Chief Financial Officer, Portland Public Schools (Maine) - Alma Advisory Group

About This Organization

The Portland Public Schools (PPS) serves approximately 6,500 students in 17 schools in pre-K through grade 12, about one-third of whom come from homes where a language other than English is spoken – for a total of more than 50 languages. The district serves an additional 4,000 students through Portland Adult Education. As the largest school system in Maine, the mission of Portland Public Schools is to ensure a challenging, relevant, and joyful education that empowers every learner to make a difference in the world. The district seeks an experienced Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead alongside a dynamic Superintendent and support the implementation of the new five year strategic plan. This is a hands-on CFO position which requires strategic leadership but also the ability to get into the weeds and proactively solve problems alongside a developing finance and accounting team.

About the Chief Financial Officer Role

Reporting directly to the Superintendent, the Chief Financial Officer is a key member of the ExecutiveLeadership Team and leads the organization’s long-term financial strategy and oversees the day-to-day finance and accounting. The person is responsible for all aspects of financial management including but not limited to: budget planning, general accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, financial controls and reporting, cash management, and compliance.  The CFO leads a team of 10 individuals and sets goals and objectives that direct the management of fiscal resources of approximately $160M. The CFO serves as the financial face of the organization, supporting the Superintendent in interactions with city, county, and state leaders.   

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)

• Visionary and Strategic Leadership
• Serve on the Executive Leadership Team and contribute to setting vision and strategic direction for the organization.
• Develop and maintain the annual budget and multi-year financial plans to ensure stability and sustainability in coordination with the Executive Leadership Team and Finance Committee.
• Lead and effectively communicate on long-term financial planning, forecasting and economic modeling; assess financial implications of potential strategic and growth alternatives.
• Understand relevant macro and micro trends that meaningfully impact the organization and enable the organization to benefit from emerging opportunities and mitigate emerging risks.
• Financial Leadership and Management
• Implement a clear and transparent budget process that aligns with the organization’s key priorities and initiatives.
• Facilitate the preparation and presentation of monthly budget reporting and annual projections for all aspects of the budget; collaborate with the team to ensure accuracy of analysis and reporting.
• Represent the organization, as needed, on budgetary matters in various venues, delivering written and oral presentations on the budget and fiscal matters and other financial concerns to the board members, city leaders, union leaders, school leaders, teachers, parents, and community groups.
• Prepare the Executive Leadership Team, and board members for effective decision-making conversations, anticipating and organizing key questions and data that support productive discussions to direct key fiscal priorities.
• Maintain productive working relationships with board and finance committee members, district team members, school leaders, city and state officials, auditors, lenders, bondholders, insurers and other financial institutions.
• Ensure compliance with the financial requirements of the city, and all other state and federal agencies and ensure accurate and timely preparation of audits and IRS forms.
• Build a service-oriented culture that is responsive to the employees, ensuring accuracy and accountability for processes and procedures.
• Systems, Training and Execution
• Provide project management oversight for priority short- and long-term initiatives; develop tools to track progress and monitor key performance goals.
• Implement adequate internal controls and ensure adequate accounting records to document compliance with local, state, and federal laws and ordinances.
• Serve as a critical thought-partner and support for department leaders on budgetary matters and build their capacity as fiscal stewards of the organization’s resources. 
• Assists department and school leaders with financial matters as necessary, including, but not limited to, answering inquiries and explaining policies and procedures, preparing budget estimates, and determining the cost of new, expanded, or reorganized programs.
• Create proactive systems that garner feedback from the district office and schools to inform the budget process, budget transparency, and fiscal stewardship.
• Ensure the successful implementation of the new payroll processing system. 
• Oversees the district’s process management system and develops tools to ensure coherence throughout the financial system.
• Safeguards the physical assets by implementing adequate internal controls and ensuring adequate accounting records to document compliance with local, state, and federal laws and ordinances.
• Assess the distribution of resources with a clear equity lens, ensuring allocations provide the best resources to equitably and effectively meet the needs of all students, families, and schools.  
• Talent Development and Management 
• Lead, coach and manage the performance and effectiveness of the finance team, aligned around a shared vision of operational excellence, performance goals, effective controls and monitoring of the budget, and excellent service to schools.
• Supervise and conduct personnel administration duties, including hiring and firing recommendations, evaluating, assigning special duties, monitoring attendance and travel reports, and approving leave for all direct reports. 
• Build a service-oriented team culture that is responsive to the employees and the broader community.
• Update documentation and training materials to ensure proper compliance with financial procedures.

Requirements

What Skills You’ll Need to be Successful (Competencies)

• Financial and Accounting Expertise
• Demonstrates a high level of budget management and financial planning expertise, including implementing a clear and transparent budget process that aligns with the district’s key priorities and initiatives.
• Evidence of long-term financial planning and developing forecasting models.
• Understand the use of data analysis, financial modeling, and analysis to inform organizational strategy and can translate this information clearly to create a common understanding across the leadership team.
• Effective Planning and Execution
• Exhibit outstanding critical thinking skills, including analyzing data, identifying trends, pinpointing problems and root causes, asking probing questions, and developing feasible solutions.
• Demonstrate the ability to build efficient financial systems, budget workflows, and standard operating procedures to deliver the desired outcomes for the organization. 
• Demonstrate excellent execution and leadership skills and the ability to successfully lead staff to achieve goals accurately and on time.
• Influence and Effective Communication
• Communicate effectively, tailoring messages for the audience, context, and mode of communication.
• Navigate complex structures, relationships, and dynamics to challenge ideas and enable thoughtful decisions and positive outcomes for students.
• Build coalitions and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Educate and train all staff, especially non-finance staff, on budget management, procedures, and workflow.
• Team Leadership and Management
• Build the team culture to foster excellence and collaboration and to deliver high-quality customer service to achieve all goals and objectives.
• Assess team and individual skills and identify development needs; provide feedback and support to improve practice, build capacity, and maximize talent.
• Gain the trust and respect of all staff, cultivating personal accountability among staff for excellent service, efficient budget processes, and commitment to student achievement.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s in Accounting, Finance, or a related career field from an accredited college or university.  MBA, Master’s, and CPA designation preferred. 
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a financial management position in a large public service organization preferred.
• Must have direct experience in budgeting, leading the budget process, financial analysis, and monitoring and evidence of success leading and managing a multi-million dollar budget.
• Four (4) years of senior-level supervisory/administrative/management experience.
• Possess a deep understanding of ERP, accounting and payroll systems.
• Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication and human relations skills.
• Experience in implementing comprehensive financial management systems, practices, and policies for an organization of significant size.
• Thorough knowledge of various public budgeting practices, policies, procedures, and challenges.

Benefits

The salary for this position is competitive, starting at $150,000-170,000 and commensurate with prior experience. In addition, a comprehensive benefits package will be included in the ultimate offer for the identified sole finalist.  

This organization is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.