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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, Grant Accounting, Payroll, Internal Accounts, and Corporate Accounting. 

Job Summary: 

Under the supervision of the Accounting Manager, Grants, the Grants Accounting Team Lead plays a critical role in the preparation, review, and approval of Federal and State and local claims, quarterly and annual reconciliations for grants, and other revenue activities. The Grants Accounting Team Lead is responsible for the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports. This role also develops, maintains, and enhances accounting and financial policies, processes, and procedures to streamline revenue recognition activities to create operational efficiencies. The Grants Accounting Team Lead will contribute to the development of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA).

The Grants Accounting Team Lead will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Lead a team responsible for reimbursable grant claims, reconciliations of grant receivables, deferrals and revenues, overseeing day-to-day operations, and issue resolution to departments related to Federal, State, and Local grants, and payments.
• Support the Accounting Manager of Grants in the overall management of the Grants day-to-day operations. 
• Supervise, train, develop, and mentor the Grants team staff, including task assignments and performance management.
• Review and reconcile monthly all invoices posted by Accounts Receivable.
• Prepare claims as needed and review all reimbursable Federal, State, and Local claims.
• Prepare and provide financial revenue reports to the Budget and Treasury Department on a quarterly basis.
• Monitor all grants in collaboration with the Budget Department to ensure the maximum reimbursement.
• Heavily involved with the upcoming ERP upgrade to Oracle Cloud.
• Collaborate in preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Award (SEFA) and participate in the compilation and analysis of fiscal data for inclusion in theACFR (Annual Comprehensive Financial Report).
• Review and implement new systems, controls and procedures.
• Prepare audit reports to assist the auditors in their inquiries.
• Collaborate with and assist the Accounting Manager, Grants with the approval of Charter Schools payments and updating the Kanban card.
• Process refund checks, post journal entries, and prepare annual reconciliations at the end of the fiscal year.
• Process the annual Orphanage claim and Impact Aid claim.
• Responsible for updating and maintaining the Grant Master List.
• Review and participate in meetings of the Medicaid Administrative Outreach Claim (AOC).
• Responsible for creating and facilitating grants accounting training for new onboarding employees.
• Other duties as assigned.

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

Education Preferred: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field from an accredited college or university.

Experience Required: 

• Minimum of five (5) years of accounting experience, monitoring, accounting for, and reporting on Federal, State, and Local grants in a large government organization, required.
• Supervisory experience, preferred.
• Advanced Oracle or similar financial management experience in a large government organization, preferred.

Other Requirements:

• Occasional extended hours in order to complete projects with a condensed timeline is required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Skilled in conducting financial analyses using Excel including Pivot Tables, and other financial tools.
• Knowledge of operations, budget/finance, management, and organizational development.
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; capable of communicating and collaborating with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent attention to detail, critical thinking skills, and ability to effectively work under pressure while meeting deadlines.
• Ability to take initiative and follow through to achieve goals with limited direction. 
• Strong leadership and team-building skills.
• Be willing to occasionally work extended hours in order to complete projects with a condensed timeline.

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.