Posting closes May 24, 2026
Cromwell Public Schools is looking for a Director of Financial Services for the school district. This position manages all business, food services, and transportation affairs for the district and is responsible for the long-range financial planning and development of the budget. The Director of Financial Services reports to the Superintendent of Schools.
Responsibilities: A. Financial Planning and Budgeting
1. Development of the district budget including presenting the school budget to the Board of Education and the community.
2. Develop budget guidelines, coordinate the preparation of the budget.
3. Provide ongoing budgetary and financial information to the Superintendent, Board of Education, Administration, and assist administrators in review of the budget.
4. Utilize line item budgeting procedures in preparing the District budget.
5. Coordinate the presentation of, justification for, and preparation of additional analyses required to understand the budget proposal for action by the Board of Education and Town Council.
6. Work closely with the Town finance department/manager/director.
7. Submit periodic statements to the Board of Education detailing the status of the budget appropriation.
B. Accounting Services
1. Establish and supervise a program of accounting and reporting for the financial affairs of the District.
2. Manage grants, grant reporting, and manage the student activity fund.
3. Establish controls for transfer of budgeted funds, as requested by program directors, department heads, and school administrators.
4. Prepare financial reports as required by state and federal agencies (i.e. EFS).
5. Prepare appropriate financial reports to record data and provide information for management decisions.
6. Appraise existing accounting and financial policies and procedures as to their adequacy and effectiveness.
7. File a financial report annually for audit by an independent certified public accountant.
8. Coordinate the programs of outside auditor and implement the audit suggestions on a timely basis.
9. Process invoices and receipts and prepare Town Treasurer Reports on special revenue, such as community use of building charges, summer school, tuition students, etc.
10. Complete, monitor and report the activities applicable to state and federal funded activities.
11. Prepare a district-wide plan for the management of school activity, student body, and school-based internal funds.
C. Purchasing
1. Coordinate the purchase, maintenance, and inventory of all supplies and equipment for offices and instruction to take advantage of bidding, cooperative, and bulk purchase, based upon requisition specifications. Except for textbooks, library, music and other material aids deemed not suited. Included are copiers, service contracts, etc.
2. Develop and administer a program for securing contracted services.
3. Directs the purchase, by competitive bidding, informal quotations, and negotiation, of items of supply, and equipment and contracted services necessary for the operation of the school district.
4. Reviews or prepares bidding documents, including notice to bidders, instruction to bidders, specifications and the form of proposal.
5. Develop a fixed asset inventory for insurance and control purposes.
D. Transportation
1. Administer and manage the transportation program to meet the Board of Education requirements for the public and nonpublic schools in the District.
2. Prepare and administer the transportation budget, and develop recommendations for future transportation needs based on forecasts of resident students.
3. Work closely with transportation provider, school administration, and families.
E. Supervision
1. Direct supervision of the business office personnel, Food and Nutritional Coordinator, and the mail courier.
2. Assist the Payroll & HR Benefits Coordinator prepare special reports required for income tax, social security, and other special withholdings.
3. Assist the Payroll & HR Benefits Coordinator prepare pertinent fiscal data for negotiations, including data relevant to benefit programs.
4. Evaluate and provide support and training to all staff in the business department.
5. Evaluate certified staff as assigned by the Superintendent.
F. Insurance
1. In accordance with the requirements of the programs in which they are employed, coordinate the student, workers’ compensation, liability, automobile, and property insurance.
2. Work closely with Director of Human Resources and the Payroll & HR Benefits Coordinator in the selection and revision of employee health insurance programs.
G. Facilities Services
1. Administer, through the Director of District Operations, a program of plant operation, capital projects, and maintenance; security and property protection; and community use of school facilities.
2. Works closely with the Director of District Operations regarding the financial aspects of the operations of the buildings and grounds, including maintenance repair and renovation of all facilities.
H. Food Services
1. Oversee and administer, through the Food & Nutrition Coordinator and cafeteria managers, the school lunch program and cafeteria services.
2. Ensure all child nutrition programs from the State of CT Department of Education are followed.
I. Program Management
1. Develop a comprehensive plan for the operation of the total school business services program.
2. Review, implement and monitor all Board of Education business, transportation and food and nutrition policies for the District.
3. Effectively communicate with staff regarding issues involving the educational program and the furnishing of support services to all levels of the school system.
4. Coordinate and communicate support services activities with appropriate town and state agencies.
5. Provide leadership and staff development in the area as it relates to the department.
6. Keeps abreast of issues and trends in the areas of school business administration through literature, participation in school business officials’ associations and attendance at approved workshops and seminars.
J. General Administration
1. Act as advisor to the Superintendent concerning financial affairs and matters of general importance to the educational program.
2. Administer the annuities and sign off on all 403B provider(s) forms.
3. Provide necessary business services in cooperation with the instructional activities of the School District.
4. Attend Board of Education meetings and town meetings, and participate in professional meetings with administrative staff and colleagues.
5. Active participation in all union negotiations.
6. Establish procedures for record keeping and maintaining all records that audit and legal requirements demand, and establish standard operating procedures manuals for the effective workflow of paper processing.
7. Provide administrative office services dealing with telephone, postage, and office equipment operations, general mail receipt and distribution, including courier service for interschool mail, and centralized copying/duplicating services.
8. Performs such other position-related tasks, and assumes such other responsibilities, as the Superintendent of Schools may, from time to time, assign or delegate.
K. Technology
1. In conjunction with Manger of IT and the Director of Curriculum & Instruction, develop and administer a technology program to meet the Board of Education requirements for the public schools in the District.
2. Work closely with the Manger of IT and Administration to prepare and administer the technology budget, and develop recommendation for future technology needs based on forecasts of resident students.
Qualifications: The position requires knowledge of principles and practices of accounting, finances, and publicschool administration. The Director shall have a minimum of five years’ experience of employment in responsible management/administrative position, including direct supervisory capacity in finance and business operations, particularly in a public-school setting. Additionally, the Director shall have:
• CT State Department of Education certification (085) or (092) required.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or other appropriate field is required; a Master’s degree or CPA is preferred. Experience as School Business Manager/Director preferred, and experience with Infinite Visions a plus.
• Exemplary leadership and management skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with administrators, staff, students, and community.
• Knowledge, integrity and success in fiscal and school management skills and of state and federal laws and regulations which concern school business administration, educational finance, and grant management; knowledge of best practices in the implementation of management information systems.
• Knowledge of the development, implementation, and accounting control in all financial and business-related operations.
• Demonstrate skills with budgeting and financial planning, purchasing and supply management, building maintenance and capital planning, information services, and student transportation.
Salary and Benefits: $165,000 - $175,000, health and dental benefits, life insurance, 12 month position (222 - work year, work a minimum of 2 days during one of the seasonal vacations and 3 days during one of the seasonal vacations to be designated by mutual agreement between the Superintendent of Schools and the Director). Sick, Personal and Vacation time. Paid holidays and two (2) floating holidays.
Please submit the following throught the application system (Red Rover): resume, cover letter, certification, transcripts, three (3) letters of reference.
Statement of Non-Discrimination
The Cromwell Board of Education is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, and it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color religion, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, alienage, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, or gender identify of expression, status victim of domestic violence, or any other basis prohibited by state or federal law.