounds.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Length of work year:  12Month   7.5 hrs/day, 5 days/week; 260 work days

Benefits:     Health and Dental Insurance are provided.

KCPS Defined Benefit Pension plan – mandatory 9% contribution is required from employee and matched by KCPS; Voluntary retirement savings plans are also available.