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Washington Student Achievement Council

Chief Financial Officer - Director of Financial and Business Services

Washington Student Achievement Council, Olympia, Washington, United States, 98502


Description

This position will remain open until enough qualified candidates have applied.

The first review of applications is expected to occur on 12/13/24

and will be open continuously.

Applicants should submit their application materials as early as possible. The hiring manager reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any time.

Why work for the Washington Student Achievement Council?At the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), we are committed to increasing educational opportunities and attainment in Washington. We believe that every person living in the state of Washington should have access to educational opportunities and be encouraged to pursue education or training beyond high school. To achieve our mission, we:

Lead statewide strategic planning to increase educational attainment.

Administer programs that help people access and pay for college.

Advocate for the economic, social, and civic benefits of higher education.

Learn more about the work of the Washington Student Achievement Council.

At WSACOur programs and policies work with diverse communities to eliminate barriers to people pursuing education beyond high school. As an employer, we strive to hire, cultivate, and retain a competitive workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

We offer flexible/alternative work schedules, wellness activities, and teleworking opportunities.

Eligible employees who are new parents or legal guardians can bring their infant (six weeks to six months) when returning to work.

Employees have access to tuition assistance and tuition waiver programs.

If you have experience advocating for communities of color or others who are experiencing educational inequities-including those directly impacted by the criminal justice system; people who identify as queer, trans, lesbian, gay, or bisexual; veterans; and people with disabilities, you are strongly encouraged to apply, even if you don’t meet all of the desired/preferred qualification listed.

Learn more about WSAC’s mission and Our Commitment to Equity.

Working Conditions:

This position is hybrid-eligible. WSAC operates primarily on a remote basis, but successful candidates must be able to work in the Olympia office and travel throughout Washington State when required.

Equipment and supplies required to work from home will be provided by the agency, including a computer, monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Work hours are standard business hours of Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, however, requirements of the position may require work more than normal scheduled hours due to travel, to meet high-volume and/or time-sensitive workload and agency priorities.

About Administrative Services

The Administrative Services Program collaborates with all stakeholders to achieve the goals and objectives of the WSAC. Administrative Services recommends and implements effective and efficient practices throughout the agency, while upholding statewide rules and regulations, in accounting, budgeting, contracting, facilities, equipment, records management, human resources, programming, telecommunications and data network infrastructure, data management, purchasing, and grant compliance management services.

About the Position

The Director of Financial and Business Services functions as the agency's chief financial officer to provide leadership and oversight for WSAC's budget, accounting, and business functions to support, enable and enhance the agency's policy and programmatic initiatives and activities. With appropriations for 2023-25 exceeding $1.2 billion, an administrative budget of over $40 million, and more than a dozen non-appropriated funds, WSAC has a complex financial portfolio and a wide variety of business lines. This position collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to achieve WSAC goals and objectives. The Director of Financial and Business Services recommends and implements effective and efficient practices throughout the agency, ensuring compliance with statewide rules and regulations governing accounting, budgeting, contracting, purchasing, and equipment. This position works in partnership with executive leadership and program managers to develop and improve consistent administrative practices throughout the agency. This position reports to the Executive Director.

Duties

Some of what you'll be doing includes:

Providing overall strategic financial leadership to apply and manage financial resources in support of agency mission and program goals.

Advising agency leadership in the development and implementation of administrative policies, procedures, and practices to achieve results.

Directing the preparation and submission of biennial and supplemental agency budget requests and monitors appropriations requests throughout the governor's and legislative budget processes.

Leading internal processes to prioritize and allocate resources from appropriations, non-appropriated accounts, and other sources to accomplish highest priority work.

Managing and directing agency accounting operations.

Managing and overseeing federal and state compliance functions, maintains internal controls and risk management, liaison with auditor and external financial agencies.

Managing and overseeing contracting and purchasing activities.

Directly supervising the Accounting Manager, Budget Manager, and Contracts and Procurement Manager, and indirectly overseeing their respective teams.

Continually assessing direct report employees' performance, recognizing good performance and intervening appropriately when performance is not acceptable.

Ensuring managers continually assess their direct report employees' performance, recognizing good performance and intervening appropriately when performance is not acceptable.

Managing and overseeing the contracting functions of the WSAC, including: evaluate current processes and establish new procedures as necessary; ensure contract compliance; advise program staff on RFP preparation and advertising, evaluation and selection of bidders, and contract management issues; serve as contract manager for any general or agency-wide contracts.

Managing the agency’s implementation and ongoing use of the state’s Workday financial management software.

Qualifications

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

Working knowledge of state and federal laws, rules and regulations that govern accounting, budgeting, contracting, purchasing, and grant management.

Familiarity with state financial and business processes, resources, and systems.

Proven leadership and supervisory skills.

A commitment to honor diversity, equity and inclusion.

Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

Ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate to others complex policies and procedures.

Proficient with spreadsheets and word processing.

Education and Professional Experience

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration or related field

Three years supervisory experience

Five years’ experience serving at the senior professional level in financial management including government accounting and budgeting.

Knowledge of advanced financial principles, GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), federal and state laws and regulations governing accounting, budgeting, and grant management.

Knowledge of Washington State and federal laws and regulations governing accounting, budgeting and grant management.

Desired Qualifications

Advanced degree or professional certification such as CPA, CGFM, etc.

Knowledge of federal and/or state financial aid programs and processes.

Knowledge of Washington State procurement policies and procedures.

Knowledge of audit requirements and current topics.

Supplemental Information

Application ProceduresTo be considered for this position you must possess the required qualifications listed above. Find this job posting and complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov. A complete application package includes:

Letter of Application. A letter of application that addresses how you meet the required education and experience described in this announcement. Applications with generic cover letters will be considered nonresponsive and may eliminate the application from further consideration.

Resume. A detailed resume including all educational and professional experience.

References. A list of names, titles, and current telephone numbers of three (3) employment references.

Your responses to the supplemental questions.

Please Note: Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

QUESTIONS?For questions about this recruitment, email Alishar@wsac.wa.gov

EEO StatementThe Washington Student Achievement Council is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all applicants and employees. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons over 40 years of age, and veterans are encouraged to apply. If you need accommodation in the application process or wish to receive this job announcement in an alternative format, please call 360.485.1138 or email HumanResources@wsac.wa.gov.

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