Massachusetts Jobs

The Education Secretariat is committed to equity and valuing the unique and diverse characteristics and experiences of every member of its workforce. We encourage an authentic workplace where colleagues show up as their full selves, where collaboration, innovation, and connections are key to realizing our mission that all children, youth, and families thrive socially, academically, and economically. We seek teammates who are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment, where everyone is valued and engaged. We encourage you to apply and identify your strengths in these areas. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education seeks a high-performing individual to join the Center for Instructional Support (CIS) as the Fiscal Manager. The Center for Instructional Support (CIS), within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education leads state policy and guidance for Massachusetts schools in the areas of teacher development, professional learning, K-12 curriculum and instruction. This role will report to the assistant director of Strategy and Integration and be a part of a team that supports staff members across CIS. This position is based at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Everett. Staff are currently operating within a hybrid model, reporting in-person at least two days per week The Fiscal Manager will be the fiscal lead for the Center for Instructional Support (CIS) and the office of Student Assessment Services (SAS), around all aspects of budgeting and finance. They will work with the directors and managers to develop and align annual budgets and financial plans and oversee their implementation. This includes creating and maintaining spending plans, monitoring encumbrances and spending, reconciliation and adjusting budgets, performing regular audits, meeting reporting expectations, and addressing any unexpected issues. This role will also oversee the team’s administration of grants, contracts and the procurement of services that support CIS priorities. This includes management and improvement of the CIS’s procedures connected to fiscal matters and providing assistance to the team. They will manage the grants and contracts for Student Assessment. Finally, this role may support larger fiscal strategy, including identifying new grant opportunities, educating CIS team members about fiscal policy and state budgeting, and/or provide recommendations about how CIS supports district finance policy Job Responsibilities: • Manage CIS Budgets and Fiscal Planning. CIS utilizes funds from a range of Federal and State sources. Under the lead of the Associate Commissioner for the Center of Instructional Support, the Fiscal Manager will meet with directors across CIS to develop and oversee annual spending plans aligned with the overall strategy of CIS. Aligned to this expectation, the Fiscal Manager needs to understand the rules and expectations of each account, and the broad programmatic strategy of CIS, in order to develop solutions that best meet CIS’s multiple goals given the fiscal realities. This includes initial long-term planning, anticipating additional funding, and inevitable shifts in availability of funds across the Department. • Coordinate Across DESE. The Fiscal Manager will be the point person for CIS and Student Assessment, and the wider DESE Administration and Finance center. This includes regular communication with both the Budget and Procurement offices. They will be responsible for ensuring that all spending plans are developed and maintained according to the expectations set forth by our budget office. They will also serve as point person for the procurement team, ensuring that CIS is following guidance and expectations from these teams. Finally, they may support other tasks, such as managing earmarks, as needed. • Contract Management for Office of Student Assessment Services (SAS). This role will manage the accounts, contracts, and grants for SAS. This includes coordinating with office leaders to complete and monitor annual spending plans, serving as the liaison between SAS and the procurement/budget offices, and assisting in the execution of contracts and contract amendments. • Overseeing Fiscal Plans. Ensuring the fiscal plans are on track requires constant vigilance. This role will be responsible for refining and maintaining effective tracking systems to ensure money is properly encumbered, and ultimately spent down or reallocated if needed by necessary deadlines. This requires expertise in ways of taking advantage of the Microsoft office suite to automate and streamline processes. This includes regular communication and updates to the DESE Budget team as well directors in the Center for Instructional Support. • Overseeing Procurement processes. Ultimately project managers are responsible for developing and managing all contracts, grants, and procurement. The Fiscal Manager is responsible for ensuring that there are clear procedures and training for staff to ensure that they are following all the processes and expectations set by the procurement team around RFRs, RFPs, and RFQs. This includes supporting creative problem solving and providing support to team members working on meeting these procedures. • Improving Quality Control Systems. In addition to ensuring the processes and expectations are being followed, we want to improve our systems to ensure that we are getting the highest impact for each dollar. In coordination with the Assistant Director of Strategy and Integration, they will ensure that we are maintaining strong systems of evaluation and quality control of vendor contracts to ensure that we are using money efficiently. • Managing Staff Members. Once established, we plan on having this role supervise a team member in charge of providing district support around grants and accounts payable. This includes creating clear systems of supervision and feedback to ensure the highest quality customer service. • Other Leadership Opportunities. Providing leadership around a range of fiscal issues. This could include helping with fiscal development and the identification and securement of additional sources of funding, support and guidance to district level school business management leaders, building knowledge of state fiscal matters such as fund sources. • Other duties as needed. We work in a dynamic environment, and the fiscal manager may be asked to take on other duties as needed. Desired Experience: • Experience managing fiscal operations for a team within a large and complex organization. • Experience in fiscal operations within a government agency, including procurement processes, managing grants, budget planning, and public budget processes. • Experience developing tools, trackers, or other resources to support large scale operations. • Experiencing managing individuals. • Experience around larger fiscal issues, such as development, guidance, and quality control. Desired Mindset: • Strong commitment to theDESE Educational Vision. In particular the commitment to racial equity, and a desire to work with teachers and educational leaders to help all our children receive an excellent education. • Belief in the power of effective organizational systems that are intuitive and efficient. • Eager for feedback, self-reflective, and committed to continuous improvement. • Collaborative, and interested in finding the right solution to work with different personalities, strengths, and commitments. • Commitment to the role within the organization, and with the state in improving educational outcomes for children. Desired Knowledge and Skills: • The ability to create effective systems. This includes developing, maintaining, and implementing effective systems using the technology tools available to team members (e.g. Microsoft Office Suite) to meet the job responsibilities articulated above. • The ability to communicate clearly. This is largely about understanding the appropriate level of detail to share, and making it clear what aspect of the work others are responsible for. • The ability to build relationships within a large team and large organization. This includes understanding how to manage the appropriate balance of collecting feedback and pushing for effective systems. It also includes supportive and empathetic communication with internal and external stakeholders. • Understanding of standard budgeting and accounting practices, particularly in government organizations or organizations with complex funding structures. Travel may be required for this position. Please include a cover letter with your submission. Questions regarding this position or the application process should be directed to Dawn.E.DeRoche@mass.gov. MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, professional internship, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in financial management work (i.e. budgeting, accounting, auditing, management analysis, program evaluation, financial reporting of program results) or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below Substitutions: I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience. II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience. III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required experience. IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for the four (4) years of the required experience. *Comprehensive Benefits* When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future. Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards! An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role. Job: Education* *Organization: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education *Title: *Fiscal Manager Location: Massachusetts-Everett- 135 Santilli Highway Requisition ID: 240006V0