Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Administration

Town of Andover•Andover, MA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Under the direct supervision of the Superintendent of Schools, the Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Administration is responsible for all administrative and advisory work relative to the business and non-instructional operations of the Andover Public Schools. The Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Administration shall provide leadership in the areas of budget development, financial forecasting and planning, accounting, building maintenance and custodial oversight, transportation, nutrition services, and school safety/security initiatives. The Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Administration is responsible for establishing and maintaining state of the art business practices in all non-instructional divisions of the organization. The Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Administration shall assist the Superintendent in the evaluation of Business office personnel and, together with the Leadership Team, build the necessary support systems to promote effective financial and operational management within each school.

Requirements

Thorough knowledge of public school finance, including knowledge of and state law governing the financing of public schools, and a broad working knowledge of state funding for public education, accounting, municipal business practices, budget development and financial forecasting.
A minimum of five years’ experience as a School Business Manager, Finance Director, Assistant Superintendent of Finance or similar position.
Effective interpersonal and leadership skills; experience facilitating communication between divergent groups and in group decision-making.
Effective administrative and management skills, including demonstrated success as an office manager.
Excellent speaking and writing skills.
Thorough knowledge of effective utilization of state-of-the-art computers, technology, and information management tools.
Commitment to strategies that enhance diversity, inclusion and equity among staff.
Massachusetts licensure as a School Business Administrator and licensure or eligibility for licensure as an Assistant Superintendent.
Master's degree in business administration, accounting, school administration and/or an appropriate academic discipline.

Nice To Haves

Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official (MCPPO) preferred or have the qualifications to pursue this certification within a reasonable time period.

Responsibilities

Provide effective and dynamic leadership in school business and non-instructional operations on behalf of the school community and community-at-large.
Responsible for the overall direction and leadership of the District’s operations to support the overall mission and vision of the District.
Establish and maintain sound practices in all non-instructional divisions of the organization.
Serve as a resource to the Superintendent and the School Committee to construct recommendations for budget-related issues and long-range financial forecasting.
Assume responsibility for the implementation and observance of all School Committee policies and district procedures regarding finance and operations.
Provide for staff development programs for administrators and support personnel in the areas of finance, budget preparation, building maintenance, custodial services, school safety and security and other operations.
In conjunction with the Superintendent and the Leadership Team, develop a comprehensive annual budget document that displays proposed expenditures in a way that is understandable and easy to read, consistent with the district's strategic plan and state and federal mandates.
Collaborate with the IT Solutions Architect and Director Of Strategic Innovation in developing the school department’s annual technology expense budget.
Develop a systematic annual fiscal plan to make budget assumptions for both short-term and long-term capital and operational expenditures.
Communicate and interpret the district's strategic financial plan to Town Officials (including the Town Manager, Select Board and Finance Committee, as necessary) and members of the community at-large.
Maintain statistical records and prepare statistical analyses necessary for projecting needs, such as enrollment, financial and historical data, and preparation of forecasts and projections, as required for special projects, negotiations with bargaining units, and meetings.
Assist in the fiscal planning and monitoring of cost allocations for the Special Education Program.
Supervise and control the expenditure of budget appropriations and the collections of revenues in accordance with the School Committee's goals and objectives.
Report regularly to the Superintendent and the School Committee on matters relating to budget revenue and budget expenditures and balances.
Prepare regular monthly and quarterly financial statements for their review.
Oversee the preparation and recording of financial information for the District's annual and special audits.
Identify potential cost-saving measures within the financial and operational aspects of the district.
Identify, pursue and implement revenue generating options such as competitive and noncompetitive grants, fee-based programs, advertising and marketing efforts, as well as corporate and alumni fund raising, as directed by the Superintendent.
Project state aid and adjustments in state funding based on an in-depth understanding of the state’s funding formula, relevant state laws and regulations, and proposed legislation.
Provide guidance and support to the District’s Data and Financial Analyst in the preparation of comparative district and state financial data in order to foster effective data-driven policy and program decisions, including financial projection based on various state and federal level funding proposals.
Provide support to the Superintendent and School Committee in collective bargaining.
Oversee activities related to federal and state grant expenditures.
Oversee preparation of the End-of-the-Year Reports, and other such reports in accordance with state statute and Town By-laws.
Oversee development of five-year financial forecasts for the school system.
Assist the School Committee and the Superintendent in long-range planning for the effective utilization of buildings and of building space.
Facilitate communication among Town and School officials by effectively involving the Town Accountant, Town Finance & Budget Director, the Treasurer's Office, and the Department of Plant and Facilities in long-range planning.
Develop and defend the school department’s annual submission for the capital improvement plan.
Oversee custodial, maintenance and capital improvement of the schools and program facilities.
Collaborate with the Custodial Supervisor in the development of effective systems for maintaining, repairing, and cleaning school buildings and school equipment.
Work with the Director of Facilities to assess utility costs and pursue energy conservation efforts.
Ensure compliance with all health and safety regulations in all areas of operations.
Acts as Central Office liaison to all school building construction projects, including MSBA and locally-funding projects; provides leadership for the development of statements of interest, feasibility studies, and other MSBA process requirements; and works with MSBA on approved building projects.
Organize School Committee's inspection of schools.
Coordinate, Monitor, and Supervise School and Program Level Business and Non-Instructional Operations Plan, coordinate, and facilitate the development of financial and accounting procedures that will assure a high degree of fiscal responsibility among principals and program administrators.
Work closely with principals, program administrators, and business office personnel to: Oversee all payroll and accounts payable expenditures prior to signing by the School Committee.
Review and approve all purchase orders, in terms of internal accounting controls and propriety.
Review all bid specifications and contracts.
Oversee delivery of transportation services, including routing, scheduling, contracts, and the collection of transportation fees when applicable.
Address parent/guardian residency issues.
Oversee the management of nutrition services.
Maintain oversight of the copy center operations and staff.
Maintain oversight of the Collins Center operations and staff
Oversee school and district security and coordinate with Information Technology, the Department of Plant and Facilities, the Police Department and the Fire Department on security and emergency management, including collaboration with the Andover Police Department on management of the BeSafe security portal and school-based ALICE drills.
Interview, supervise and evaluate the Director of Food Services, the Transportation Director, the School Accountant, and the Executive Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Administration and other personnel in the Finance Office.
Assist and supervise the Custodial Supervisor as he oversees the activities of Andover's Custodial Resource Team; conducts regular inspections of the schools; assists principals in the evaluation of Senior Custodians.
Assist and supervise the Custodial Supervisor as he directs the management of custodial staff; including addressing performance issues, issuing discipline, and resolving grievances, with assistance of the Principals as needed, as set forth in the collective bargaining agreement.