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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600+ schools and employing approximately 40,000 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.  Under the general direction of the Controller, the Accounts Payable team provides timely, accurate, and relevant financial reporting. 

Job Summary: 

Reporting to the Accounts Payable Manager, an Accounts Payable (A/P) Specialist is responsible for processing expense reports and invoices as assigned.

The Accounts Payable Specialist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

Accounts Payable

• Enters, monitors and analyzes invoice and purchase order data in Oracle
• Analyzes vendor invoices, statements, disbursements, and other financial transactions ensuring prompt review and approval.
• Respond to vendors, schools, and Central Office department inquiries regarding invoice status and payment status
• Assists with the year-end disbursements processes including verification of capital payments, processing accruals, clearing invoice backlog, and working with vendors and departments to resolve outstanding disbursement and invoicing issues.
• Answering phone calls from vendors
• Completing other duties as assigned 

Expense Reimbursement

• Processing Reimbursement Requests for School-Based Staff and Central office to ensure compliance with Board policy.
• Respond to Department/Central Office Inquiries on employee reimbursements
• Answer phone calls timely and respond professionally and accurately to our internal customers
• Track and Record transactional data
• Review and evaluate receipts to determine if expenses are allowable
• Financial data entry
• Review and reconcile teacher reimbursement requests in CTU MyFunds application
• Completing other duties as assigned
• Become a Subject Matter Expert on our Travel and Expense Policy

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Accounts Payable Specialist must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required: 

• High school diploma or GED equivalent 
• College-level courses in Accounting, Business Administration, or Finance
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferred

Experience Required: 

• Minimum of two (2) years of accounting or accounts payable experience; preferably in a large governmental organization

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Demonstrate high levels of integrity, honesty, credibility, and the courage to make decisions
• Knowledge of operations, budget/finance, management and organizational development
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps
• Microsoft Office skills, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.  
• Familiarity with Google Suite and Oracle or other financial system software

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.