Executive Director, Fiscal Services

Salary : $171,210.24 - $207,975.48 Annually
Location : District Office, 2020 Bonar Street, Berkeley, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2026-10-16 bw
Department: Fiscal Services
Opening Date: 10/16/2026
Closing Date: 11/6/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Basic Function and Representative Duties

BASIC FUNCTION:
Under policy direction, plans, organizes, controls, integrates and directs the District's financial and accounting activities and operations; directs, integrates and manages the preparation of financial analyses and reports; oversees development of annual operating, capital, program, grant and fund budgets and long-range financial forecasts; manages and monitors financial planning activities for programs authorized by the Board of Education; Directs and supervises payroll department. Provides expert professional assistance and support to District management and the Board of Education on financial, accounting and related matters; and performs related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
The Executive Director, Fiscal Services is responsible for managing and integrating a program of broad, comprehensive financial services for the district, including budgeting, financial forecasting and analyses, financial reporting and accounting including CalPERS and state public retirement system. Responsibilities and assignments are broad in scope and allow for a high degree of administrative discretion on issues that are complex, interpretive, and evaluative in nature.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class. There will typically be an assigned schedule for these duties.

• Plans, organizes, controls, manages and evaluates the work of the Fiscal Services department; with supervisors and staff, participates in establishing operational plans and initiatives to meet department goals and objectives; implements departmental plans, work programs, processes, procedures and policies required to achieve overall department performance results; coordinates and integrates department functions and responsibilities to achieve optimal efficiency and effectiveness; participates in developing and monitoring performance against the annual departmental budget.
• Participates with other managers in establishing strategic plans for the District; sets overall management and policy goals and objectives for a department; coordinates department program and policy issues with managers of other departments and/or on a District-wide basis.
• Directs and oversees payroll and employee benefits operations and activities to assure District employees are paid in an accurate and timely manner and receive the appropriate employee benefits; review, edit, approve and process District payroll; oversee the processing of payroll-related forms and applications; review, edit, approve and process District payroll; assure payroll activities comply with established laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Direct and reconcile, process, and submit District payroll tax returns, W2s, PERS, STRS and Tax-Sheltered Annuities (TSA) retirement reports.
• Plans and evaluates the performance of supervisors and staff; establishes performance requirements and personal development targets; monitors performance and provides coaching for performance improvement and development; takes disciplinary action, up to and including termination, to address performance deficiencies, subject to management concurrence, in accordance with the District's merit system rules, human resources policies and procedures and labor contract provisions.
• Review District payroll tax returns, W2s, PERS, STRS and Tax-Sheltered Annuities (TSA) retirement reports.
• Provides leadership and works with supervisors and staff to develop and retain highly competent, customer service-oriented staff through selection, compensation, training and day-to-day management practices that support the District's mission, strategic goals and core values.
• Plans, organizes, directs and oversees the District's budget administration activities and functions; oversees development and implementation of and interprets, enforces and explains budget process, policies and procedures; reviews, analyzes and develops recommendations regarding budget requests and other issues; prepares and delivers budget presentations, which include highly sensitive and confidential information to senior management and the Board; negotiates and resolves sensitive or complex budget disputes; monitors expenditures and prepares periodic budget status reports.
• Performs or oversees financial planning activities and analyses, involving complex, specialized and technical data and in-depth understanding of accounting and financial principles and practices; creates financial forecasting models for District programs; analyzes and determines the impact of economic and legislative changes on the District's financial plans and budgets; provides assistance and expertise to other departments in financial planning for programs authorized by the Board; analyzes complex business agreements and develops and provides recommendations to best protect the District's interests.
• Plans, organizes and manages the District's general accounting activities and operations; ensures records are accurate, up-to-date, complete and in compliance with all appropriate standards, laws, rules, regulations and policies; plans and directs the operation and implementation of financial controls for the billing, receipt and accounting for funds from grants and other sources; ensures proper accounting for all expenditures and revenues in accordance with GAAP, GASP and GASB; prepares or oversees the preparation of State and local required reporting; directs and ensures payment of vendors and contractors per contract and agreement terms and conditions; directs and oversees District-wide position control and payroll processes in accordance with District salary ordinance.
• Reviews and analyzes accounting, financial and management reports prepared for District departments, the Board, senior management and other governmental and regulatory bodies; identifies and communicates issues important to the District and provides findings and recommendations, which are often based on interpretations of complex regulations, laws and guidelines, including recommendations to improve the financial performance of the District.
• Provides expertise, guidance and assistance to staff, senior management, other District personnel and external customers; evaluates specialized information and data and provides decisions and recommendations on a wide array of financial matters; advises on availability of funds for long-term projects; interprets and explains complex regulations, laws and guidelines.
• Directs and oversees department involvement in development, enhancement and administration of the District's enterprise financial systems; directs and participates in identification of financial areas that require process improvement; oversees development, integration and implementation of new or revised policies, processes, standards and internal controls for the Fiscal Services department.
• Directs and oversees coordination of departmental activities with external auditors for annual audit.

Knowledge and Abilities

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Principles and practices of general, fund, and governmental accounting including financial statement preparation and methods of financial control and reporting
• Principles and practices of cost and fixed asset accounting
• Internal control and audit principles and practices
• GAAP, GASP and GASB accounting standards and requirements
• Principles and practices of public agency budgeting
• Laws and regulations relating to the financial administration of public-school districts
• District functions and associated financial management issues
• Principles and practices of business data processing particularly related to the processing of accounting and financial information
• Principles and practices of public administration, including purchasing, contracting and the maintenance of public records
• Principles and practices of sound business communication.
• Research methods and analysis techniques
• Principles and practices of management and supervision
• District merit system rules classified human resources policies and procedures and labor contract provisions

ABILITY TO:

• Plan, organize, manage, and integrate the District's finance and accounting activities and operations to meet District objectives, professional standards, and legal requirement.
• Define issues, analyze problems, evaluate alternatives, and develop sound, independent conclusions, and recommendations in accordance with laws, regulations, rules and policies
• Analyze and make sound recommendations on complex financial data and operations
• Understand, interpret, explain, and apply District policies and state and federal laws and regulations applicable to District financial accounting, reporting and record keeping
• Evaluate financial programs, procedures and controls and implement recommendations for improvements.
• Perform complicated mathematical calculations and analyses
• Prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive financial statements, reports and written materials
• Exercise sound independent judgment within general policy guideline
• Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex, and confidential issues
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of District management, administrators, staff, representatives of other governmental agencies, external auditors and others encountered in the course of work

Education, Experience and Other Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
The requirements listed below are representative of knowledge skills and abilities required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

Education, Training and Experience:
Any combination equivalent to: a bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university with a major in
Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a closely related field; and at least seven years of increasingly responsible financial and accounting experience, at least five of which were in a supervisory or management capacity; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Managerial experience in a public agency is preferred.

A master's degree in Finance or Business Administration is preferred, but not required.

Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:
Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor or Certified Management Accountant is highly desirable.

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Valid California Driver's License and vehicle insurability to comply with District requirements.
Employment eligibility that includes fingerprint, tuberculosis and/or other employment clearance.
Working Conditions and Additional Information

Environment:
Driving a vehicle to conduct work
Indoor and outdoor work environment
Interactions with dissatisfied, hostile, and irate individuals
Subject to demanding timelines and constant interruptions

Physical Demands:
Bending at the waist; kneeling or crouching to file and retrieve materials
Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard and mouse
Hearing and speaking to present or exchange information in person and on the telephone
Operating a computer keyboard for extended periods of time
Perform work which involves lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects typically weighing 35 pounds, reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally

EXAMINATION INFORMATION:

The first step is an application screening to determine whether applicants meet the minimum qualifications listed in the job description.

Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the following two-part examination process:

First Examination: Training and Experience Assessment - Qualifying Pass/Fail

The Training and Experience (T&E) assessment will evaluate each candidate's complete application, including employment history, education, training, and responses to the required supplemental questions. The supplemental questions align with the approved duties and qualifications for the position.

Candidates must receive a Pass rating on the T&E assessment to proceed to the second examination.

Second Examination: 100% of Final Examination Score

Candidates who pass the T&E assessment will be invited to participate in a second examination. The second exam may consist of a written exam, an oral exam, a performance exam, a structured interview (SI), or a qualification appraisal interview (QAI).

The second examination will determine 100% of the candidate's numerical examination score and placement on the eligibility list.

The passing score will be set between 50 and 99, under the direction of the Personnel Director, based on factors specific to the examination and recruitment. Once established, the passing score will be applied uniformly to all candidates.

EXAMINATION WEIGHT

FIRST EXAMINATION: T&E - Qualifying Pass/Fail

SECOND EXAMINATION: 100% of the final examination score

Candidates must pass each examination component to proceed. Candidates who do not pass will be notified of their results and applicable review or appeal rights.

OTHER: Proof of identification for completion of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, must be submitted at the time of processing for employment.

SALARIES: All salaries, as stated, are based on present information and are subject to change. The hiring rate shall be the first step of the schedule, except for classes where recruitment efforts have indicated difficulty in recruiting at that step. Appointments are made at the minimum salary shown in the posting, and increases are granted at intervals based on anniversary date.

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