Interim Position: January 1, 2027-June 30, 2027Position Closes: December 3, 2026First Screening: December 4, 2026 First Interviews: December 11, 2026 Finalist Interview: December 14, 2026A minimum of 3 confidential references must be completed to be consideredInterim Executive Director of Finance AFFILIATION: Exempt
SALARY LEVEL: Executive Director of Finance
2026-2027 Salary $235,548 (prorated based on FTE) REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: Superintendent or designee
This is a temporary executive leadership position anticipated to serve through June 30, 2027. The Interim Executive Director of Finance will provide immediate leadership and oversight of the district's financial operations, with particular emphasis on financial stabilization, preparation of the 2027-28 budget, compliance with state and federal financial reporting requirements, and continuity of essential business services.
The successful candidate must be able to assume responsibilities quickly, work collaboratively with the Superintendent and Cabinet, and provide practical, experienced financial guidance during a period of significant fiscal challenges. The individual will also support a smooth transition to the district's permanent Executive Director of Finance.
Position Summary: The Interim Executive Director of Finance serves as the chief financial officer of the District. As a core member of the Superintendent's Cabinet Team, this role provides comprehensive vision, leadership, and hands-on direction for the departments of Business Services (budget, accounting, auditing, purchasing, and payroll).
This role provides visionary, equity-centered leadership to ensure robust fiscal management, resource optimization, risk mitigation, and long-range operational planning. The Executive Director collaborates closely with the Superintendent, Cabinet, School Board, labor organizations, and external regulatory bodies to promote transparency, shared responsibility, and systemic accountability for all public funds and resources.
The Interim Executive Director leads with an explicit commitment to closing opportunity gaps by actively developing strategies to remove structural and institutional barriers in policies, programs, and practices. By aligning fiscal systems, strategic staffing models, and core auxiliary operations, the Interim Executive Director ensures that all district resources directly support high-quality, inclusive, and future-ready student learning environments.
Responsibilities and Expectations: The Interim Executive Director is responsible for the effective leadership, administration, and execution of the Finance divisions and for advancing district strategic goals. Key responsibilities include:
District and Cabinet Leadership - Participate as an active, collaborative member of the Superintendent's Cabinet team to analyze financial, educational, and operational issues, developing systemic solutions that optimize daily district operations.
- Advise the Superintendent and School Board on all fiscal, legal, and operational matters to ensure proactive feedback and comprehensive executive awareness.
- Work closely with members of Cabinet to intentionally support the vision, mission, and core beliefs of the Mount Vernon School District.
- Lead and/or facilitate district committees, task forces, and workgroups pertaining to business, finance, and organizational resources.
- Review, update, and implement administrative policies related to finance and business operations to ensure current, accurate, equitable, and legally compliant district practices.
- Reconcile conflicts and differences among staff, students, parents, and community members using creative problem-solving grounded in the district's mission and strategic direction.
Departmental, Operational, and Staff Management - Provide overall leadership and management of the business services department, including budgeting, accounting, audit, payroll, revenue, expenditures, purchased services, and financial reporting systems.
- Oversee and administer, through respective department Directors and Managers
- Supervise, train, coach, develop, and evaluate the work of assigned personnel, including the Finance Supervisor, Accounts Payable Specialist, and ASB/Accounts Receivable Specialist in the business office.
- Review and monitor work assignments to ensure absolute compliance with district policy, labor relations practices, and appropriate federal, state, and local rules and regulations.
Fiscal Stewardship, Budgeting, and Financial Analysis - Plan, develop, coordinate, and administer the district's annual operating budget (F-195 and Narrative Budget), ensuring the fulfillment of all financial reporting requirements while strategically maintaining target fund balances.
- Provide the Superintendent and School Board with precise, data-informed financial projections, revenue forecasting, demographic shifts, staff utilization modeling, and enrollment analysis to support executive decision-making.
- Manage investments, cash reserves, and position control reports to prevent overspending and ensure all personnel allocations within the district are accurately budgeted and aligned.
- Manage and ensure timely, accurate accounting, proper recording, and compliance of state and federal grants.
- Certify vouchers authorizing the expenditures of monies and ensure the overall legality, accuracy, and fairness of all financial transactions and statements; coordinate all external audit and related field work.
- Conduct ongoing research to deploy business operations "best practices," streamlining financial processes and utilizing information management systems to optimize efficiency.
Long-Range Planning, Auxiliary Services, and Asset Management - Assist with the development of the District Strategic Plan, long-range financial planning activities, debt management, and real property acquisitions.
- Direct the planning, timing, and project development for school bonds and tax levy election propositions, including rate estimations, board submission materials, and managing post-bond issuance regulatory requirements.
- Monitor national, state, and local legislation impacting school business, analyzing legislative and economic events to guard against adverse financial impacts.
Labor Relations and Community Engagement - Serve as a core member or lead consultant on district collective bargaining teams, accurately projecting, costing, and tracking the long-term financial ramifications and parameters of labor contracts.
- Develop and deliver transparent budget and financial presentations to the school board, community organizations, citizens, and employee groups to foster public trust.
- Support and provide structured guidance for the selection, onboarding, and ongoing professional development of operational and financial support staff across departments and schools.
- Optimize the allocation of limited physical and fiscal resources to maximize safety, equity, and the health of student learning environments.
- Perform other related duties and assume responsibilities similar in scope and function as required by the Superintendent.
Minimum Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, accounting, finance, education, or a closely related field required.
- Master's degree in business administration (MBA), finance, public administration, or educational leadership are highly preferred.
- Minimum of five (5) to seven (7) years of increasingly responsible, successful experience in business, finance, and complex operational environments.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Washington State K-12 school finance, budgeting, accounting, and reporting requirements.
- Minimum of three (3) years of successful experience in a supervisory or administrative leadership capacity managing professional-level staff.
- Broad, demonstrated leadership experience managing complex finances within a K-12 school district environment.
- Deep knowledge of public school accounting practices, school budgeting frameworks, labor relations, collective bargaining costing, and state/federal fiscal reporting requirements.
- Expert skill in data analysis, numerical computations, enrollment forecasting, and synthesizing comprehensive financial reports.
- Advanced proficiency in utilizing integrated software systems, databases, spreadsheets, and enterprise fiscal software such as WESPaC / Skyward (Qmalitiv) Fiscal systems.
- Demonstrated equity training and commitment to identifying and dismantling institutional barriers to access for underrepresented student populations.
- Ability to provide immediate, hands-on financial leadership with minimal transition time.
Conditions of Employment:
- Criminal background clearance
- Professional experience verification
Physical Demands:
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently sit, stand, and walk, bend neck and back, squat, kneel, and use hands for fine manipulation and repetitive grasping and pushing/pulling. The employee will occasionally be required to climb stairs/ladder, lift and reach overhead, and lift/carry. The employee must constantly lift/carry up to 5 lbs, must frequently lift/carry up to 10 lbs, and occasionally lift/carry a maximum of 20 lbs. The employee is occasionally required to push/pull a maximum force of 100 lbs.
Occasionally
1%-33% of the time
Frequently
34%-66% of the time
Continually
67%-100% of the time
Sitting
X
Standing
X
Walking
X
Crouching
X
Kneeling/Crawling
X
Stooping
X
Twisting Knees
X
Twisting Waist
X
Twisting Neck
X
Climbing
X
Balancing
X
Leg/Foot Use
X
Reaching
X
Handling/Grasping
X
Fingering/Feeling
X
Pushing/Pulling
X
Lifting/Carrying
X
Talking
X
Hearing
X
Vision
X
Work Environment: - The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in indoor conditions and intermittently works near video displays. The employee may occasionally be exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Selection for the interview is based on evaluation of the complete application file. Employment offer is based on employee evaluations, discipline history and attendance records, training and experience, references, and interview results. Hourly rate placement contingent upon verification of related experience.
Employment contingent upon completion and verification of form information and background check with fee to be paid by the applicant.
Pay for contracted classified employees is distributed once/month on the last business day of the month. Pay for employees who work less than a full year is spread through August. Questions concerning pay processes may be directed to the Personnel Office.
Benefit information: Eligibility for SEBB medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, and LTD if anticipated to reach 630 hours in the school year. Eligibility for retirement based on 3.50 hrs/day or more for 5 or more consecutive months. Optional tax-sheltered annuities: Omni 403(b) and Deferred Compensation Plan. Personal leave, vacation leave (260-day employees only), and sick leave prorated based on FTE.
