Chief Financial Officer

PENDERGAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Chief Financial Officer

EXEMPT: YesJOB CODE:

SALARY LEVEL: Administrative DEPARTMENT: Finance

LOCATION: Superintendents OfficeTERM OF EMPLOYMENT: 12 Month

REPORTS TO: SuperintendentDATE APPROVED: February 3 2026

POSITION LEVEL: Cabinet

SUMMARY:

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as the districts senior executive responsible for financial stewardship fiscal strategy and the integrity of all financial systems supporting district operations and long-term sustainability. Working collaboratively with the Superintendent and executive leadership the CFO ensures financial practices are transparent compliant and aligned to strategic priorities and community expectations.

The CFO leads a disciplined forward-looking finance enterprise that ensures responsible budgeting strong internal controls accurate reporting and effective stewardship of public alignment with the districts strategic plan and social enterprise operating model the CFO provides strategic financial leadership that supports instructional priorities operational excellence and the development of diversified revenue streams.

The CFO leads through principled collaborative decision-makingbalancing stewardship transparency and fiscal discipline with a commitment to enabling progress. Rather than serving solely as a gatekeeper the CFO listens deeply in order to partner with district leaders to clarify tradeoffs align resources to priorities and identify responsible paths forward. The CFO strengthens organizational trust through intentional collaboration and clear communication and ensures financial systems support innovation while protecting the districts long-term stability and public responsibility while maintaining full compliance with all federal state and local requirements.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree in finance accounting business administration public administration educational leadership or a related field.
• Progressive senior-level financial leadership experience in a public-sector education or similarly complex regulated organization.
• Demonstrated expertise in public finance including budgeting financial reporting internal controls audits compliance and long-range financial planning.
• Knowledge of applicable laws and regulations governing school district budgeting accounting and financial reporting including USFR and Arizona school finance.
• Proven experience leading and developing finance teams including setting clear expectations building trust and ensuring accountability.
• Strong collaborative leadership skills with demonstrated ability to partner effectively with executive leaders governing boards school leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to non-financial audiences to support informed decision-making.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical leadership transparency and accountability in the stewardship of public resources.
• Ability to lead through influence rather than authority modeling professionalism humility and shared ownership of outcomes

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters degree in finance accounting public administration educational leadership or a related field.
• Leadership experience in an educational setting with direct exposure to instructional systems and school-based decision-making.
• Multiple years of financial leadership experience preferably including experience in a school district or public education environment.
• Instructional background or meaningful experience working alongside instructional leaders supporting alignment between financial strategy and student learning priorities.
• Experience supporting enterprise revenue-generating or sustainability initiatives within a public or mission-driven organization.
• Experience with integrated financial systems enterprise budgeting or cross-functional planning frameworks.
• Experience developing or supporting equity-driven resource allocation models tied to student outcomes and district strategy.
• Arizona Superintendent or Administrative Certification or demonstrated eligibility.

Such alternatives to the above required & preferred qualifications as the Superintendent/Designee may find appropriate and acceptable

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) provides executive leadership for the districts financial enterprise ensuring fiscal stewardship strategic alignment and organizational trust. Essential duties include but are not limited to the following:

1.Partner with the Superintendent Governing Board and executive leaders to align financial strategy with instructional priorities workforce planning facilities enrollment trends and district strategic goals.

2. Lead the collaborative development implementation and monitoring of annual and multi-year budgets long-range financial plans and forecasts in alignment with ADM trends capital needs and district core values to ensure the district remains fiscally sound.

3. Provide clear timely financial analysis and forecasting to support informed decision-making and strategic tradeoffs.

4. Design oversee and continuously improve integrated financial systems processes and controls that promote accuracy transparency efficiency scalability and organizational trust.

5. Work in close partnership with the executive leadership team to ensure financial systems function as enterprise services that support innovation operational effectiveness and long-term sustainability while maintaining fiscal discipline.

6. Align financial practices across departments to support cohesive service delivery and organizational effectiveness.

7. Collaborate with the Chief Operations Officer and Chief Learning and Innovation Officer to support diversification of revenue through enterprise initiatives fundraising partnerships and sound financial modeling and governance.

8. Maintain awareness of emerging revenue opportunities legislative changes and funding developments that may impact the district.

9. Partner with enterprise teams to ensure revenue-generating efforts are mission-aligned fiscally responsible and well- governed.

10. Ensure compliance with all applicable federal state and local laws regulations reporting requirements and USFR standards governing school district finance.

11. Oversee audits financial reporting internal controls and risk management practices to protect public resources and maintain public trust.

12. Proactively identify financial risks and develop mitigation strategies in collaboration with executive leadership.

13. Serve as a strategic partner to district leaders supporting responsible solutions through collaboration rather than control.

14. Lead develop and support a high-performing finance team through clear expectations coaching recognition shared accountability and succession planning.

15. Foster a culture of professionalism ethical leadership continuous improvement and shared ownership of outcomes within the finance organization.

16. Serve as the districts primary financial advisor to the Superintendent and Governing Board.

17. Prepare and present financial reports analyses and recommendations to support effective governance policy decisions and public accountability.

18. Serve as a member of the District Leadership Team and Superintendents Cabinet contributing to enterprise-wide leadership and decision-making.

19. Provide principled respectful counsel and candid feedback at all levels of the organization including upward; ensuring alignment with district values brand integrity and public transparency

20. Adheres to District policies procedures/processes.

21. Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Superintendent or designee.

EVALUATION:

At least once annually in accordance with Governing Board Policy

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to define problems collect data establish facts and draw conclusions; ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several concrete variables

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read analyze and interpret education materials and programs; ability to write reports procedure manuals and correspondence; ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of teachers students administration and the community.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to work with mathematical data such as probability and statistical inference; ability to apply concepts such as fractions percentages ratios and proportions to practical situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand walk sit and use hands to handle or feel objects or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop kneel crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision distance vision color vision peripheral vision depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

SUPERVISION:

Business Services Account Payable and Payroll.

Required Experience:

Chief