Education Program Consultant (School Business Operations)

Full Job Description

Iowa Department of Education’s mission is ensuring all students experience a world-class education. To accomplish our mission, we need talented, passionate people working together to build an excellent education system that empowers all students to achieve their full potential.

The Education Program Consultant (School Finance & Accounting) will be an integral member of the Bureau of School Business Operations, providing technical assistance and guidance to school districts and AEAs regarding multiple areas of school finance.

Your Responsibilities:

As the Education Program Consultant (School Business Operations) you will guide, support, and work with your co-workers to:

• Provide technical assistance and account coding guidance to school districts in accordance with the Iowa Chart of Account Coding manual
• Serve as a primary contact for student activity and categorical funding questions, analyzing fiscal data, and assist with school district fiscal reviews.
• Update and test bureau data collections to ensure continued alignment with Iowa Code and Administrative rule.
• Collaborate with bureau staff to design and maintain fiscal reports as a resource for internal staff, school districts, AEAs, and other stakeholders.
• Serve as the non-primary bureau contact for questions related to tuition and fees.
• Maintain professional competency through review of publications, professional development, and staying current with statutory and industry changes.
• Participate in professional activities of Bureau, Division, Department, and national and state organizations. This work includes regular participation in bureau meetings, school business operations activities, assigned work teams, and other duties as assigned.

Candidates are encouraged to provide detailed information about relevant experience in the application materials and submit a cover letter describing their interest in the position.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

Specific experience in the business office of a public school district or area education agency, authorization as a school business official (SBO), as an auditor, or accountant with the ability to learn governmental accounting.

Experience with fiscal reporting of Iowa school districts and area education agencies; experience with SQL or SAS; strong communication, mathematical, and analytical skills.

Preference will also be given to candidates with proficiency in spreadsheets, governmental accounting experience, or experience interpreting code and regulations.

A successful candidate will bring, or have the ability and desire to learn, the competencies below.

• Passion for pursuing common goals in pursuit of public service
• Accounting, preference for governmental
• Creation and manipulation of spreadsheets including experience with formulas and functions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strategic and analytical mindset
• SQL, SAS, or logic statement creation
• Collect, analyze, and review fiscal data
• Ability to work in complex situations and meet deadlines
• Ability to interpret and break down highly technical and regulatory language, and present information in an understandable manner
• Ability to manage self in relation to prioritization and time management
• Conflict resolution and interpersonal skills
• Desire to work with diverse teams and stakeholders

If you wish to review a copy of the Position Description Questionnaire, please contact idoe.hr@iowa.gov.

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday; some nights and weekends, occasional in-state and out-of-state travel

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Opportunities to make a widespread difference in the lives of children, their families, and Iowa communities
• Collaborative, positive work environment
• Talented and passionate work colleagues that will help you learn and grow
• Opportunities to collaborate with experts from around the country
• Employee discounts from a variety of vendors
• Competitive salary and benefits package:

https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/hr/documents/employment/Benefits_Beyond_the_Paycheck.pdf


E-Verify and Right to Work
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov

Qualifications

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university and five years of full-time post-graduate work experience in any one or a combination of the following areas:

a. Professional training, teaching, or counseling experience in an educational setting;b. Professional administrative experience in an educational setting;c.

Professional finance, accounting, or auditing experience, including the preparation or analysis of financial statements;d.

Professional experience in a major technical program area housed within the Iowa Department of Education;e. Professional data integration, data analysis, and statistical analysis experience;f.

Professional communications experience, including public relations, marketing, or journalism;g. Professional school safety and emergency preparedness experience.

2) A combination of a total of five years of post-graduate education and full-time experience (as described in number one), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited post-graduate college or university course work equals one year of full-time experience.

3) Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree, possession of a valid Iowa Teaching Certificate, and three academic years of teaching and/or administrative experience in PK-12 and/or a post-secondary educational institution.

4) Possession of a School Business Official Authorization from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and seven years of full-time professional experience in finance, accounting, or auditing, including the preparation or analysis of financial statements.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.