Independent Contractor Chief Program Officer Jobs in Texas

Employer San Antonio Independent School District

Location San Antonio, Texas

Reports to Superintendent of Schools

Position Full-time, exempt; Non-Chapter 21 contract

Work year 230 days

Base salary $180,000-$225,000

Preferred start As soon as mutually agreeable

The Opportunity

San Antonio ISD is seeking a strategic, hands-on Chief Financial Officer to join the Superintendent's cabinet and provide districtwide financial leadership at a consequential moment for the school system. The CFO will partner closely with Superintendent Dr. Adrian Bustillos, the Board of Trustees, and senior leaders to translate the district's priorities into sustainable financial strategies that improve outcomes and opportunities for students.

Serving approximately 44,000 students across more than 80 schools, SAISD manages an annual operating budget exceeding $500 million and an active $1.3 billion bond program. This role offers the opportunity to lead financial strategy and daily operations at scale, strengthen long-range planning and transparency, and help the district direct resources toward its highest-impact priorities.

The successful candidate will combine deep Texas public-school finance knowledge with operational discipline, sound judgment, collaborative leadership, and the ability to communicate complex financial matters clearly to the Board, staff, families, and community.

Position Summary

The Chief Financial Officer serves as the district's senior financial executive and chief financial adviser to the Superintendent and Board of Trustees. The CFO provides strategic and operational leadership for financial planning, budgeting, accounting, treasury, investments, financial reporting, internal controls, and the district's financial responsibilities related to bonds and capital construction. The CFO leads assigned Financial Services departments and works across the organization to ensure that resources are managed lawfully, transparently, equitably, and in alignment with district priorities.

Essential Functions and Key Responsibilities Strategic Financial Leadership

• Advise the Superintendent and Board. Serve as a trusted, candid adviser on the district's financial condition, major investments, operating decisions, risks, and long-term sustainability.
• Lead long-range planning. Develop multi-year financial forecasts and scenarios that account for enrollment, attendance, state funding, property values, compensation, facilities, and other material drivers.
• Align resources with priorities. Lead a transparent annual budget process that connects resource allocation to district goals, student needs, measurable outcomes, and financial sustainability.
• Identify opportunities and risks. Recommend responsible cost efficiencies, revenue strategies, and course corrections while protecting instructional quality and critical services.

Budgeting and Core Financial Operations

• Oversee daily financial operations. Provide leadership and accountability for assigned functions, including budgeting, accounting, accounts payable, payroll, cash and treasury management, investments, financial reporting, grants and special revenue, and related activities.
• Maintain accurate, timely reporting. Ensure the integrity of the district's accounting records, financial statements, forecasts, budget reports, and required state and federal submissions.
• Strengthen systems and controls. Establish and continuously improve internal controls, policies, procedures, service standards, and financial systems that safeguard assets and support effective decision-making.
• Manage liquidity and investments. Oversee cash flow, investments, receipt and disbursement of funds, debt-service obligations, and compliance with applicable district policies and law.
• Support sound contracting. Review and provide financial recommendations concerning significant contracts, procurements, and commitments for goods and services.

Bond, Debt, and Capital-Program Financial Leadership

• Steward the district's bond program. Lead the district's financial responsibilities associated with the active $1.3 billion bond program and related construction and technology investments.
• Oversee debt and financing. Coordinate debt issuance, debt-service planning, interest and sinking fund management, bond compliance, arbitrage and disclosure responsibilities, and financial analysis of capital-program decisions.
• Coordinate expert partners. Work effectively with Construction and Development Services, financial advisers, bond counsel, underwriters, auditors, rating agencies, and other external partners.
• Promote public accountability. Provide clear, accurate, and accessible reporting to the Board, bond oversight bodies, and community regarding the financial status of bond projects and commitments.

Governance, Compliance, and Public Accountability

• Ensure regulatory compliance. Maintain compliance with Texas Education Agency requirements, the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST), Governmental Accounting Standards Board standards, federal requirements, Board policy, and applicable law.
• Lead audit readiness. Coordinate annual external audits, respond promptly to findings, and ensure effective corrective action and continuous improvement.
• Support tax-rate and election responsibilities. Coordinate the district's financial responsibilities related to tax-rate adoption, elections, and activities involving the Bexar Appraisal District and other governmental entities.
• Communicate with clarity. Present complex financial information in a transparent, understandable manner to trustees, employees, families, community members, and the public.

Team and Organizational Leadership

• Lead and develop people. Supervise, coach, evaluate, and develop assigned department leaders and staff; build succession capacity and a culture of accountability, service, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
• Partner across functions. Work collaboratively with academic, operational, human-capital, technology, construction, legal, and school-based leaders so financial processes enable effective district operations.
• Improve the customer experience. Ensure that Financial Services provides responsive, practical, and high-quality support to schools, departments, employees, vendors, and community stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, business, or a closely related field.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting, budgeting, school business, or a closely related function.
• At least five years of substantive experience in budgeting, accounting, financial management, treasury, payroll, purchasing, investments, or related financial operations.
• At least three years of successful supervisory experience leading professional staff and managing significant organizational responsibilities.
• Demonstrated responsibility for both annual budgeting and day-to-day financial management in a public-school system.
• Direct experience with bond financing, debt issuance or management, or the financial oversight of a major public-school capital program.
• Ability to satisfy all background-check and fingerprinting requirements applicable to the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current or prior service as a Chief Financial Officer, Deputy or Assistant Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director of Finance, Director of Finance, or comparable senior finance leader in a Texas public-school system serving 25,000 or more students.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure. CPA is strongly preferred but is not required.
• Master's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• TASBO certification or comparable school-business credential.
• Direct experience with Texas school-district general-obligation bonds, interest and sinking funds, bond elections, debt issuance, rating-agency presentations, and bond-funded construction; comparable public-charter bond or facilities-financing experience will also be considered.
• A record of clean audits, strong FIRST ratings, effective internal controls, and transparent financial reporting.
• Experience leading financial strategy in a complex, urban, multi-campus, or organizationally diverse public-school system.

Knowledge, Skills, and Leadership Attributes

• Advanced knowledge of Texas public-school finance, the Foundation School Program, enrollment and attendance funding, governmental accounting, budgeting, and financial forecasting.
• Advanced knowledge of school bonds, debt-service planning, interest and sinking funds, capital-program financial oversight, and applicable federal and state requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex financial information into clear choices, implications, and recommendations for non-financial audiences.
• Strong strategic judgment paired with a willingness to engage deeply in operational details when necessary.
• A collaborative, service-oriented leadership style that builds trust while maintaining appropriate controls and accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through change, make difficult recommendations, manage competing priorities, and maintain composure under pressure.
• Strong written, oral, presentation, analytical, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• High standards of integrity, transparency, discretion, and stewardship of public resources.

Working Conditions

This is a full-time, primarily on-site executive position. The role requires regular attendance at evening Board meetings and community meetings; occasional districtwide and statewide travel; extended or irregular hours during budget adoption, audit, bond issuance, tax-rate adoption, school opening, and other peak periods; and the ability to work effectively under deadlines and with frequent interruptions. Reasonable accommodations will be provided as required by law.

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary of $180,000-$225,000, commensurate with directly related experience, demonstrated results, credentials, and market factors. The position includes participation in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and the district's employee benefits programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

San Antonio ISD is committed to non-discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, culture, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, appearance, immigration or citizenship status, home language, socioeconomic status, or disability in its educational programs, services, and district business functions.

Information on persons designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies can be found within SAISD Board Policies DIA(EXHIBIT) or FFH(EXHIBIT), available online at: https://pol.tasb.org/PolicyOnline?key=176

San Antonio ISD está comprometido a no discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen étnico, cultura, religión, origen nacional, edad, sexo, identidad sexual, expresión de género, orientación sexual, apariencia, estado inmigratorio/de ciudadanía, idioma natal, estado socioeconómico o discapacidad en sus programas educativos, servicios y funciones de negocios del Distrito.

La información sobre las personas designadas para manejar consultas sobre las políticas de no discriminación se encuentra bajo las Políticas de la Junta Directiva DIA (Prueba documental) o FFH (Prueba documental) de SAISD, disponible en línea bajo: https://pol.tasb.org/PolicyOnline?key=176