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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over330,000students in 600+ schools and employing nearly 36,000 people, most of them teachers.  CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.  In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity.  Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The Office of the Controller is responsible for the financial operations of Chicago Public Schools, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Internal Accounts, and Corporate Accounting.

Job Summary: 

Reporting to an Assistant Deputy Controller, the Accounting Manager (Management Accounting) is responsible for optimizing the use of current technology to ensurerelevant, accurate, and complete data in the CPS’ financial system. This position will support the integrityof the processing and recording of property tax distributions, capital and fixed assets, payables andpayroll accounts, cash and other bank accounts, as well as other revenue and expense transactions. Therole is also responsible for providing support for the annual financial audit and other regulatoryaudits by performing extensive, complex reconciliations and reporting through the use of query logic andother data extraction tools, assist in the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report(ACFR) and the Annual Financial Report (AFR). 

The Accounting Manager will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Manage and supervise the Financial Reporting team, including consultants, interns and vendors. 
• • Ensure the staff follows established policies and procedures in the performance of their duties applying proper application of accounting principles and various system validations on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. 
  • Review and approve all journal entries prepared by staff.
  • Provide leadership, develop goals, objectives and performance standards for the Financial Reporting team and conduct performance evaluations.
• Organize, develop, and schedule ongoing training and development for staff.
• Prepare and submit various cash, property tax, payables, revenue, and/or payroll related transactions by leveraging financial system data extraction and reporting capabilities.
• Identify transactions within bank statements/electronic extracts and develop journal entries to correct and/or adjust balances.
• Perform accounting duties to properly allocate revenues and expenses to the correct and appropriate general ledger, units, funds, accounts, programs, grants and/or fiscal year.
• Prepare daily, monthly, and annual account analyses and/or reconciliations for cash accounts, general ledger accounts, and/or subledger processes to be posted to the general ledger.
• Spearhead the implementation of financial systems, controls, and procedures that will streamline processes and operations of the Finance Department.
• Collaborate with Information Technology Services (ITS) to ensure financial systems are meeting business requirements and troubleshoot system financial processing and reporting issues.
• Prepare and review the accounting and financial reporting for the preparation of all audit related schedules and tasks for the Annual Financial Comprehensive Report (ACFR) and the Annual Financial Report to the state of Illinois (AFR).
• Complete projects and other duties as assigned.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Accounting Manager must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, or business-related field is required (must have Accounting concentration)
• Master’s degree and/or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is highly preferred

Experience Required: 

• Minimum of five (5) years of Accounting experience in accounting/financial reporting and auditing, including a minimum of two (2) years of Supervisory experience required
• Previous experience in Governmental Accounting and experience working with a Tier 1 ERP system and involvement in conversions/upgrades preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of auditing programs, processes and internal controls.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Strong data analysis and organizational controls knowledge.
• Knowledge of financial practices at large organizations.
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps.
• Strong communication skills (speaking - including presentations - listening, and writing).
• Proven ability to use ERP applications.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituent groups, including external partners, to ensure the entire system operates in the most effective manner possible to support schools and principals.

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency- Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19- Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.