Finance Assistant Jobs in Park Ridge, IL (NOW HIRING)

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.  In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity.  Six core values are embedded within these commitments: student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The Office of the Controller is responsible for the financial operations of Chicago Public Schools, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Internal Accounts, and Corporate Accounting.  Under the general direction of the Controller, the Accounts Payable team provides timely, accurate, and relevant financial reporting. 

Job Summary: 

Reporting to the Asset Manager, the Asset Management Coordinator will assist CPS with the management of school-based, network and central office assets, internal controls regarding these assets and compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements. This position will ensure that staff are knowledgeable of and adhere to CPS policies and procedures, as well as Federal and/or State requirements regarding the procurement, use and disposal of assets. This position also assists in developing training tools and materials and deliver training to school support staff and all others responsible for managing departmental assets. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Asset Management Coordinator will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Manage, monitor, support and train CPS staff on the purchase, use and disposal of CPS assets. Assist with the system-wide implementation of asset management and inventory software, including serving as the key point of contact for the Department of Finance.
• Assist with the development of CPS policies related to asset management and inventory control. Manage, monitor, support and train CPS staff in the inventorying of Instructional Materials.
• Review and update policies and procedures on asset management to ensure current requirements are met.
• Daily management of contractors, consultants and/or temporary employees.
• Work with asset management software team to integrate existing assets into new software, link CPS Oracle modules with new software and assist the consultant/CPS staff in the performance of annual inventory counts.
• Minimize the risk of non-compliance with Federal, State and Local requirements and deadlines.
• Other duties as assigned

To be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Asset Management Coordinator must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required: 

• High school diploma or GED equivalent is required
• Associate's degree from an accredited college or university with a focus in Accounting, Finance, or a business-related field is preferred 

Experience Required: 

• Minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in asset management or a related field in Accounting or Finance

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Ability to articulate a vision, set high standards, and effectively guide schools and principals in the realization of expectations set.
• Expertise in leadership development and instructional leadership. 
• Ability to coach directors and managers toward excellence, build capacity of content area teams and develop meaningful and high impact professional communities for teachers and school leaders.
• Strong communication skills (speaking - including presentations - listening, and writing).
•  Demonstrate high levels of instructional expertise, integrity, honesty, credibility, and the courage to make difficult yet necessary decisions.
• Effective strategic planning capabilities, including the ability to establish long-term vision and goals, and align/manage activities toward goal fulfillment.
• Strong leadership and team building skills, e.g. ability to develop high performing teams united around a clear vision for serving schools and achieving student success.
• Knowledge of operations, budget/finance, management and organizational development.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituent groups, including external partners, to ensure the entire system operates in the most effective manner possible to support schools and principals.
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps.

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.