Finance Executive Director of Finance
Job Description
Jeffco Public Schools (Jeffco) is located in Jefferson County, Colorado. It is the second largest school district in Colorado serving 69,000 students across 155 schools. With 14,000 employees, the district is the largest employer in Jefferson County and has provided educational excellence for more than 70 years.
Jeffco embraces the spirit of the West and the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountain region with the county spanning more than 770 square miles running the length of the western edge of the Denver metropolitan area. The district is diverse in both population and geography, from urban to rural, including the mountain communities in the foothills west of Denver.
Overall, Jeffco has 31% of students that qualify for free and reduced lunch, an indicator of poverty, and 34% minority (25% Hispanic) student population. The district is implementing a new strategic plan, Jeffco Thrives 2025 that is focused on providing a world-class education that prepares all Jeffco students for bright and successful futures as local and global citizens. Come join us!
SUMMARY Lead the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the Finance, Planning, and Analysis department, including the functions of capital finance, treasury, enrollment planning, risk management, and payroll. Collaborate with the Director of Budget to ensure that all financial planning captures both operational and capital needs, factoring in sources of funding such as debt, mill levy overrides, sales/lease proceeds, and all other strategic mechanisms to support the school district. Under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer, the Executive Director of Finance, Planning, and Analysis shall prepare and maintain a multi-year capital financial plan that reflects the priorities and strategic assets of the district and meets the goals articulated by the Superintendent and Board of Education.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.
Lead the development of a multi-year capital financial plan that addresses both sources and uses of capital funds over a minimum of a five-year period. Leverage expertise from the district’s external municipal advisor in developing the capital financial plan. Share in communicating the plan with various stakeholders and audiences.
Lead the budgeting process for capital finance and risk management to optimize the district’s operational plans within available resources and in accordance with Colorado statutory provisions regarding taxpayer approval and school district finance.
Oversee the Geographic Information Systems team in their work to prepare forecasts and analysis of enrollment patterns and school boundaries. Lead work to advance the district’s financial sustainability through opening new schools, closing existing schools and/or surplusing existing vacant properties.
Provide strategic direction to the district’s risk management function and supervise the Director of Risk Management.
With direction from the CFO, lead the district’s treasury function to ensure that the district maximizes investment returns within statutorily permissible investments that also provide adequate liquidity to address business needs. Oversee the team that is responsible for daily cash management, investment management, and related banking functions (excluding cash receipt and accounts receivable).
Oversee the payroll function and Director of Payroll. Ensure that payroll is processed in a timely and accurate fashion, in compliance with applicable law.
Ensure that the district is using best in class technology platforms and leverage such tools to automate processes where possible within the applicable span of control. Be a collaborative leader in any large scale effort to upgrade or replace the district’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) tool.
Present information to various internal and external stakeholder groups including the Financial Oversight Committee, the Capital Asset Advisory Committee, the District Accountability Committee, and other ad hoc citizen committees, as prepared by team members and self. Collaborate with communications to develop any necessary collateral and material for significant capital financial plans.
Monitor guidance and regulations promulgated by the Colorado Department of Education pertaining to school financial management and risk management. Adhere to Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) guidance and ensure the district’s financial management follows all necessary rules and laws.
Monitor, assess, and report on financial impacts of prospective Colorado legislation. Support the CFO as directed in communicating potential impacts to legislators and the district’s lobbyist.
Limited amounts of overnight travel will occur in the course of fulfilling the duties of this job interfacing with ratings agencies, public markets and/or completing ongoing training and development.
Perform other duties as assigned.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EXPERIENCE Minimum six years’ in finance, business administration or financial management. Position requires experience managing people, preferably in a financial function. Preference for experience in K-12 education field, particularly in the state of Colorado.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING Bachelor’s degree required. Preference for an advance degree or finance specific certification. Employee is expected to continue their education and training.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS None.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, & EQUIPMENT Knowledge of applicable financial regulations regarding debt issuances, capital financing, treasury management, and government financial management required. Skills to lead and manage people. Individual should have skills to be a strategic thinker and leader in financial management, with the ability to clearly communicate complex concepts to various different audiences in support of transparency and accountability. Individual should be highly skilled at using Excel to generate flexible and dynamic financial models.
SPAN OF CONTROL This position supervises a team that currently includes two Directors (i.e., Director of Risk Management and Director of Payroll) and two Managers (Manager, GIS and Manager, Capital Finance and Treasury).
The physical demands, mental functions, and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee may need to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
MENTAL FUNCTIONS While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to compare, analyze, communicate, coordinate, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile, and negotiate.
WORK ENVIRONMENT The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
FLSA: Exempt
FTE: 1.00000 , Hours/Day: 8.000 , Days/Year: Year Round
Salary Plan, Grade, Step: JCA – Administrator – 229 days , G12, 1
Min-Mid Annual Salary Range: $121,888.00 – $145,674.00 Effective as of: 06-16-2023
