Director 1, Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

Houston Independent School District•Houston, TX

73d•Onsite

About The Position

The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) serves as a key financial analyst and strategic advisor within the Finance & Accounting Services Division, supporting districtwide fiscal integrity, operational efficiency, and long-term financial sustainability. This role emphasizes the application of advanced financial analysis, cost management, forecasting, and performance measurement to guide decision-making across HISD's Finance & Operations portfolio.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field required.
Current Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential required.
Minimum of 5 years of progressive financial management, accounting, or strategic analysis experience; public sector or education finance preferred.
Demonstrated experience in financial modeling, cost analysis, and performance reporting.
Deep understanding of GAAP, PFIA, TEA reporting, and Texas school finance.
Proficiency in data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau) and advanced Excel functions.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and presentation skills.
Ability to communicate complex financial concepts clearly to non-financial stakeholders.
Collaborative mindset with commitment to public service and organizational excellence

Nice To Haves

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred

Responsibilities

Financial Analysis & Reporting
Develop and maintain comprehensive financial models to forecast revenues, expenditures, fund balances, and cashflows.
Conduct variance, trend, and scenario analyses to support management decisions and resource allocation.
Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reports.
Cost Management & Internal Controls
Evaluate cost structures and spending patterns across departments to identify efficiency opportunities.
Partner with internal audit and accounting teams to ensure compliance with PFIA, TEA, and GAAP standards.
Strategic Planning & Decision Support
Translate complex financial data into actionable insights for cabinet-level decision-making.
Collaborate with Treasury, Budget, and Operations teams to model the financial impact of major initiatives.
Develop performance metrics, benchmarking frameworks, and predictive analytics to guide district leadership.
Data-Driven Process Improvement
Integrate accounting and analytical tools (Oracle Fusion, Power BI, Excel VBA, SQL, or Python) to automate reporting and improve data reliability.
Collaborate with the Data Governance and IT teams to ensure data integrity and consistent financial definitions.
Identify and document process improvement opportunities across accounting and financial reporting functions.
Other duties as assigned.