Payroll and Financial Reporting Manager

Ankeny Community School District•Ankeny, IA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Payroll and Financial Reporting Manager provides operational leadership and administrative oversight to the District's payroll delivery and specialized accounting workflows. Utilizing advanced knowledge of federal, state, and district regulations, this role applies independent judgment and analytical problem-solving to drive workflow efficiency. The Manager ensures strict regulatory compliance and fiscal integrity by continuously enforcing robust internal controls, maintaining audit standards, and supervising core financial processing.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
Iowa School Business Official (SBO) certification or willingness to obtain upon assuming the role.
3–5 years of experience in corporate or public sector accounting and experience with payroll administration.
Experience with state and federal grant management.
Knowledge of complex payroll processing, pre/post-tax deductions (TSAs, health insurance), regulatory compliance, quarterly 941 filings, W-2 generation, and Affordable Care Act (1095) reporting.
Proficiency in public school fund accounting, categorical funding rules, and financial analysis.
Strong understanding of Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) rules and reporting.
Proficiency in financial software and systems.
Exceptional organizational skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
Ability to independently interpret regulations and apply professional judgment to non-routine situations.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and strong interpersonal/customer service abilities.

Nice To Haves

Experience supervising direct reports is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee the district’s timekeeping system and payroll delivery, including payables, insurance, and IPERS, by establishing standard procedures that ensure alignment with bargaining agreements and statutory laws.
Oversee the monthly closing process and general ledger integrity by managing journal entries and reviewing/approving all bank reconciliations.
Manage fiscal year-end functions (clearing YTD balances and rollover) and calendar year-end functions (updating tax tables and FICA/TSA limits).
Oversee year-end fiscal processing, including the calculation of payroll accruals and earned leave liabilities, and lead the administrative coordination of the district's post-employment benefits (OPEB) reporting.
Review Special Education student data and costs; prepare specialized billings for other school districts and the State of Iowa.
Manage grant claims, including expenditure verification and preparation of claim and financial reports for state and federal agencies.
Collaborate with the COO and Director of Operations to develop and document processes for tracking and reporting PPEL and SAVE construction and maintenance projects.
Review and process annual W2s, quarterly 941 filings, and State Tax/Unemployment reporting.
Coordinate the collection of 1095 data and ensure accurate reporting to the federal government.
Serve as the lead for all payroll and GL items related to the Financial Audit and Certified Annual Report (CAR); generate the annual Treasurer’s Report.
Determine and report A87 covered employees funded by federal funds; collaborate with HR on the Fall BEDS report.
Serves as the primary contact for complex and/or escalated payroll inquiries from employees, supervisors, and administrators.
Serves as the inter-departmental Liaison for grants and meets with managers to discuss expenditures for claims and assist with financial inquiries.
Exercise professional discretion in addressing sensitive concerns from staff, vendors, and district stakeholders.
Build collaborative relationships that strengthen trust, responsiveness, and operational effectiveness.
Address and resolve departmental concerns through proactive problem-solving, analytical thinking, and effective communication.
Manage the technical accuracy of the payroll and timekeeping systems, ensuring all tax tables and deduction limits are current.
Develop and execute complex reports using Cognos (or similar platforms).
Serve as the primary point of contact for the Federal and Iowa Departments of Education on grant claims, and manage mandatory reporting submissions to the US Census Bureau.
Maintain internal controls and record retention practices that comply with audit standards; document all workflows related to payroll, general ledger posting, and capital project tracking.
Maintain data integrity within position control and personnel budgeting.
Lead and mentor payroll and accountant personnel, fostering a culture of professional development and accountability.
Manage the hiring, training, and performance management of payroll and accountant personnel.
Cultivate a collaborative environment across payroll, accounting, and Business Office functions, while fostering strong cross-departmental partnerships to ensure streamlined district operations.
Demonstrate initiative and the ability to work without close supervision.
Demonstrate integrity and maintain confidentiality of privileged and sensitive information when received and distributed to appropriate designees as directed by the Superintendent or designee.
Demonstrate the ability to attend work on a regular and routine basis to avoid disruption to District operations.
Perform all duties in a safe manner to avoid injury to oneself and/or others.
Respond to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and/or directing appropriate personnel for resolution.
Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support district events or urgent matters.
Performs additional duties as assigned.