Director of Business Services

New Trier Township HSD 203•Northfield, IL

About The Position

The Director of Business Services provides leadership and oversight for the District’s financial and business operations, including accounting, budgeting, financial planning and analysis, payroll, purchasing, grants, transportation, and related functions. The Director ensures sound fiscal stewardship, effective internal controls, regulatory compliance, reliable financial reporting, and responsible use of District resources. The role serves as a key financial advisor to District leadership, providing analysis, forecasts, and recommendations to support strategic planning, collective bargaining, and decision-making. The Director also leads continuous improvement of business processes and systems and develops a collaborative, accountable, and service-oriented Business Office team. The Director leads Business Office operations and supervises Business Office Assistants, the Comptroller, Payroll Manager, Assistant Payroll Manager, and Transportation and Purchasing Manager. The role works with District leaders, Human Resources, Technology, schools, departments, administrators, and other stakeholders, presents financial information to the Board of Education and collective bargaining teams, attends District Leadership Team meetings, and participates in local and statewide school business professional organizations. The position reports to the Deputy Superintendent and performs other duties as assigned. This is a 12-month, exempt assignment with a stated salary range of $170,000 to $210,000. The job posting links to administrative benefits but does not detail them.

Requirements

Master’s or advanced degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, School Business Management, or a related field.
Illinois Professional Educator License with Chief School Business Official (CSBO) endorsement or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential.
Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in business, finance, accounting, or related operations, including supervisory experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of school or governmental finance, accounting, budgeting, payroll, internal controls, and financial reporting.
Strong analytical, financial modeling, problem-solving, and decision-support skills.
Ability to interpret complex financial information and communicate it clearly to financial and non-financial audiences.
Collaborative leadership and strong interpersonal, written, presentation, and communication skills.
Ability to design and improve financial processes, controls, systems, and workflows.
Strong understanding of school finance, fund accounting, budgeting, payroll, purchasing, grants, and cash management.
Ability to lead and develop staff, manage priorities, and establish accountability.
Proficiency with financial, payroll, timekeeping, payment, and related information systems.
Ability to evaluate emerging technologies, learn new systems, lead implementation and adoption, and help staff use technology effectively to improve efficiency, service, and organizational capacity.
Commitment to ethical conduct, fiscal responsibility, continuous improvement, high-quality service, and adherence to schedules and deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Public school district experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead development, administration, and analysis of the District’s annual budget, including revenue, expenditures, salaries, benefits, and staffing assumptions.
Develop short- and long-range financial forecasts and scenario analyses for strategic planning, staffing, capital planning, contractual commitments, and other District initiatives.
Monitor financial performance, budget-to-actual results, trends, fund balances, cash requirements, and other indicators; identify significant variances, risks, and opportunities.
Evaluate the financial impact of enrollment, staffing, legislation, funding, property values, tax collections, grants, and other factors.
Prepare financial analyses for collective bargaining, including salary schedule models, wage and benefit projections, staffing assumptions, multi-year contract costing, and evaluations of proposals and settlement alternatives.
Prepare the Annual Tax Levy and ensure its accuracy and compliance with state law.
Advise District leadership on financial matters and alignment of resources with strategic and educational priorities.
Direct accounting and financial operations, including general accounting, accounts payable and receivable, cash receipts, activity accounts, purchasing, and related functions.
Oversee monthly and year-end close and prepare financial statements, Board reports, forecasts, variance analyses, dashboards, and other management reporting.
Oversee safeguarding, accounting, reconciliation, and disbursement of District funds; maintain effective internal controls and cash management practices.
Oversee fixed asset records, inventory controls, and related financial records.
Supervise the District’s payroll function and payroll staff, including processing, reconciliations, controls, tax requirements, and TRS and IMRF reporting.
Ensure payroll practices comply with laws, regulations, collective bargaining agreements, Board policies, and District procedures; collaborate with Human Resources on payroll-related information and improve payroll and timekeeping systems and processes.
Coordinate the annual external audit and fiscal year-end financial statement process, and lead responses to audit findings and recommendations.
Oversee state, federal, and local financial reporting, including the ISBE budget, Annual Financial Report (AFR), and required financial, grant, payroll, and pension submissions.
Oversee the financial administration of grants, including budgeting, expenditure monitoring, reimbursement requests, recordkeeping, and reporting.
Ensure Business Office operations comply with legal, regulatory, accounting, Board policy, collective bargaining, and District requirements; maintain required financial transparency information.
Lead continuous improvement of Business Office processes, systems, controls, and workflows, including opportunities for simplification, standardization, automation, and improved technology use.
Lead or participate in implementation and enhancement of financial, payroll, purchasing, timekeeping, payment, and related business systems; establish procedures and documentation that support consistency, data integrity, continuity, and effective controls.
Partner with Human Resources, Technology, schools, and departments to improve cross-functional processes and provide training and guidance on budgets, financial procedures, and business systems.
Oversee purchasing and procurement in accordance with District policy and legal requirements; evaluate significant purchases, contracts, and vendor relationships for cost effectiveness and operational value.
Oversee transportation services and work with District administrators and staff to promote safe, reliable, efficient, and fiscally responsible operations.
Assist with administration and financial oversight of food service and other assigned contracted services.
Recruit, develop, supervise, and evaluate assigned staff; establish expectations for accountability, collaboration, service, and continuous improvement.
Develop cross-training, procedures, and backup coverage to support continuity of critical Business Office functions.
Collaborate with District leadership to evaluate financial and operational implications of initiatives, programs, contracts, and staffing decisions.
Present financial information and analysis to the Board of Education, administrators, collective bargaining teams, and other stakeholders.
Identify opportunities to automate or streamline routine business processes while maintaining strong financial controls, accurate data, and appropriate oversight.
Maintain confidentiality and professional judgment in financial, personnel, collective bargaining, and other sensitive matters.
Stay current on Illinois school finance, accounting, payroll and pension requirements, financial technology, and school business management practices.
Attend District Leadership Team meetings and participate in local and statewide school business professional organizations.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Deputy Superintendent.